Candida Diet, Cleanse & Recipes by Eric Bakker N.D.

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Can I Drink Juices If I Have A Yeast Infection?

by Eric Bakker N.D.

After having successfully worked with many candida patients over the years I have become convinced that fresh juicing can be one of the most successful nutritional options in giving yeast infected patients a radiant, energetic life, and a truly optimal digestive function leading to excellent health. Even bottled, canned, or concentrated juices cannot ever match the nutrient value of freshly prepared juices.  Most canned or bottled juices have been pasteurized which destroys many of the nutrients in juices and all too often you will find that preservatives and artificial colors have been added.

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Juicing may not agree with some people with yeast infections, but with many others it will be perfectly fine, so it may be a case of trial and error for you. I’m not there to assist you with your particular case and that is why perhaps you bought my book so I’d recommend you give it a try, particularly as you improve. Did you try initially and then aggravate? Then stop, stick with the Candida Diet I have outlined and come back to juicing later as you improve.

It’s a great option to add fresh veggie drink as a part of your regime.  This is just another way to incorporate fresh fruit & vegetables into your diet. The best thing about raw vegetable and fruit juice is that these foods are packed full of many essential vitamins and minerals, enzymes and amino acids which are all critical in maintaining excellent health.

Please do keep an open mind and don’t think that juicing is not for you because you have a yeast infection because you have been told or read online that you should “strictly avoid all fruits and limit many vegetables because the yeast will thrive on all those sugars”. Can you imagine what the cells of your body experience once you start to drink fresh juice every day? You will be absolutely amazed at the difference it can make to any underlying chronic health complaint you may well have had forever, regardless of whether it is diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or a chronic candida yeast infection. I have found that diabetics improve rapidly on a regime of fresh fruit and vegetable juice – and they have blood sugar issues and should in theory become very sick by all these “sugars” but they don’t, they thrive in fact. But in saying that, I do recommend you limit the very high fructose containing fruits initially. In my book the Candida Crusher you will be able to see tables outlining the fruits with the highest sugar content right down to those with the lowest, the same with vegetables.

Similarly, patients with acute bacterial infections do well on a short juice fast, but we are told that those with bacterial infections should avoid sugars for a quick recovery because “bacteria thrive on sugars and an acid forming diet”. They do – but they thrive on the refined sugars mostly, not the sugars in fresh produce.

Be sure to get a copy of Candida Crusher, it is simply the best permanent yeast solution online manual you will find, and at 718 pages, the most comprehensive too.

Here are ten good reasons why juicing is so good if you have a yeast infection overgrowth:

  1. Valuable and sensitive micro-nutrients are locked in your fresh foods and become damaged and even destroyed when you heat up foods, and juicing every day ensures you lose virtually none of these nutrients. As soon as you heat up food and process it in any way you begin to alter the shape and chemical composition.
  2. Five to eight serves of fresh fruit and vegetables daily. You may well have heard that we all need to eat between five to eight servings of fruit and vegetables daily if we want to maintain optimal health, and juicing is the best way to get those servings. Daily juicing is the easiest way to guarantee the yeast infected will take in his or her daily quota. Many yeast infected patients are nutrient deficient because they have issues with their small and large intestine.
  3. Nutrients are more easily absorbed from juices as opposed to eating them cooked. Many yeast sufferers reading this will have an impaired digestive system, and consuming vegetable and fruit juices allows their body to more easily access all those critical minerals, trace elements and other nutritional factors.
  4. You eat a larger variety of vegetables and fruits by juicing them. It is a fact that most of us tend to eat the same vegetables and fruits, by juicing you eat a much larger selection and therefore increase your chances of getting all those important nutrients you wouldn’t otherwise consume. Eating the same vegetables and fruits can violate the principle of food rotation and increases your chance of developing an allergy or intolerance to a certain food.
  5. Fiber is your intestinal broom. All that pulp or fiber inside the fruits and vegetables you juice acts like a broom inside your digestive tract.  And this fiber is critical part of the whole digestive process.  Without the fiber, the system slows down and can even stall causing constipation. Fiber is also necessary to assist in the cultivation of beneficial bacteria.
  6. Your blood sugar will be more stable. If you drink straight fruit  juice then the sugars may get into the bloodstream too quickly which may spike your blood sugar and cause other problems the body has to then deal with (like high insulin and cortisol).  It may be counter-productive and do more damage than good!  The fiber allows the nutrients to enter the blood stream at the perfect speed – not too fast and not too slow, just like nature intended because it created the juice and fiber at the same time. Consuming straight fruit juice like orange juice may even cause your blood sugar to rise rapidly like drinking a soda drink! This is especially the case if you drink 100% pure orange juice, or carrot juice made from those fancy new hybrid carrots or apples, bred to taste sweeter with a very high sugar content. Yes, many fruits and vegetables are hybridized to contain more sugar for increased consumption with their unnaturally high sugar content. I believe the real reason many love to drink 100% carrot or orange juice is because it is feeding their sugar addiction, but in reality they are just swapping one sugary drink for another. Be careful folks, if it tastes really sweet you may wonder what you are doing to the yeast inside your digestive system!
  7. Whole foods are best consumed for optimal health. By consuming juice you are consuming whole foods. If you get a juicer like a Vitamix, the only one I recommend, you will be drinking everything in a vegetable and fruit, including the skin, seeds, the entire lot. You simply can’t get more “whole” than that.
  8. Need to improve energy levels, reduce aging, and lose weight?
    Fresh vegetable and fruit juices have been shown to help with general well being.  Most people who juice regularly have more energy and stamina, and improved immune function, which means fewer colds.  Juicing has also been shown to have a positive effect on cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and the aging process itself. It can also be very important in any weight loss program, and can make a person with a yeast infection feel really good in a short space of time.
  9. Faster nutrient uptake by your bloodstream. Whenever you consume fresh veggie and fruit juices you are significantly decreasing the digestive procedure that usually takes place when you eat food.  But remember, please don’t remove all that fiber as it may leave the nutrient-dense juice a little too easily and rapidly digested. The antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of fresh juice are effectively delivered throughout the intestinal tract walls into the bloodstream, whereby they become accessible for use by the entire body.
  10. Optimal nutrition without the calories, fat, or additives.  Most people who eat a typical supermarket based diet consumed in countries like America or Australia are consuming way too many over-cooked and over-processed foods that are high in fat, calories, sugar and salt.  In addition, these foods contain many food additives, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavors.  Poor and nutrient stripped diets such as these contribute to heart disease, cancer and a variety of other diseases and most certainly can be a causative factor with yeast infections, especially when such foods are consumed in conjunction with a high stress lifestyle. Natural juices contain an instant form of superior nutrition and are certainly far more healthy than the liquids we often consume like soft drinks, coffee, tea or alcoholic beverages.

