Candida Diet:
SECRET Dietary Cure Principles

Following a well-defined Candida diet is the first step for treating yeast infections. Recent medical studies support the notion that appropriate dietary patterns may be highly effective in the prevention of various health conditions and chronic diseases, including Candida infections. Prior to discussing the relationship between Candida diet and its impact on yeast infection, let’s briefly explain what Candida infection is and speak of the particular conditions that contribute to its occurrence.

Candida is a medical term for single celled fungi that can be found in small amounts in the moist environments of the human body: the gastrointestinal tract, the genital area, the mouth etc. While in a healthy individual’s body these microorganisms are balanced by the friendly bacteria and a functional immune system, the coexistence of certain conditions can disrupt this gentle equilibrium. When Candida grows out of control, it adopts a root like structure and tears and damages the membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, penetrating the blood stream and causing the infamous yeast infection related symptoms. Since those microorganisms can settle in various parts of the body, yeast infection often manifest systemically as well as locally.

There are multiple factors that contribute to yeast infection. Some of these factors are tightly related to diet . Following the dietary patterns that can prevent the aggravation of yeast infection is the first and one of the fundamental principles of an effective holistic Candida treatment. Adhering to the following dietary guidelines, among other nutritional and lifestyle principles, can make a positive impact on your overall health and especially on your yeast infection condition:        

1.      Eliminate refined sugar and carbohydrates from your diet. Refined sugar (including simple carbohydrates such as honey and molasses) and other refined carbohydrates (including white rice, white flour, any type of cereals etc.) feed Candida; therefore consuming these foods can encourage Candida overgrowth. In order to prevent Candida multiplication, replace sugar with stevia and refined carbohydrates with whole grain non-gluten products (i. e. brown rice, kamut, buckwheat bread).

2.      Yeast or mold containing foods such as white vinegar, mushrooms, corn, dried fruits, canned vegetables and some condiments can also feed Candida and thus should be avoided.

3.      A strong immune system is required to combat Candida. The intake of antibiotics can weaken your immune system capabilities and kill the friendly bacteria. For this reason, many nutritionists recommend their patients not only to avoid the use of antibiotics but also to reduce the consumption of diary products, which may contain antibiotics.

4.      Diary products, especially cow’s milk products, should be avoided also because they trigger allergic reactions, create heavy mucus and take longer to digest. Frequent allergies and digestive problems are considered to be among the main yeast infection contributing factors. Organic goat and sheep’s milk products are the best alternatives to diary products made of cow’s milk.

5.      In order to prevent Candida overgrowth, you want to maintain a proper acid – alkaline balance, i. e. proper level of ph (potential hydrogen) in the blood. The level of ph is measured using a scale that runs from zero to 14, with zero as the most acid, 14 as the most alkaline and 7 is neutral. Our body functions best at the normal pH range of 7.35 to 7.45 in the blood, yet extra acidity creates an environment that stimulates Candida multiplication. Alkaline diet, which is based on the intensive consumption of alkaline forming foods (i. e. most fresh vegetables, calcium, cesium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, green juices, almonds, tofu etc.) alongside moderate consumption of acid forming foods (i. e. most meet, fish, diary and grain products), can help you alkalize your system, thus better control Candida multiplication.