Foods To Avoid On The Candida Diet

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Not to be confused with the Canadian diet that may or may not consist of pure maple syrup, the Candida diet is much more complex.

Created in an effort to combat candida albicans, an extremely common yeast infection found in the mouth, intestinal tract and vagina, this diet is quite strict. This is mainly because when candida manifests itself as a viable infection, it can cause many health problems and even death.

In fact, candida albicans is extremely harmful to individuals with suppressed immune systems, according to researchers from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, candidiasis is one of the most frequent fungal infections determined in these immunosuppressive patients. In fact, in patients with weakened immune systems such as AIDS or cancer, when Candida enters the bloodstream, it often become the actual cause of death.

So, there is good cause for a diet such as this, and here are some of the foods diet experts say should be avoided.

1. Processed foods with high sugar content

This eliminates almost any snack you buy that is packaged, like cereal granola bars, cookies and crackers. Just like sugar is the active ingredient in causing yeast to grow when making bread, it does the same to this candida yeast inside your body. In fact, it provides direct energy to Candida colonies allowing them enough fuel to breed.

2. Fruit juice

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Fruit juice may sound healthy, but it really isn’t all that healthy, even if the label says it’s made of 100% fruit juice. This is due to the fact that when the juice is extracted from the juice, it loses most of its fiber, leaving only the sugar of that fruit. And without the natural fiber, your body processes the sugar way too fast, causing a spike in blood sugar.

Even though it isn’t refined sugar, your body sees it as the same, and as mentioned above, the sugar will allow Candida yeast to grow.

To avoid this, it is best to eat the whole fruit. However, some Candida experts recommend that those beginning the diet should stay away from all fruit in the beginning, due to the sugar content.

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3. Processed meats

Lunchables, bologna sandwiches, bacon, hot dogs. Spam. All processed meats need to be avoided because they contain dextrose (the dextrorotatory form of glucose), nitrates, sulfates, and sugars.

Consuming these foods can wreak havoc on your gut, weakening your immune system, which only worsens the chance of Candida being able to harm you. In fact, research of processed meats found that 11 out of 14 samples were able to grow  were able to grow Candida yeast.

4. Vinegar

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Vinegar, should be avoided if you already have Candida overgrowth. It’s true that fermented foods are good for restoring good bacteria, but, in the case of overgrowth, the healthy bacteria in your body is compromised, and your immune system is, too. Candida has also been found to feed off of of fermented foods, so, introducing good bacteria while also encouraging the yeast to multiply is a bit counterproductive.

It is best to kill off the Candida before introducing vinegar and other fermented foods to restore the good bacteria.

For similar reasons, alcohol should also avoided.

5. Mushrooms

Mushrooms are one of those foods that are debatable in the Candida world. Because they are a fungi derived from mold, they have immune boosting capabilities. Mushrooms are also full of antioxidants that  might help protect liver cells, that become stressed from defending the body from Candida.

However, since mushrooms are derived from mold, the toxins have the potential to damage your stomach lining, making it more porous and thus susceptible to Candida overgrowth. Some experts have even said that mushrooms can cross-react with Candida, causing your immune system may confuse them with Candida.

6. Maple Syrup

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To bring us full circle, and to remind you once again that this is the Candida diet, not the Canada diet, maple syrup is not allowed.

Due to its high sugar content – 14 grams in just one tablespoon to be exact — consuming this product that waves proudly on each Canadian flag will only encourage the growth of this dangerous yeast infection.

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