My Candida Crusher book contains many “Health Tips” like the one below:

Health Tip – Caution with Fruit Juices Initially

Do you have a chronic yeast infection and perhaps crave sugar or sweet things? Maybe you have diabetes, are overweight or obese or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol (high triglycerides in particular). Then I’d advise caution with high fructose containing fruits, the very sweet fruits, and it is best to limit these fruits until you normalize your condition. Yeast infections, especially when chronic, can initially aggravate with fresh sweet fruit juices, but in my experience if you persist with an 80% vegetable juice and 20% fruit juice blend you should be fine after a few days. That is providing you only take in vegetable and fruit juices and avoid  solid foods containing any form of sugar (especially the refined sugars found in processed foods) for up to a week. Yes, it is possible to have juice if you have a yeast infection, but just make the right choices and experiment. STOP if you feel worse or an aggravation of your symptoms, you may need to experiment with different combinations until you’ve worked out what best suits your needs. You are always safe with lemon and lime however, and these two fruits are a good addition to any vegetable juice which may be bitter, as these two citrus fruits are great at masking any strongly bitter flavors of some of the more beneficial deep leafy greens like broccoli, collards or spinach. As you improve, you should be able to include more fruits in your diet over time, I’ve witnessed this with countless yeast infected patients and it works.

Get a your copy of Candida Crusher today, and discover all the diet and nutrition tips in the internet’s most comprehensive candida manual that came to fruition after more than twenty years of treating patients with yeast infections. Many of my tips you simply won’t find elsewhere, because most all books available online regarding candida yeast infection were not written by a health-care professional, but by a person who compiled information already available online.

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My book Candida Crusher is finally available, you can order it right now, you can get it through candidacrusher.com.

Have you completed my yeast infection self-evaluation test ? It is the best one online, it took me ages to make and you can evaluate men, women and children. And, if you have any questions you can’t find on my You Tube channel, feel free to ask me and I’ll try my best to answer your question on You Tube. Please subscribe to my channel. Let me know if you want me to mention your name, location, etc, or if you wish to remain anonymous.

The Candida Crusher Diet

by Eric Bakker N.D.

This diet works best with Candida Crusher supplement, Canxida Remove, Restore and Rebuild. If you require further information then please feel free to contact me.

My Candida Crusher book provides extensive information about how to rid yourself of Candida – for good – and most likely is the most informative book available today. However to assist you further in crushing your Candida infection my website provides you not only with an interactive yeast infection test which you can find here. But also a range of videos on my YouTube channel. If you can’t find the answer to your question you also have the option of subscribing to my YouTube channel and emailing me. I’ll be pleased to answer any questions as frequently as I can and, if you require anonymity, then it is guaranteed – just don’t forget to mention it in your email.

Coming in at nearly 800 pages my Candida Crusher Book offers the most comprehensive information available which will enable you to rid yourself of this opportunistic yeast infection – for good. Although my web pages offer you an insight into the basics of my diet and lifestyle plans, which gives you an excellent grounding to resolving Candida issues, those requiring in-depth information into the causes, effects and treatments may want to invest in my book to enable resolution of such issues.

