The Yeast Infection Diet

People who suffer from yeast infections have too much acid in the body, which makes it ideal for the growth of Candida, the bacteria that causes yeast infection. This acidity also keeps the body from being able to absorb minerals and does not allow digestive proteins to effectively produce enzymes that are necessary for proper digestion. As a result, the sufferer gets many different symptoms of indigestion such as excessive gas, bloating, elevated levels of acid, and the inability to tolerate certain foods.

Because of these problems, it is important to eat certain foods that work to maintain the health of the body and prevent Candida from overgrowing and causing yeast infections. In addition, there are some foods that should not be eaten to keep from creating an environment that is ripe for the growth of yeast.

The best kind of diet for someone who is dealing with yeast infections is one that includes a lot of fiber and protein. It should also include moderate amounts of complex carbohydrates and smaller portions of fresh fruit. As an illustration, the proper daily diet would consist of 65% of foods that are high in fiber like veggies that have been steamed. Celery, asparagus, broccoli, onions, cabbage, kale, turnips, ginger root, and garlic are the best options. Of all of these raw onions and garlic are the best as they contain natural anti-fungal elements.

20% should be foods that are high in protein, like eggs, seeds, duck, chicken, fish, and nuts.

10% should be complex carbohydrates like oats, beans, and rice.

5% should be fresh fruits like papaya, grapefruit, pineapple, and all berries.

What foods can be eaten?

Whole wheat, Udon or Japanese noodles, Soba or buckwheat, whole Amaranth and flour, Saifun, quinoa, corn, whole barley, whole wheat flour, graham wheat flour, flour and hatomugi, durum, cracked, bulgur, buckwheat flour and groats, unprocessed or miller’s wheat bran, undegerminated corn meal, wheat berries, masaharina, whole teff and flour, popcorn made by an air popper, whole spelt and flour, cream of rye cereal, whole millet and flour, groats, wehani brown rice rye flour, oat bran, quick groats, texmati brown rice, whole quinoa and flour, brown basmati rice, and wild rice.

Baked or Prepared products:

Any unsweetened whole grain, ryvita, corn or whole wheat tortillas, unsweetened rice crackers or cakes, corn chips, quick breads, unyeasted bread items like chapatis, and whole wheat flour.

Legumes

Frozen or dried black-eyed peas, lentils, split peas, chickpeas or garbanzo beans, soy flakes, soybeans.

Dairy

Almond milk plain yogurt that contains acidophilus cultures, and unsweetened soy milk.

Nuts and Seeds

Sunflower, sesame, poppy, pine nuts, pumpkin, macadamia, pecans, hazel, cashews, and Brazil.

Vegetables

Tomatoes, spinach (arugula or rocket), parsley, peas, onion, radishes, lettuce, kale, celery, green pepper, cucumbers, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and beans.

Drinks

Coffee substitute (no malt), unsweetened taheebopaud’Arco tea, almond milk mugicha, water (carbonated or plain), toasted whole barley, unsweetened soymilk.

Seasonings

Fresh garlic, fresh herbs, fresh ginger, pepper, tamari, salt, unsweetened chicken broth, and raw organic apple cider vinegar.

Meat

Turkey, pork, pigeon or squab, quail, pheasant, antelope, peafowl, mutton, bear, moose, guinea fowl, beef,  grouse, goose, goat, caribou, buffalo, game hen, all fish, frog legs, elk, eggs, duck, deer, and chicken.

If these foods are eaten in the correct portions, the levels of Candida in the body will remain balanced and the immune system will remain strong.

Which foods should be avoided?

Candida gets its start in the stomach as a fungus and also makes the environment ripe for overgrowth of yeast within the stomach.

The reason Candida begins to proliferate is because the environment is acidic. In addition, the acidity does not allow the body to absorb the proper amounts of minerals or vitamins.

Since the body cannot digest come foods well, these foods should not be eaten. Sugar is what the Candida eats so it is important to limit the amounts of sugar, including fruit that is eaten. Alcohol is a particular form of sugar and thus provides food for the yeast.

The Candida diet is not one that is very nutritious and it requires diligence to maintain, since it is quite strict. It will take quite a while for it to affect the yeast levels in the body; however, it is necessary for sufferers to stick to the diet for 30 days for every year in which a yeast infection occurred. So, if you have had a yeast infection once a year for 27 years, you should stay on the diet for 27 months.

The reason this diet is important is because it is not feeding the yeast that leads to the uncomfortable symptoms. You should probably take a multivitamin in addition to the diet.

You must follow the diet to the letter. One alcoholic beverage will provide sustenance for the yeast and the imbalance will come back.

It is best to avoid eating synthetic sweeteners as a sugar substitute. There are several natural sweeteners, though, that are made from plants. One of these is vegetable glycerinethat is usually removed from the coconut palm. You can get it in any health store as a liquid and is similar to honey, only sweeter. Stevia is a second sugar substitute made from a plant; however, it is strictly a sugar.

Do not eat any food that is sweet. This also means avoiding hidden sweeteners that are included in processed foods, including soups. Do not drink fruit juice, and avoid eating grains like prepared flake cereals.

Do not eat granola, instant oats, cornmeal, degerminated hominy grits, pearl barley, degerminated microwave popcorn, or blue corn meal.

Pasta

Pasta is essentially water and flour. The flour could be white bread flour or it could be durum flour derived from semolina. Every single kind of noodle is made from the same base, which means they should be avoided altogether. This includes Bufin (a Japanese noodle), farina, ramen instant noodles, white flour noodles, and semolina.

Baked Goods

Do not eat any cakes, cookies, donuts, pastries, or any other baked food that lists sugar as an ingredient. This means you should not eat white bread or bread that contains any kind of wheat, including nanas bread, parathas, white flour tortillas, pita bread, sourdough, wheat dough tortillas, or other ethnic breads that are made out of wheat. You should also not eat mocha, which is a sweet unleavened bread made out of brown rice.

Legumes

Do not eat peas or beans that include a sweetener, tempeh (a kind of fermented tofu), bean sprouts, textured vegetable protein, and tofu.

Nuts and Seeds

Do not eat walnuts, peanuts, coconuts, or pistachios

Dairy

Do not eat any type of cheese, buttermilk, sweetened soy milk, cottage cheese, milk, sour cream, kefir, sweetened yogurt, or crème fraiche.

Fruit

Do not eat any kind of dried fruit. At the beginning of the diet, you should not eat any kind of fruit at all due to the amount of sugar in them. However, once the infection is gone, you can eat some fruit that does not have a lot of sugar, such as grapes, strawberries, melon and apples.

Drinks

Do not drink regular or decaffeinated coffee, cereal beverages, alcohol, fruit juices, diet soft drinks, regular soft drinks, processed tea drinks, black tea, and fruit teas.

Seasonings

Do not eat any kind of ketchup or tomato-based sauce, cream sauces such as Alfredo, steak sauces, capers, powdered garlic, powdered onion, miso, distilled vinegar, spices, sauerkraut, chutneys, pickles, or anything that lists sugar as an ingredient.

Meats

Do not eat any meats that include hormones or antibiotics. You should only eat free-range, organic meats. Do not eat any smoked meats like sausages, salami, pepperoni, and bacon.

Veggies

Do not eat carrots, mushrooms, beetroot, cucumber skins, canned tomatoes, prepared soups, or potato skins.