Yeast free diets are designed to reduce the overabundance of Candida in the body. Candida yeast is a major contributor to a range of chronic diseases including gut bloating, fatigue, insomnia, migraines, ‘brain fog’, depression, joint pain, male yeast infection, thrush in men, vaginal thrush and oral thrush. Candidiasis has also been linked by health professionals to Irritable Bowel Syndrome, arthritis, leaky gut syndrome, chronic fatigue and ADD.

The Candida yeast is present in all of us. The negative symptoms only occurs when the yeast multiples out of control. It is normally held in check by our natural body chemistry and the balance of healthy microorganisms in our body. It is not always possible to identify an individual causal agent that alters the natural balance in our body resulting in a Candida overgrowth. But risk factors include prolonged use of antibiotics, lowered immune system, unhealthy diet, hormonal changes (e.g due to pregnancy or menopause in women) and diabetes. Candida overgrowth can result in lowered blood sugar levels, leading to sugar cravings and overeating.

In order to address the root cause of Candidiasis, a yeast free diet plan is recommended. Also known as an ‘anti candida diet’ this requires the elimination of all types of sugar and processed carbohydrate from the diet. Given these restrictions, it can be hard to stick with a yeast free diet over a period of time. A more sensible approach is to focus on foods you can eat as part of the diet plan instead on what you should avoid.

Allowed yeast free diet foods include the following:

• All kinds of vegetables, including potatoes in moderation
• Beef
• Chicken
• Fish and seafood
• Eggs
• Cheese (but avoid blue, fermented and moldy cheeses)
• Oats and oatmeal
• Natural yogurt
• Rice
• Any kind of non-wheat four. Good substitutes are rice flour and corn flower
• Rice pasta
• Garlic (has known antifungal properties)
• Dietry fibre (changes how foods and chemical are absorbed in the gut)

It’s a good idea to supplement the diet with the following natural antifungal agents as part of an overall candida cleanse plan:

• Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus (a lactic acid Bacteria or LAB) and Bifidobacteria (the main group of bacteria that make up the intestinal flora). More on best probiotic supplements.
• Grape seed extract.
• Tea tree oil, long known to have antiseptic, antibacterial; and antifungal qualities. See tea tree oil for nail fungus, for example.
• Undecylenic acid, a fatty acid derived from castor oil with antimicrobial qualities.
• Green tea diet for a wide range of health giving properties

Focusing on what you can eat is often easier than focusing on what is restricted. Mix and match from the list above and you’ll be able to whip up some tasty yeast free diet recipes.  And the good news is that after following the diet for four to eight weeks (depending on the severity of your yeast infection), and once you are fee of symptoms you can start to re-introduce sugars and other restricted foods back into the diet. But you may also find that your sugar craving is reduced once you have the Candida under control.