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The Basics of the Candida Crusher Diet

1. Although most people are often advised to avoid junk foods, it has to be remembered that these include: White processed sugar, white processed flour and soda drinks. Junk foods are not limited to takeaways and microwave meals.

2. Introduce a wide range of nutritious and organic foods in to your diet.

3. Sugars of all kinds are a food-fest for Candida and should be avoided. This includes: chocolate, honey, molasses, maple syrup and sugars of all kinds.

4. Initially avoid all fruits (fructose is a sugar too) with the exception of those in the list below, including fruit juices and dried or candied fruits.

5. Don’t eat the same food types every day. Remember to rotate your menu choices.

6. Low carbohydrate vegetables, seafood, eggs and lean meats are better food choices.

7. Fresh, natural and healthy is best. Organic is better and locally produced organic is better still. Avoiding anything that comes out of a packet is, generally speaking, a good move because these are usually full of additives, sugars and colorants.

Good Food Choices

Although it can initially seem that most Candida diets are restrictive with my Candida Diet Program there are many foods which you can eat freely. Once you start on my diet you will also often find that, as your Candida becomes under control, your cravings for poor quality foods starts to diminish.

Vegetables

Although vegetables can be distinguished by high and low carbs, most contain simple carbohydrates. I advocate eating the ones listed below, and, when it comes to cabbage, at least 1 cup per day. Eating vegetables raw is not particularly beneficial (I explain this in more detail in my book) and lightly steamed vegetables are always a better choice. The big exception here is garlic. Eating crushed garlic raw releases enzymes which are beneficial to the digestive processes.

  • Asparagus
  • Bean Sprouts
  • Beets
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Capsicum
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Endive
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Leeks
  • Mustard
  • Okra
  • Onions
  • Parsley
  • Radishes
  • Salad greens
  • Spinach
  • String beans
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnips
  • Watercress
  • Zucchini

Fruits

Although I advise for fruits to be avoided, what has to be remembered is that this rule applies only to the ‘initial’ steps in the diet and is not advised long-term. What I mean by initial, is that for at least 2 weeks fruits are avoided but then these can be gradually reintroduced. Some fruits however are still acceptable and the world won’t come to an end even if you break the 2 week rule. These include: Avocado (up to 1/2 daily), Blueberries (only a small daily amount), coconut (fresh only), strawberries (maximum 8 per day). Also you can have both lime and lemon juice, the latter being noted for stimulating gastric juices.

Vegetable juice is fine but you must keep all the fiber in it, although fruit juices (other than lime and lemon) should be avoided for at least 2 months. The main fruits to avoid include, grapes, dried fruits and melons of any kind.

The Importance of Protein

Protein is needed to form amino acids and it is one of the main constituents of my Candida Crusher Diet.

Meat and Eggs

Meat from animal sources is the most easily accessed form of convertible protein. I recommend eating at least 2 portions per day. If you cannot tolerate this amount in 2 sittings, then simply break the same amount into smaller, more easily digestible meals. If you suffer from constipation or diarrhea eating this amount of meat, then build up to it gradually over a period of 2 or 3 weeks and allow your digestive system to accustom itself to the changes.

The meats I recommend are lean, organic cuts of; Beef, chicken, lamb, pork, turkey, veal or venison. Seafood also provides much the same source of protein and the best ones to try include: Cod, crab, crayfish,mackerel, paua, sardines, shrimp or tuna. This selection includes fish which is frozen or canned but breaded fish is best avoided and canned products should be in water or olive oil and contain no additives or sugars.

Eggs too are a good source of protein but should be limited to 1 per day.

Vegetarian Options

Most people practicing vegetarianism already have a good idea of the best sources of protein, however for my diet they need to include high protein nuts, seeds and grains. Some will prefer tofu or other soy sources such as tempeh, or will at least use these to vary their menu. Of course lentils, beans and peas are good protein sources and most vegetarians consume these as part of their regular diet. I have done a comprehensive video on my youtube channel on the topic which you can watch to learn more.

Nuts

Nuts are a great source of protein and are suitable for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. However remember to buy only raw fresh nuts and avoid the salted, sweetened, flavored and roasted varieties. My favorites for this diet include: Almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, macadamia and walnuts. Sunflower and sesame seeds are also a good, healthy accompaniment.

Beverages

For the first 2 weeks of my diet avoid fruit juices – excluding lime and lemon which have already been mentioned as aiding digestion. Vegetable juice too is to be avoided if it doesn’t include the fiber. After 2 weeks fruit juices can be slowly introduced back into the diet.

Alcohol should be avoided, permanently, as should all sodas.

An herbal tea such a Pau d’arco or Horopito are both considered to be antifungal and work well in crushing Candida. Other alternative beverages include water which can be flavored with lemon or lime and herbal teas – but remember to leave out the sweetener.

