The Candida Diet: Why it's Important, Foods to Avoid and Recipes for Success
A candida imbalance can be uncomfortable and lead to yeast infections. It may be possible to regulate the candida in your body, avoid infections and feel better with a simple candida diet. There are certain foods to avoid on a candida diet that may improve your health. While the diet may seem difficult to follow at first, there are many candida diet recipes that can help you eat well and be healthy.
The basics of a Candida Diet
Before you try medications to regulate candida, you might try to alleviate your symptoms with simple changes to your diet. On a candida diet you will restrict your sugar, carbohydrate and fermented foods made with yeast. Some foods need to be avoided entirely and others need to be limited. You should follow the diet strictly for at least a few weeks and possibly a few months to see results. After your symptoms subside, you can slowly reintroduce some of the foods that you were avoiding into your diet.
In addition to changes in your food intake, the diet uses herbs and supplements to decrease the amount of yeast in your body. Since some candida is necessary for the proper functioning of your body, it is important to start with small amounts of herbs or supplements so that you don't kill off beneficial yeast. Many different supplements may be useful including: black walnut, cloves, garlic, goldenseal, grapefruit seed extract and whey protein.
What foods to avoid on a Candida Diet
If you are interested in trying this type of diet, you should know that there are certain foods to avoid on a candida diet. Specifically, you will need to regulate your intake of two types of food. The first is sugar and carbohydrates. For the first few weeks your carbohydrate intake will be reduced. The actual number of grams that you will be allowed will depend on your personal circumstances such as age, sex, and activity level. After the first few weeks you will be able to gradually increase the amount of carbohydrates you eat each day. The other foods that will be restricted are those containing yeast. Breads made with yeast, cheese, and beer are common examples of fermented foods containing yeast that you will need to avoid.