Using food as, "Medicine", to heal your body and kick the yeast beast to the curb.
Using food as a healing agent is one of the most natural and beneficial ways to get Candida under control. Check out the food list below for the YES and NO items on your next grocery trip.
Do you feel over whelmed by your limitations? Think of the YES list as a new adventure. Challenge yourself to find recipes that will tickle your taste buds. Whether you prefer spicy, savory, or sweet, there are delicious recipes and food combinations for everyone.
Now that you have an idea of the difference between foods that heal and foods that harm. What next?
Do Not Feed the Beast!
The main thing to keep in mind when looking at the food list is to remember that there are three things the yeast beast CAN NOT live without.
The first is sugar. Starchy vegetables, high sugar fruits, glutenous grains and sweeteners all provide a welcoming environment for yeast to thrive in the body.
Second, is mold. Since yeast is part of the mold and fungus family, it is important to avoid foods such as mushrooms and certain nuts that sustain its presence and encourage its growth.
Third, is vinegar. Vinegar is one of yeasts favorites. Be careful especially to avoid prepared foods (like mustard) that include vinegars in the ingredients. In the beginning I recommend starting with simple whole foods and slowly learning to develop your own condiments using ingredients from the YES list! You can check out some of my condiment recipe's here.
Overall, consuming foods from the No list is like inviting yeast to an, "All-it-can-eat buffet", with it's favorite cousins, and an open bar. In an environment like that, the party only gets louder, bigger, and quickly out of control!
So, how do we use food to achieve the opposite effects? In my earlier post, "What is Candida?" I mentioned the third remedy for sending the yeast beast packing is to Consume Antifungals. Quite simply, this means putting food in your body that yeast does not like, can not live on, and will create an unwelcoming environment for it to grow.
First, low-sugar foods will inhibit yeast's appetite, and stunt its growth. Non starchy vegetables, low sugar fruits, and non glutenous grains essentially starve yeast of its primary source of food so it can not thrive.
Second, choosing foods that inhibit mold growth, such as coconut, rutabaga, radishes, onion, garlic, and more, will create an environment that is hostile for yeast, and it wont stick around as easily.
Third, choosing organic meats with no added ingredients (sulfates, dextrose, nitrates etc.) is important for discouraging the beast's stay.
Finally, the BEST tip I can give you when changing your diet is to start with one meal at a time. Strip food down to the basic ingredients and build up your recipes and meal ideas from there. Keep a list handy of your favorites, and use it to keep yourself inspired when you meal plan and create your shopping list. Check out some of my favorite recipes if you need help getting started!