The First 2 Weeks (Are the Hardest)

Many people are disappointed to learn that on the Candida Crusher Diet their infection will not be resolved in a matter of 24 hours or so by taking a supplement. And, in our ‘quick fix’ society this often comes as a disappointment. However when it comes to Candida infections what most people should be aware of is that if you take the time to resolve it the right way then it’s gone – for good! Candida is a chronic condition that takes years to develop so it should come as no surprise that, despite what some supplement manufacturers might promise, it cannot be resolved overnight or over the course of a few days.

What might also come as a slight disappointment is that the first 2 weeks on the Candida Crusher diet are the most difficult to negotiate. The reasons the first 2 weeks are the hardest are twofold: Firstly, you are embarking on what is essentially an elimination diet and by anyone’s standards this is usually an uncomfortable task. Secondly, it is quite likely that, because your yeast overgrowth has been the driving force behind some of your food cravings, then withdrawal symptoms will result.

The good news is that once you have negotiated this slightly rocky road, then you are well on the way to achieving permanent recovery. And, after only 2 or 3 weeks you can start introducing some of your favorite foods back into your diet.

Starch and Sugars in Vegetables

One problem people find themselves facing is in deciding which vegetables to eat. This is because many sufferers are unaware that some vegetables contain starches which are actually forms of sugar. To get around this problem I provide some guidance on which vegetables to avoid in the first 2-3 weeks and they include:

Beans, baked potatoes, Lima beans, peas, pumpkin, snow peas, squash and pumpkin.

If these are your favorites then take comfort in the fact that after the first 2-3 weeks on the elimination diet you will be able to start introducing them back onto your menu, but in small, infrequent servings.

Grains

Grains are a sticky subject at the moment when it comes to dietary regimens and this is mainly due to many people having an intolerance to gluten. Some will just go for avoiding wheat and others will abstain not only from wheat but also oats, rye and barley. Oats actually don’t contain gluten and they can be tolerated by some people, but on my diet I suggest that not only the above grains are avoided but also all grains for at least 3 months. This, obviously, includes all products made with grains and which usually include yeast which can also aggravate a Candida infection. If I were to make exceptions then these would be, amaranth, buckwheat, brown rice and quinoa.

Because gluten is the main offender when it comes to intolerances and, because oats don’t contain gluten, I usually offer to make one exception to the rule – rolled oats or porridge for breakfast are acceptable – but without any sugar, honey, jams or jelly on the top!

Breads, Biscuits and Baked Goods

As I stated in the grains section it is preferable to lay off products which are made with both grains and yeast. Unfortunately this rules out most baked goods. Many also contain sugar which, as we know, simply feeds a yeast overgrowth. Certainly abstain from these products for at least the first 2-3 weeks elimination period, and, if possible, a whole 3 months before you try introducing them back into the diet slowly. The good news is that because you will have killed off a good amount of the yeast infection by this time, your desire for sweet products will be much reduced anyway.

Foods To Avoid When You Have a Yeast Overgrowth

There is no doubt that many foods are best avoided forever simply because they are often an underlying cause of yeast overgrowth in the first place. However most foods on my diet are avoided for somewhere in between the first 3 weeks on the program and avoiding for the duration of the Candida Crusher diet. If you are unclear about any guidelines or want to ask about a food product which is not included here, then please feel free to email me.

Sugar Foods

It is sometimes difficult to establish which foods contain sugar simply because many are ones which actually convert to sugar within the body. For example, lactose is a dairy sugar in milk and dairy products, and it is converted by an enzyme, lactase in the digestive tract. Yet there are more obvious ones such as honey, molasses, maple syrup and jellies which, quite clearly, should not be ingested for at least the first 3 weeks of my program. Others however which you might not immediately think of include:

  • Corn syrup
  • Date sugar
  • Fructose
  • Galalactose
  • Glucose
  • Glycogen
  • Maltose
  • Mannitose
  • Maple sugar
  • Sorbitol
  • Sucrose

And don’t forget to also abstain from Stevia and Xylitol.

Packaged and Processed Food Sugars

Although most people tend to think of additives as being chemically synthesized compounds which are added to foods, one of the main additives is actually…sugar. Most products, from tinned tomatoes through to canned fish and coconut, actually contain refined sugar and usually in the form from at least one in the list above. Remember to read labels and avoid anything with added sugar in any form.

Breads, Cheese, Milk and Pastries

Since we have already established that the main food offenders in aggravating a Candida overgrowth are grains, sugars and yeasts, then all the above products need to be avoided for at least the first 3 weeks of the diet.

Cheese contains not only dairy sugars but also many molds. Molds are simply variants of fungi and can exaggerate a Candida problem.

Foods which are acceptable, and which can be eaten in reasonable quantities are what I call the Mevy foods. These are Meat, Eggs, Vegetables and Yogurt. These products will feed the body while simultaneously starving a yeast overgrowth.

Alcohol

Alcohol of all types should be avoided. Not only will it aggravate a yeast overgrowth but it is also now suspected of being a primary cause. This has been established because research has been done which indicates that most people suffering from a dependence on alcohol also have gut dysbiosis – an imbalance of gut microflora.

