List Of Side Effects Of The Candida Diet

Candida albicans is a yeast-like microbe that harmlessly inhabits your mouth and digestive tract. Harmless, that is, until it's allowed to repopulate unchecked. A candida overgrowth can cause oral thrush, diaper rash, jock itch, a vaginal yeast infection, athlete's foot and skin rashes. Candida feed on sugar; dietary changes will help fight the yeast and replenish the beneficial bacteria -- probiotics -- that normally keep candida in check. Changing your diet to fight candida can result in weight loss and healthier eating habits.

Candida Diet Overview

Candida albicans are kept in check by other bacteria, but if something upsets the balance of microflora in your body -- antibiotic usage, illness, chronic high glucose levels -- candida can flourish. A candida diet eliminates foods that feed candida: sugar, yeast, molds and fungi. Instead, you are encouraged to replenish good bacteria by eating fermented foods that contain probiotics: yogurt, kefir and fermented vegetables, nutrient-dense vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Unrefined whole foods replace processed and artificial foods. MayoClinic.com says that there is no evidence that a cleansing diet will cure candida but that "many people note improvement in various symptoms when following this diet." It postulates that it's the elimination of empty calories and the replacement of them with fresh nutrient-dense foods that help people feel better.

Weight Loss

If you normally eat a diet high in processed foods and added sugars, a candida diet will probably cut your caloric intake. Substituting whole grains for refined grains, eliminating added sugars and adding fresh vegetables and healthier food choices can promote weight loss. To lose 1 pound of fat, you need to cut 3,500 calories from your daily diet. A daily reduction of just 500 calories can result in a weekly 1 pound loss. Two regular 20 oz. sodas contain about 500 calories.

Fiber

A candida diet is a high-fiber diet. Eating more vegetables and whole grains will increase fiber intake dramatically. At first this might cause constipation and gastric distress, but increasing your fluid intake should help to relieve constipation and your body will soon become accustomed to your new diet. Fiber has many health benefits, including promoting weight loss and regulating blood sugar levels. Because fiber is an indigestible plant material, it adds bulk to your diet and slows digestion without adding calories. It also might help you feel full faster and stay full longer, further reducing caloric intake and promoting weight loss.

The Herxheimer Effect

One of the worst side effects of a candida diet is the Herxheimer reaction, named for Austrian dermatologist Jarisch Adolf Herxheimer. When a large number of harmful bacteria die off, they release toxins. Although your body has a built-in detoxification system -- your liver, kidneys, skin and lungs are all organs of elimination -- such a huge number of toxins might take a day or two to be eliminated. Symptoms of your candida m aightppear to get worse before they get better. Signs of the Herxheimer reaction include chills, muscle pain, fatigue, fever, headache and skin breakouts. Not everyone experiences this reaction.