What Is An Anti-Candida Diet?

If you’ve ever had a problem with yeast then you know how difficult it can be to get rid of. The anti-Candida diet is designed to rid the body of the effects and the presence of this type of bacteria.

What Is Candida?

Mixed Candida species growing on ChromID Candida 2 Agar - detail (Photo credit: Nathan Reading)

The proper name is Candida albicans. It is yeast that can be a problem in the digestive system. When antibiotics are taken for various infections, they can rob the body of the good bacterial flora that are present. In the absence of the good flora, destructive and unwanted bacteria have a chance to grow and flourish.

Candida can be found in different areas of the body. For one you can find it in yeast infections in the vagina, mouth and under nail beds – any place that is warm and dark is a perfect breeding ground for yeast. Candida exists in all of us to some extent, and in small colonies causes no problems. However, when the body is off balance, for example, from taking antibiotics or other medications that disrupt the bacterial balance of the body, an overgrowth of candida can cause problems such as thrush, yeast infections, lowered immune function, and more.

The Diet

Getting rid of a yeast infection can be a vicious cycle. Constant yeast infections in the body can signify a systemic condition. It can affect the health of your immune system. An anti-Candida diet can help to rid the body of the yeast.

The diet is designed to take away the food for the yeast. Thinking of yeast that one would use to make bread rise - warm water helps give the yeast a perfect environment and the sugar activates it.

To get rid of yeast in the body, removing the sugar is the basic idea of the diet. But, there are other places that sugar exists besides simply in the form that we see on the kitchen table. Read the labels. Any food ending in “-ose” is a sugar in disguise and not what you want to eat on any diet designed to rid the body of yeast.

What about natural sugar, such as in fruit? While fruits contain many healthful antioxidants and vitamins, during your anti-candida diet you will want to avoid all sources of sugar - even fruit.

Sugary Pastry (Photo credit: nathanmac87)

What Not to Eat

We have already discussed avoiding sugar in its many forms. Another crucial place where you find sugars is in starchy foods. In the body, these carbohydrates break down into simple sugars. Any sugar is going to keep the Candida infection alive in the body. Avoid refined pastas, potatoes, white bread and anything made with white flour. Basically avoiding all highly processed foods will go a long way towards ridding your body of candida.

Some dairy products can hide sugars. If you like yogurt, be aware that flavored kinds can contain sugar and sabotage your efforts. Go for plain yogurts and those that contain bifidus regularis, acidophilus and other probiotic substances. These are good bacteria that will fight to regain their spot in the intestinal kingdom.

What to Eat

There are plenty of foods left that can tip the scales back in favor of the good bacteria in your body. Eat lots of vegetables, healthy grass-fed meats, omega-3 fatty acids, and garlic.

Drink plenty of water. Water removes toxins from the body. Taking a multivitamin can help rebuild the immune system along with the foods you are choosing to rebuild the bacterial flora. And if you don't eat yogurt, you should take a good daily probiotic supplement every day - even after you are done with your diet, to maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your body.

An anti-Candida diet can be followed for as long as you need to, until you are sure that your immune system is back on track. But typically if you are careful and do not eat ANY sugar, 30 days should be about the right amount of time to restore balance to your system.


Supplements That Fight Candida:

   

Cranberries- The Superfood to Stave Off Bladder Infections

Numerous studies have shown that cranberries may help to fight off urinary tract infections (UTIs). They reduce the power of certain E. coli bacteria to adhere to and penetrate the walls of the bladder.

In about half of the cases of UTIs, the E. coli responsible have special little hairy tips called P fimbria. The bacteria use their fimbria to attach themselves to the bladder so that they can multiply and cause an infection. That's where cranberries--which contain a group of chemicals called proanthocyanidins---come in. They bind to the P fimbria of the E. coli and hinder them so they are unable to sticking to the walls of the bladder. As a result, the E. coli is flushed out in the urine instead of causing an infection. And because cranberries remove rather than kill the bacteria, there’s less of a chance for the E. coli to become resistant.