I provide several articles which discuss alcohol and Candida specifically and two can be found here… And here… However the general rule is quite simple to remember – avoid alcohol…forever.

Condiments and Sauces

Although vinegar is said to stimulate the digestive tract unfortunately many mass produced products contain not only sugars but also they accumulate molds – neither of which are conducive to ridding yourself of Candida. Although they are not manufactured with molds included, these simply grow as they sit for long periods on shelves either inside the refrigerator or outside. If you have these products in your kitchen then check out the use-by dates and the condition of the bottles and jars and dispose of them if necessary. Also check the ingredient lists for added sugars. The main ones to avoid are:

  • Barbecue Sauce
  • Chili Sauce
  • Horseradish
  • Mincemeat
  • Mustard
  • Shrimp
  • Steak Sauce
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Tamara
  • Worcestershire Sauce

If you want to get around the sauce problem then make your own from an organic virgin olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice which is great as a salad dressing.

Malted Products

Although products containing malt can be psychologically comforting, they should be avoided for the first 3 weeks on the Candida Crusher diet. This is because malt is made from grains, and the products themselves usually contain added sugar in one form or another. Product names vary depending on the country but most are sold as night-time beverages.

Processed and Smoked Meats

Although I advise eating meat at least twice a day on the Candida Crusher diet, I am referring to that which is lean, organic and uncooked at purchase. Processed and smoked meats generally, at best, contain both preservatives and you might be surprised to learn, sugar. Often canned and pickled fish products come into this category as do hot dogs, corned beef and even pickled tongue. Because of this you should avoid these products for at least the first 3 weeks of my diet and after introduce them slowly back in. Even then they should be eaten only infrequently.

Fungi

Edible fungi should be avoided but only for the first 3 weeks of my diet plan. After that you can reintroduce this food back into your diet.

Melon

All melons should be avoided and particularly watermelon, honeydew melon and cantaloupe.

Coffee and Tea

It is preferable to avoid coffee and tea if at all possible. If not, then at least try cutting back your daily consumption. Neither can you add milk or sugar during at least the first 3 weeks on the diet. If you can manage to avoid such drinks totally during my diet then all the better. Herbal teas offer some alternative options but it has to be remembered that these are not teas at all but simply different plant mixtures. Green tea is a viable alternative but white tea, which is not as easily obtained, is slightly more palatable and contains more antioxidants.

Fruit Juices and Sodas

As I’ve already said above fruit juice of all kinds with the exception of fresh lemon and lime, needs to be avoided for the first 3 weeks. Sodas should be avoided forever. When it comes to juices remember that even ones which appear to be healthy, such as apple, pineapple and orange, are only going to exaggerate your yeast infection. This includes products which are fresh, frozen, canned or bottled. Fitness or energy drinks are a definitely no-no and come under the no-soda rule.

Candied and Dried Fruits

Often dried fruits are seen as being a healthy option by some people. This is more-so due to their inclusion in products like muesli. Yet these fruits are actually full of concentrated sugar which is probably why many people crave an extra bowl of cereal in the mornings! Some dried fruits, whether in cereals or otherwise, contain more concentrated sugars than others, so ones to avoid in particular include, apricots, dates, figs, prunes and raisins.

Leftovers

Although it is good economic practice to save leftovers instead of throwing them away you have to remember to do it properly. Simply covering food with film and leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or over two nights, still leaves it open to growing mold and spores. Inadequate re-heating can fail to kill those spores and can result in your ‘topping up’ the fungi and yeasts already lurking in your body. Where possible freeze leftovers and remember to defrost and reheat thoroughly before consuming. When it comes to leftovers, the freezer is your friend!

Related articles:

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  • Can I Drink Juices If I Have A Yeast Infection?
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  • Your Decision to Eat Soy is a Personal Choice
  • Constant Smell Down There Is Driving Me Crazy? What is it? Is it Yeast Infection?

Summary

There is no quick-fix to ridding yourself of a yeast infection. However if you do it properly then not only will your ailments resolve, your general health and mental outlook will also benefit. Imagine not to be driven every day by cravings for sweet stuff or alcohol or coffee. These things drip-drip into our lives and, before we realize it, they are suddenly driving forces of our daily routine rather than being small, insignificant parts of our existence.

It will probably take months and some willpower to resolve your Candida overgrowth – but when it happens life will take on new meaning.

Candida Yeast Overgrowth And Carbohydrates

by Eric Bakker N.D.

Carbohydrates are an important part of our diet being an important source of energy for our body. Carbohydrates are converted into glucose by our digestive system and glucose is used to provide energy to our cells to work. Any extra sugar is stored in the liver and muscles and used when we run low on energy, like when we are fasting or starving. Because carbohydrates are a source of glucose which is also one of the favourite foods of candida, you need to know about carbohydrates, which carbohydrates to include in your daily meals and how to get your energy without helping candida.

