A yeast free diet entails abandoning, or at least drastically limiting the consumption of foods that contain yeast. Altogether, there are some 600 species of yeast whose medical name is Candida. The most commonly known type of yeast is baker’s yeast which is used to leaven bread. Yeasts are fungi and belong to the same family as moulds, mushrooms and many other foods and beverages that we have in our day-to-day diet. What necessitates a yeast free diet are the variety of reactions that a significant number of people suffer from after a yeast infestation also known as yeast overgrowth. In an effort to avoid yeast many people eat yeast free bread, and other yeast free diet recipes which altogether form a Candida free diet.
There are so many signs and symptoms of yeast overgrowth. Before mentioning these signs and symptoms, it is important to point out that we all have a degree of yeast in our bodies. In fact, yeast called Candida Albicans is found naturally in humans. While in the body it usually lives in harmony with other microorganisms. It may even be of use to our bodies. Certain things can occur that upsets this harmony initiating a spread out of the yeast across the body. This will lead to our bodies feeling unwell as the yeast overgrows and takes over other microorganisms. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of Candida;
- Headache
- Severe fatigue
- Stress
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Thrush
- Sore throat
- Bloated tummy
- Acid reflux
- Acne
As you can tell many of the symptoms will ground an individual and are quite worrisome. In order to manage the amount of yeast in your body, you will be required to follow a yeast free diet. This is a serious Candida diet regime as yeast is found in so many foods and beverages. Without a focused effort it will be extremely hard to uphold a yeast free diet. All in all the main objective of a diet free of yeast is to minimise an individual’s exposure to food rich in yeast as much as possible in a practical manner.
By following a diet which has no yeast, you eventually allow your body to regain its microbial balance. This is the only way to get rid of the symptoms and start on a new balanced slate. A Candida diet, as it is also known essentially has three stages namely giving a body time to cleanse itself, engaging in a controlled diet and finally returning back to way of life in terms of your usual diet.
Yeast Rich Foods To Avoid
A yeast free diet should ensure that you avoid certain foods that either contains yeast already or that will make your situation worse. You must avoid foods that contain a lot of sugar, for example. There are so many foods in this category that contain sugar and to be avoided. Examples of sugar rich foods include honey, chocolate, molasses, sweeteners, soft drinks such as coca cola and many others. The following are some of the foods over and above sugars that you must avoid in your Candida free diet;
- Cheese
- Ice cream
- Figs
- Grapes
- Fried or breaded meats
- Hot dogs
- Malt
- Peanuts
- Pistachios
- Prunes
- Raisins
- Pickles
- Relish
- Coffee
- Vanilla
- Vinegar
- Mushrooms
- Alcohol
As you can tell from the list above, foods to be avoided cut across vegetables, fruits, meats and condiments. This is a clear demonstration that traces of yeast are in so many foods that we eat on a daily basis.
Yeast Free Foods To Eat
In as much as there are certain foods to be avoided, there are also certain foods to be consumed in an effort to overcome the infested Candida in your body. The following is a list of foods to eat during your yeast free diet;
- Dry mustard
- Ginger
- Licorie
- Nutmeg
- Oils
- Paprika
- Parsley
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Corn
- Beets
- Celery
- Chives
- Asparagus
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Red pepper
- Green peas
- Tomato
- Bass
- Crab
- Codfish
- Herring
- lobster
- Bluefish
- Tuna
- Trout
- Shredded wheat
- Corn tortillas
This list is by no means exhaustive. There are so many food options that still remain after you eliminate all foods that contain yeast. Remember that your yeast free diet is not necessarily for a lifetime. In most cases it is designed to be restorative. To regain some balance and eliminate the nasty symptoms mentioned above. Over time, you will be able to return to your usual diet, in most cases. An important point of advice is that your old diet should be gradually reintroduced. By doing this, there is also an added advantage of being able to instantly identify the culprit foods. These are the ones that cause the imbalance in the first place.