Food that Feeds Yeast and Food that Won't!

This is a candida diet even you can live with!

With over 25 years' experience with candida clients and nutritional kinesiology, I believe that there are only certain foods that feed yeast. They are very specific and I have listed them below. That is not to say that some people cannot be allergic to other foods; you might be one of those people. But as you eliminate the yeast foods and pay attention to your body, any allergies to other foods will be revealed to you over time. Pay attention to your body language; it is your greatest ally when it comes to healing you.

To begin healing yeast:

• AVOID all fruits (fresh, frozen or dried), EXCEPT you can eat grapefruit, lemon, lime, tangerines, strawberries, cranberries, kiwi, currants, mangoes, bananas & fresh pineapple.
• Do not eat walnuts or chickpeas. Any other nut, bean or seed is okay to eat.
• The only vegetables to stay clear of are mushrooms and sweet potatoes, so eat lots of fresh veggies (remember, organic is always better for the body). Try to keep fresh and steamed vegetables separate from one another. If digestion is compromised, they may cause digestive problems if consumed at the same time.
• No chocolate or caffeine. This includes coffee, caffeinated tea (black tea, green tea, chai tea - unless it stated "decaf" on the label) Carob is acceptable as a chocolate substitute. Water processed decaffeinated coffee is okay, but limit to one cup per day. Even better would be a coffee substitute that can be found at the health food store, such as Kaffree Roma or other natural coffee substitutes. Teeccino helps kick the coffee habit. It is brewed like coffee and gives us that same ritual feeling.
• Stay clear of sodas & city water.
• Avoid artificial flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives. Yeast loves anything that compromises the immune system.
• Avoid all white sugars and processed flours. They serve no purpose.
• Avoid any product made from yeast including breads and crackers.
• Avoid all cow cheese.

Now that you know what you cannot eat, the question becomes, "Then what can I eat?" Lots! Let's start with the essential... water!

Water is essential; drink only pure water. Avoid all city water. Make sure your water is from spring water that is pure. How we drink it is also important. Sipping water does not flush the system. A cup of water upon awakening re-hydrates the system; a cup before each meal flushes the system and gets our digestion ready for the next meal.

Grapefruit juice or a natural lemonade is acceptable on occasion. Herbal teas are good as long as they don't contain the fruits that are not allowed on the diet. Echinacea tea and Pau D'Arco tea are good for the immune system. For a treat, a natural soda such as one from the health food store is allowed, but again, don't be abusive and watch the fruits! Mineral waters are fine, but again watch the fruits! One of my favorite morning ritual drinks is a decaf chai tea (Roobos) with a little pure maple syrup, topped with Silk soy creamer. It doesn't get better than that!

Your sugars of choice are pure maple syrup, molasses, barley malt, rice malt, molasses, agave, & stevia. For those who do not have a history of sugar abuse, organic cane juice crystals and sucanat are also allowed. Very small amounts of honey are allowed - make sure they are last in the ingredient listings.

Meats, poultry and fish are allowed, except for pork which aggravates digestion. Keep your meats to small portions, no more than 4 or 5 oz. per meal and no more than once per day.

Your bread of choice will be whole grain sourdough bread such as Baldwin Hill or French Meadow - up to 2 slices per day. Whole grain sprouted breads, such as Alvarado and Ezekial are also permitted - 1 slice per day. Look for crackers that are whole grain and yeast free. Stick to whole grain or semolina pastas.

Avoid cow cheese. Substitute with soy, rice, goat or sheep cheese. Soy & rice cheese now come in a variety of flavors, including mozzarella, Swiss, American, Parmesan, sour cream & cream cheese. And more and more markets are offering a variety of goat and sheep cheese. Experiment and find the ones that suit your taste buds!

Many people have dairy allergies, so be conscious of this if you use cow milk. Allergies to cow milk may include bloating, colon issues, sinus problems, bronchial problems, and ear infections. Real butter is usually acceptable unless you are dealing with severe dairy allergies.

Eating a goat yogurt daily is often helpful but do not combine it with fruits. Instead use plain, maple or vanilla flavors. Adding pure maple syrup to plain goat yogurt turns it into a wonderful treat!