What does candida use carbohydrates for?

Like us, candida uses carbohydrates as source of glucose which it then converts to energy. Apart from using them as a source of energy and growth, candida utilizes carbohydrates for:

1. Protection against our immune system: It sabotages our immune system in many ways and becomes more infective in presence of glucose as described in a review from 1990 by Hostetter from USA.

2. Change from harmless to disease causing form: Hudson and colleagues from New Zealand showed in 2004 that candida uses glucose to change from harmless oval form to pathogenic filamentous form.

3. Biofilm formation: Pereira and colleagues from Spain showed in 2015 that high levels of glucose switch on the genes for biofilm formation in Candida. Biofilms make candida more resistant to treatment and our immune system.

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Unlike us humans, candida can also use glucose when there is lack of oxygen to get its energy – a condition that is provided by our gut. This is called fermentation in the gut. When there is not much oxygen, candida can still process glucose through an alternative pathway – the alcohol fermentation pathway where it converts glucose to alcohol.

A few cases have been reported in the scientific literature where people who have not had any alcohol had all the symptoms of being drunk. If yeasts and other bacteria (like clostridium) that grow in absence of oxygen start producing some amounts of alcohol, it can become a problem for us causing dizziness, brain fog and other issues related with alcohol.

Types of carbohydrates and their usefulness to us vs. usefulness to candida

Based on their chemical structures, carbohydrates are basically of two types:

a. Simple: Sugars in foods like fruits, vegetables, milk. Also includes added sugars like those in cakes, cookies.
b. Complex: These are of two types –

  • Those that can be digested: These are starches which are broken by our body into sugars. Starches are found in vegetables like potatoes, beans, peas and corn and in breads cereals and grains
  • Those that cannot be digested: These carbohydrates, the dietary fibres, pass through our body without being broken down into sugar. Despite not being used for energy, these are important because they help get rid of excess fats in intestines (preventing heart disease), help push food through the intestines (preventing constipation). Fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, nuts, seeds and whole grain foods are rich in fibre.

Based on the way they are utilised by our body, carbs are also classified according to their glycemic index (GI) – the ease with which they get converted to glucose. White bread has been set to have a glycemic index of 100 and is used as a reference food. The table (adapted from a 2002 review article by Augustin and colleagues from Italy, Canada and France) shows GIs of some common foods as compared to white bread. Red=very high, Orange=high, Dark green=Low, Light green=very low

Carbohydrate source Glycemic index
(as compared to white bread)
White bread 100
Sucrose 92
Honey 104
Cornmeal/cornflakes 100-120
Potatoes 120
Pizza 86
Pasta 50-70
Banana (ripe) 85
Oranges 62
Banana (underripe) 43
Beans 40-60
Grapefruit 36
Lentils 30-40
Milk 39
Fructose 32
Cherries 32
Tomatoes 13

High glycemic index carbs: These are the carbohydrates that are easily and quickly converted into glucose. These raise our blood glucose levels and result in high insulin demand. Sugar for example has a GI of 92 when compared to white bread. This means that white bread is faster at releasing sugar as compared to even sugar! Problem with such carbs: a) sudden rise in blood glucose which is great for candida, b) sudden large rises in insulin may lead to our cells becoming resistant to insulin – this means they refuse to take up any sugar at insulin’s command. This makes us glucose intolerant which means a constantly high level of blood glucose – which again is beneficial to candida.

Low glycemic index carbs: These carbohydrates release glucose slowly and hence there is not a sudden increase in our blood sugar when we eat such carbs. The body can therefore produce low levels of insulin to use up this glucose. Low levels of insulin that reduce quickly after doing what they need to do prevents our cells from becoming insulin resistant. So there is not much glucose circulating in our blood constantly and this is great because candida does not have too much sugar to feast on and multiply!

There are a couple of things to be aware of when looking at GIs of different foods:

  • There GI may change depending on how the food is processed. For example, raw carrot has a GI of 20. As soon as they are boiled, their GI increases to 50! Pasta cooked al dente (firm to bite) has lower GI than pasta cooked until it is totally soft. Grains that are made to “explode” like popcorn, puffed rice are high in GI.
  • Quantity of food: Having a huge portion of a low GI food will still result in higher blood glucose. So, if you have twice the amount of low GI food, you can expect to have twice the amount of blood glucose.
  • How ripe is the fruit: The GI value of a fruit goes up as it ripens. New potatoes have lower GI than old potatoes.
  • Including soluble fibre (like that found in apples and vegetables) and having several smaller meals can reduce the rate of glucose absorption and insulin levels. So, if you do take a meal with some high GI food, remember to include some fibre in your diet and keep the meal small.

All this means that it will be better to have lower GI carbohydrates than higher if you have candida issues – however you can still have high GI foods to some extent if you follow certain rules as described above.