Dried cranberries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s imperative that those who are prone to UTIs eat cranberries or drink cranberry juice on a daily basis, because once the bacteria are able to adhere to the wall, the infection sets in, and the cranberries can’t help at that point. Juice products sweetened with stevia or other natural sweeteners are probably best, as sugar can actually increase the proliferation of bacteria.

It’s probably best to use cranberry products twice a day if you are prone, as the effects of the cranberries wear off after about 10 hours.

You should also be diligent about drinking lots of fluids in order to flush the bladder out on a regular basis. Citrus fruits and fresh vegetables high in vitamin C are also good, as they help boost the body’s immunity and germ-fighting abilities. Coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages should be avoided, as well as alcohol. Be sure to complement your diet with plenty of foods rich in vitamin B, such as fortified cereals, lean proteins, asparagus, almonds and bananas, as they all assist the body in the digestive process and converting food to energy, which your body will need if it’s working to fend off a UTI.

Video: The Importance of Probiotics for Digestive Health

This short video gives a great introduction to probiotics and how and why they are so helpful for promoting good digestive health and immune function. A vast portion of our immune system is located in our gut, so a properly functioning digestive system, colonized with the right bacteria, is essential for overall health - and is something that is sadly lacking in many Westerners on a modern diet. Some have even surmised that unhealthy gut flora is the cause for many of our modern diseases and ailments.

Check out the video to learn more about probiotics and how they work, and why they are so important - and see below for some of the resources mentioned in the video.

Use Probiotics For Better Immune Function, Digestive Health & Less Gas - Dr. Agrios, ND
www.DrAngelaAgrios.com - Probiotics are friendly bacteria that reside in the gut, and they are essential for optimum gut health and immune function. Lack of friendly bacteria in the gut can lead to an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, and once that ...


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Natural Remedies for Food Poisoning

With all the holiday meals, potlucks, and celebratory feasts of the season, food poisoning is fairly common this time of year. Unfortunately, drugs to combat food poisoning can increase your body's toxic load, and create more of a burden on your already stressed system. And they really aren't any more effective than natural methods of dealing with food poisoning. Here are some natural tips for recovering quickly - if you happen to get sick from something you eat.

Color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph showing Salmonella typhimurium (red) invading cultured human cells (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Food poisoning is an all-encompassing term involving the consumption of contaminated food, whether by bacteria or chemicals, drug interactions, nutrient deficiencies or their excess. It can come on rather suddenly after eating; diarrhea or vomiting can begin 30 minutes to one hour after eating foods that are chemically poisonous; within one to 12 hours with bacterial poisoning, and 12 to 48 hours with viral or salmonella poisoning.

Food poisoning can be serious and a medical professional should be contacted especially if it is accompanied by a difficulty in swallowing, speaking or breathing; if there is a fever of 100 degrees F; if the person can't even hold down liquids; if there is severe diarrhea of more than two days.

The best remedy is to curtail eating until all the symptoms have subsided and the toxins have had the chance to exit your system.

Drink plenty of fluids - vitamin C and blackberry and peppermint teas can be taken then to strengthen the stomach, along with yogurt that contains acidophilus to recolonize the lost flora in the bowel. A good probiotic supplement can also work wonders at helping your body regain equilibrium quickly.

Diluted sweetened drinks can also be consumed to replace the body’s lost fluid and electrolytes, and the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples, and toast) can also be helpful in getting the toxins cleared from the body.

Food safety template. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mint, lemon, raspberry, chamomile or teas might also be helpful in easing the stomach pain associated with food poisoning or stomach cramping. Ginger tea is also good for settling an unsettled stomach, and promotes good digestion. Try to get plenty of rest as food poisoning can be an exhausting and nutrient-depleting chore for your body.

Of course, prevention is always better than a cure, so as a precaution against food poisoning, great care should be taken when preparing foods. Avoid over-handling foods, and when in doubt, throw it out – don’t take a risk with leftovers if you’re just not sure how long they’ve been in your refrigerator.

Once you’re feeling better, be sure to eat a well-balanced healthy diet that includes foods rich in iron, zinc, vitamin C to help your body get back to its old self again, and supply your stomach with a good probiotic supplement to get your immune system back on track.