We all want to be healthier. That's why health goals are among the most common New Years Resolutions every year. But deciding exactly how to tackle that goal can vary greatly from person to person.
The candida diet is one potential avenue. But what is the candida diet?
It's a diet that works to help reduce the presence of candida, a common fungus, in the body. Candida is quite common and is often found in the mouth, skin, digestive tract, or vagina.
The candida fungus is usually harmless. But a build-up of candida can eventually lead to infection or other health problems. As such, the candida diet can help to reduce the presence of the fungus in the body and alleviate such health concerns or issues.
Read on to learn more about this exciting new diet.
What Does A Candida Infection Look Like?
This may be the first time you're hearing about the candida fungus in your body. These fungus species actually help to aid digestion and absorption from food. A little bit of candida can be helpful, but a lot can be dangerous.
A candida infection can cause a number of painful or irritating symptoms. Common symptoms include nausea, bloating, or even chronic fatigue. The risk of developing skin issues or urinary tract infections both increase with a higher presence of candida.
Such an infection can even have an effect on mental health, causing mood swings or the onset of depression. Not all forms of candida can provoke these symptoms. In fact, of the many varieties, there are only 15 species of candida that have the potential for infection.
The most common troublemaker is Candida albicans, which is a variety that causes more than half of the known cases of infection.
What Is The Candida Diet?
Good question. If you're trying to avoid the above symptoms, it's helpful to limit the amount of fungus in your body.
The candida diet creates a meal plan that excludes sugar, gluten, alcohol, and certain dairy products. These kinds of foods can actually help to increase or even grow fungus in your body. Instead of these substances, the candida diet encourages replacement with natural-sugar fruits, green vegetables, and foods that are gluten-free.
That might sound pretty simple. But you're also probably curious to why certain foods are good or bad when it comes to candida overgrowth.
What's The Benefit of Gluten Free?
Studies on the effects of gluten in the body are still ongoing. But there are many claims that gluten can contribute to damage of the intestinal linings. Many people with stomach problems agree that symptoms recede after cutting gluten out of their diet.
Intestinal damage can put you at risk for higher odds of candida based infection. As such, the candida diet removes gluten-based foods from your diet. You can refer to a candida diet guide if you need help determining which foods are okay to eat.
Removing Sugar From Your Diet
It's a good idea to remove sugar from your diet even if you aren't trying to prevent candida infection. Sugar has a number of negative benefits on the health of your body, teeth, and mind. Very high sugar intake increases the odds of candida infection, especially in those with less than stellar immune systems.
Cutting out coffee with milk and sugar may seem like a difficult sacrifice, but it can be one of the best ways to help bring candida levels down.
No More Dairy In Your Day to Day
Speaking of milk, why is it important to avoid dairy products? Most dairy products contain lactose, which is a form of milk sugar. More than any other entity, lactose is to blame for increasing the production of candida in the body.
Lactose also increases acidity in the body and helps foster an ideal environment for candida growth. Cutting lactose based products out of your daily eating cycle can help to significantly limit candida growth.
Cleansing Before Dieting
Many who advocate from the candida diet also recommend performing a cleanse before beginning the dieting process. If you're not familiar with cleansing, it's a form of short-term dieting that serves to remove all toxins and negative influences from your body.
The most common way to perform a cleanse is to drink only fluids for 48 hours. This serves to 'wash out' or 'clean out' your body of other things. Drinking water, juice, or broth is common while cleansing.
Some people can't go that long without eating solid food. In this case, many cleanses are done by only eating vegetables for a given period of time. The most important aspect of a cleanse is the release of all negative influences on the body. You want to flush them out.
You must be careful when performing a cleanse. While it can be good for your digestive system, some people feel fatigued, headaches, or irritability due to low caloric intake. Ensure that you're still providing your body with proper nutrients during your cleanse period.
Living Healthier With A Candida Diet
No one wants to experience the negative repercussions of a candida infection. These problems can range from irritating to seriously damaging, depending on the severity.
What is the candida diet, then? A way to help protect the health of your body and mind. It's essential that you understand the steps you can take to limit candida levels.
Need some help preparing new meals for your diet? Check out our blog for some amazing and inspirational recipes.