Additionally, a research study from 1988 by Woelver and colleagues from Canada showed that low GI foods eaten at dinner improve our body’s response to breakfast – our blood sugar does not spike like it normally does when we breakfast. This is called as the second-meal effect. Because the low GI dinner releases glucose slowly and continuously while you are asleep, your breakfast is no surprise to your body and so there is no glucose spike! To let your body heal from havoc caused by candida and to limit its growth, you could use this second-meal effect to your advantage and avoid morning spikes of glucose and insulin.

Are there some good carbs I can eat during the diet?

Whole wheat grain and flours, organic fresh and frozen vegetables, sea vegetables like nori, kombu, wakame, beans and pulses, chickpea and its flour, natural unsweetened yogurt can be eaten when on candida diet. You may also have brown or wild rice, buckwheat pasta, flatbread (chapatti) made from chickpea flour.

How much carbs can I have per day if any?

Basically, your carb intake should not be less than the recommendations for a healthy person – however, you need to replace the carbs that breakdown easily to carbs that breakdown slowly and gradually. Do not take any added simple sugars – this you should avoid like plague. Avoid fruit juices for the first 2-3 weeks on the diet. Dried fruits are not recommended. Avoid refined foods like white flour – white flour bread, pasta, etc. It is better that you have good quality (organic or home grown in an organic manner) carbs in smaller quantity than bad quality in large quantity.

Can I have carbs craving on the diet?

Carbohydrate craving is possibly caused in some people because eating carbs raises insulin and rising insulin reduces sugar in the blood. Some people recommend severely reducing carbs in the diet to reduce insulin response and cravings while others suggest taking carbs which have low glycemic index. However, there is not much research done on this and each person may have a different response. So what is important is to cut down your carb intake slowly and never cut down all carbs (as your body needs them) – but definitely cut down on the worse offenders (things that contain added sugar). As you cut down your sugar intake and start taking good sources of carbohydrates, your cravings will reduce.

Are refined carbohydrates okay?

No, refined carbohydrates are not the best things even when you do not have any issue with candida. When you do have candida, you should put in extra efforts to remove them from your diet. The problem with refined carbs is that they get digested easily and raise your blood sugar real quick. This is great for candida. You can read more about how glucose worsens your candida condition here.

Related articles:

  • Always Disconnected & Dizzy: Is It Candida?
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Do carbohydrates feed candida?

Anything that feeds us will feed candida – but one cannot stop living to stop candida. What we want to do is to use our nutrition for our own cells instead of giving it to candida. Simple and high GI carbs break down to glucose very easily. The faster the carbs breakdown, the longer will be the blood glucose circulating in your blood and candida can use this glucose to its advantage to grow and also to sabotage our immune system and cause other issues in the body as described in this article.

Candida Yeast Infections And Drunk Disease

by Eric Bakker N.D.

Yeast Infections Can Make You Feel Stoned

An unusual symptom of certain people with a severe yeast infection is the presence of alcohol in the blood stream even when none has been consumed. First discovered in Japan, and called “drunk disease” this condition creates strains of candida albicans which turn acetaldehyde (which is the chemical created by sugar and yeast fermentation) into ethanol. This is a process well understood by distillers of homemade brew.

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A medical test has been developed in which, after an overnight fast, the individual is given 100 grams of pure sugar. Blood samples taken both before the sugar loading, and an hour after, are measured for alcohol. An increase of alcohol indicates yeast “auto-brewery” intoxication. Another strong connection between alcohol and candidiasis was found in a study of 213 alcoholics at a recovery center in Minneapolis, USA.

Test and questionnaire results indicated that candidiasis is a common complication of moderate to heavy drinkers and alcoholics due to the combination of high sugar content in alcohol and the inability of drinker to assimilate nutrients. Additionally, female moderate to heavy drinkers with yeast infections were significantly sicker than non-drinking women with candida yeast infections.

Many of the symptoms exhibited in drinkers such as insomnia, depression, loss of libido, headaches, sinusitis/post-nasal drip, digestion and intestinal complaints, actually overlap with those in candida overgrowth.

Acetaldehyde

It is interesting to hear those who are chronically infected with candida yet who don’t drink alcohol, to say that they may feel “drunk”, spaced out or a bit intoxicated. As the alcohol produced by the yeast begins to be broken down it creates acetaldehyde, a chemical which is even more toxic to the brain than ethanol itself, which insidiously undermines brain functions and damages neurological structures.

Acetaldehyde is a dangerous chemical which enters the body in various main ways:

* Drinking alcohol
* Inhaling exhaust fumes or cigarette smoke (active or passive)
* Having an overgrowth of candida in your body

When we drink alcohol, it is broken down in the liver where an enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenase converts it into acetaldehyde. Then another enzyme breaks it down further into acetate, which gives our cells energy. The problem is that in alcoholics or people with a high level of toxicity the body’s ability to convert acetaldehyde is undermined. High levels of this chemical remain in the body and can cause a kind of poisoning which not only does physical damage but can very much distort mental perceptions.

