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What is the candida diet?
ShareWhat is candida?
Candida is in almost all of us. The yeast (formally named candida albicans) loves the dark, warm depths of our body such as the gut. There, it can grow like a tree, sustaining on sugars and other nutrients that we eat.That sugar gets fermented, releasing gases into the blood. Which is why many people who are diagnosed with a candida problem often experience bloating and flatulence.
How is candida treated?
Too much candida can bring about all sorts of problems – the digestive disorders mentioned above as well as tiredness and lethargy, headaches, depression, dizziness, skin problems, respiratory issues, and even complications with the reproductive system.So the first step is to speak with a health professional to determine if you have a candida condition. They will then devise a treatment plan, which will likely include a new diet – also known as the candida diet.
What is the candida diet?
Since the crafty fungus feeds on sugar, the candida diet focuses on eliminating sugar. That’s not just sugar in cakes and cookies, but also those hidden sugars in fruit, dairy, soy, corn, nuts, and grains, for example.So what can you eat? Well, thankfully, as many vegetables as you want. You can also eat fruit, except grapes and melons and dried varieties. Rice is a welcome staple during the candida diet, and you can tuck into chicken and tofu and fish to your heart’s content. Eggs are OK, as are oats, and whole grains.
As you reduce your intake of sugars and fermented foods, the candida can no longer thrive and flourish. It, in essence, dies. Many therapists will also recommend taking probiotics to restore gut balance, and antifungals to directly target candida cells.
Ask anyone who has given up sugar and they’ll tell you it’s no easy feat. That's why you should only attempt an elimination diet under strict guidance by a health professional.
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