What is the Candida Diet?
Holistic Candida Treatment Plan in NYC
How a Strict Diet Helps with Candida Overgrowth
Due to the wide range of symptoms such as yeast infections, skin rashes, gastrointestinal problems, depression, unexplained fatigue, poor concentration and sinus infections, it is no shock that candida is one of the most frequently misdiagnosed medical problems.
Many of the most common symptoms that plague us today can be traced back to a surprising source – yeast.
Yeast overgrowth, called Candida, affects millions of people yet most of them do not even know they are suffering from yeast overgrowth. In fact, 1 in 3 people suffer from yeast-related symptoms or conditions. There are many causes and symptoms of candida but one way to naturally treat candida is through your diet.
What is the Candida Diet?
This diet plan focuses on eliminating foods from your diet that cause yeast growth such as refined sugars and processed foods. Once an imbalance occurs in your body, the yeast continues to multiply as it is continually fed by sugar in any form.
It is really not shocking that candida is becoming a pandemic in Western cultures due to our increased utilization of antibiotics, high-stress levels and diets packed with unhealthy food laced with sugar.
Some of the Foods That Are Eliminated in the Candida Diet Include:
- Refined sugar
- Trans fats
- Refined carbohydrates
- Dairy
- Meat with antibiotics and hormones
- Alcohol
- Artificial sweetners
How Does This Diet Help with Candida (Yeast Overgrowth)?
Food is not just for survival but must also be used to sustain vitality and optimize the functioning of our body. Through our diet, we are able to positively or negatively impact our bodies. Unfortunately, the American diet consists of large amounts of trans fats, refined sugar, refined carbohydrates, soy, and processed foods that are filled with chemicals and preservatives. But your cells can’t thrive on artificial, chemically-laden foods. These foods negatively impact your body.
A good, healthy diet is one of the most important components of preventative health and healing a diseased body. What you eat can either rebuild you internally or weaken you. Poor diet is one of the main causes of candida overgrowth which results in the most common symptoms people experience such as brain fog, fatigue, depression, insomnia, and weight gain. Adjusting your diet can not only help with candida overgrowth but also increase your health overall.
What Food Can I Eat on the Candida Diet?
Modifying your diet to adopt a very healthy diet plan can be a challenge but keep in mind that these dietary changes are not about deprivation, they are about clearing inflammation in your body and restoring your health. Some of the foods allowed on the candida diet are:
- Antibiotic and hormone-free animal protein
- Vegetables
- Small quantities of nuts and seeds
- Oils (cold-pressed only)
- Organic fruits (no dried fruit or fruit juices)
When it comes to beating candida you want to think of it as a lifestyle change, not a temporary fix. In as little as 2-4 weeks you’ll start to notice improvements in your health and even more dramatic improvements in 2-3 months.
Foods to Avoid if You Have Candida
If you have candida there are a few foods that you need to avoid in order to get your candida under control.
- Refined sugars
- Meat with hormones and antibiotics
- Dairy
Refined Sugars
Refined sugars are some of the biggest culprits behind candida. The sugars feed the yeast in your body, allowing it to multiply rapidly and cause symptoms like chronic pain, gastrointestinal problems, and fatigue. Refined sugars are in a staggering number of products, so when you adopt a new eating plan to reduce your candida symptoms, you will need to read labels carefully. You will need to cut out everything from baked goods to ketchup, but the symptom relief you feel should make the transition much easier.
Meat with Hormones and Antibiotics
Meat may seem like an unlikely contributor to candida, but if it is laced with hormones or antibiotics, it is. The chemicals found in this kind of meat can lead to an imbalance in yeast levels in your body and support further yeast overgrowth. Replacing chemical-laden meat with antibiotic and hormone-free animal protein can cause a life-changing reduction of severe candida symptoms.
Dairy
Most people mistakenly believe that dairy is a necessary part of a healthy diet, but in reality, it causes a laundry list of health complications for many people. In the U.S., most dairy products come from cows that were fed hormones and antibiotics, and they are pasteurized, which removes the vitamins. Low-fat and fat-free dairy products are also high in sugar, and many people with candida are also sensitive to the protein casein, which is found in milk. Cutting dairy can make a significant difference in your symptoms.
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Call our office today at 212-397-0157 to schedule your candida overgrowth consultation or request an meeting online. Now offering virtual Meeting with Dean Mitchell MD.
We have offices in midtown Manhattan and Rockville Centre in Long Island.