Depression and anxiety

This is why some people I have seen with chronic and systemic candidiasis (and especially those who drink plenty of alcohol) can have depression, anxiety, mood swings and irritability. So now you understand, if you like a drink and have candida you must stop drinking for some time and restore your digestive system, repair the leaky bowel and work on building a healthy bacterial population and then in time re-introduce alcohol. I cover the topic in my book candida crusher with more detail.

Let’s drink to – your recovery. Just kidding. The day you finally decide to kick that habit of drinking regularly if you exhibit ANY of the signs and or symptoms of a candida yeast infection will be the day that your health turns around. I know, I experienced this with many patients with intestinal yeast overgrowth and can attest to this fact. But don’t believe me – just do it and find out for yourself. You will see that it will work for you. All the best, and, please do drop me a line and let me know how you go. I also recommend you take canxida supplement on daily basis.

Related articles:

  • Is Yakult Good for Candida?
  • Unexplained Joint Pains & Candida Connection
  • Geotrichum and Yeast Infection: Are They Connected?
  • Constant Smell Down There Is Driving Me Crazy? What is it? Is it Yeast Infection?
  • Alcohol Causes Many Yeast Infections
  • Learn How To Treat And Get Rid Of Candida Yeast Infections

Email in response to this post:

THANK YOU DR. BAKKER!

I’ve only been drinking since ’08 & have been suffering from chronic yeast infections ever since. I am by no means an alcoholic – I used to drink only 2-4 nights a month (~3-4 drinks each time), & I workout/eat healthy routinely, but I always end up with a slew of symptoms (anxiety, chronic fatigue, insomnia, depression, a general sense of lack of wellness & raging yeast infections) if I drink “too much”. I also get the strangest feeling of being “dirty” under my skin, I would feel a sticky, tingly, acidic sensation. I have done your Candida Program a couple times & it’s been a GREAT help, & I limit my alcohol consumption now to ~ 4 drinks/month. Your article’s been the only one I’ve been able to find that explains what part of alcohol consumption actually causes candidiasis. Do you have any other research you could recommend on this topic, or tips as to which alcohols should 100% be avoided versus others that might be “safer”? M. Jenn, Seattle

 

Weight Loss Is Common With Yeast Infection Treatment

by Eric Bakker N.D.

After treating countless candida patients over the years I discovered that when many adopt a strict anti-candida diet, they invariably loose weight. I often get emails from patients about their weight-loss concerns on the anti-candida diet, and I reassure them – it is nothing to worry about because their weight will stabilize at its ideal weight over time. Most of us are too heavy and eat too much food anyway, and that’s a fact. The ideal percentage of body fat is about 12 to 15 percent for men and roughly 18 – 20 percent for females. Remember, if you do not stay active or exercise as you age you will loose muscle size and this is often replaced by fat.

Related articles:

  • Do You Run the Risk of Developing Adrenal Fatigue?
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  • Learn How To Treat And Get Rid Of Candida Yeast Infections
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Losing weight is a struggle for most of us, but NOT for those on the anti-candida diet. This is simple to explain, the key foods that the yeast thrives on are the key foods that allow you to gain weight in the first place – the carbohydrates and sweet foods.  And these are often the foods and drinks that many of us are addicted to and find it hard to reduce or eliminate from our diets – bread, alcoholic drinks, candies, cakes, cookies, soda drinks, take-away foods, etc. I’ll bet that when you look at the anti-candida diet you will be thinking: “But those are some of my favorite foods, how am I ever going to avoid them in my diet”. This is a key reason why you have not eliminated candida from your digestive system until now – you probably never tried hard enough or long enough to eliminate them.

I’m not at all suggesting for one moment that all overweight persons have a candida yeast infection (although half probably do to some extent), I am suggesting that many people who are overweight would benefit from my candida diet. The diet is very healthy and you will lose weight if you are overweight, there is no doubt about it. The bonus is that as your weight drops off, your metabolism will begin to normalize and so will your appetite.

Eat small amounts of whole grains daily to avoid weight-loss

Some people who are losing weight too rapidly on the anti-candida diet will benefit in eating small amounts of safe grains like quinoa, brown rice, millet or buckwheat to curb their weight loss. They should aim for ¼ to ½ cup per day initially, and then increase to suit if they don’t aggravate. This will also make their diet more interesting and help to avoid boredom. Many people will want to lose some weight anyway, and for those that weight gain is not necessary (and especially where weight loss is desired) then I’d recommend you follow my dietary recommendations carefully, and these include taking all grains out initially and slowly adding them back into your diet also taking CanxidaRemove on daily basis (recommended dosage) you can get Canxida at Canxida.com

Related articles:

  • Does Candida Cause Sinus Infections, Headaches, and Fatigue?
  • Food Allergies and Candida
  • Geotrichum and Yeast Infection: Are They Connected?
  • What Is The Best Diet To Follow When Taking Antibiotics?
  • Everything You Need To Know About Candida Glabrata
  • All You Need To Know About Rhodotorula

 

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