On a yeast-free diet and getting discouraged? Remember to focus on what you can eat, not what you can't and you will succeed. Here's a list to help you survive.
Different eating plans for anti-candida or yeast free diets follow different guidelines. Some are more stringent than others. One of the best ways to tell if your detoxifying or allergen-free diet is working is if you are symptom-free. If so, keep up the good work and add in a few of the “no-no’s” a bit at a time. If you start to feel worse or symptoms return, cut back.
A yeast-free diet isn’t a life sentence. It’s just a matter of getting rid of the most yeast that you can, and balancing your lifestyle. If you over-indulge or the yeast starts to grow out of control, simply go back to the strictest possible way you can live comfortably.
Here’s a list of foods that follow the guidelines for most anti-candida diets:
Allowed foods
Proteins
Eggs
Beef
Chicken
Seafood
Turkey
Pork
Lamb
Duck
Pheasant
Goose
Veal
Cornish Hen
Nuts, Peanut Butter, Almond and Cashew Butter
Tip: Eat plenty of protein, especially if you eat a carbohydrate.
Vegetables
Vegetables are your best bet to fill up and keep your digestive system running smoothly; fiber is important. Lots of fresh or steamed vegetables, maybe some dip made from plain yogurt or sour cream and you will feel satisfied and healthy! Some vegetables have more sugar than others, such as carrots, so eat them in moderation. If you want to be really strict, avoid them.
Another disputed “allowed” food; dairy is permitted on most yeast free diets, but usually in moderation
Butter
Cream
Cheese
Milk (lower fats are better)
Yogurt (Plain)
*Tip: Most yogurts have sugar, or worse, high fructose corn syrup added. Don’t consume yogurt containing sweeteners and think that they are good for you while on a yeast-free diet. The digestive additives put into yogurt now really don’t make up for the tons of sugar that are also added in as well. At least, not while you’re moderating your diet.
Beverages
There are a lot of different opinions as to caffeine, tea, and other beverages on an anti-candida diet. Some people do well while still consuming some caffeine. If you are trying to be strict, eliminate most or all of it, if possible.
Water, water, water
Vegetable juices (like V8)
Tea (Decaf is best)
Coffee
*Tip: Try drinking some iced-green or decaffeinated teas to replace sugary sodas or fruit juices. There are many different varieties and flavors of teas. They give a sense of having something substantial, more than water and tea has other health benefits.
Meals and snacks
Planning meals and recipes in advance is crucial to being successful. Breakfast is tough because we consume a lot of breads for breakfast, although they aren’t necessarily the best food to fuel us and keep yeast at bay.
Instead, try eating some kind of protein, an egg or some turkey lunch meat and a bowl of oatmeal or rice cereal. Grits are good too. Just because you’re eating yeast-free doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your food too. If you're desperate, a piece of toast (spelt bread is best) and some peanut butter relieves those high-carb cravings in the morning. NO jelly, it is loaded with sugar!
Any time of the day:
Chili, Soups
Oatmeal
Hummus
Vegetable Dips
Tabouli, Tabouleh
Rice dishes
Mexican food (Try to eat corn tortillas, not flour)
Popcorn
Rice Cakes
Nuts
Sunflower seeds
There are days when it seems impossible to stick to the diet. If you do slip, don't quit. Just begin again the next morning and you will be fine. A yeast free diet can help alleviate symptoms from many illnesses and the benefits of a few weeks of strict eating make up for the uncomfortable cravings that you quickly learn you can temporarily live with.
The copyright of the article Approved Food for Yeast-Free Diets in Women’s Health is owned by Elizabeth Richards. Permission to republish Approved Food for Yeast-Free Diets in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
What about nut butters, like peanut butter or almond butter? Are they
allowed on a yeast free diet?
Sep 28, 2009 11:31 AM
Elizabeth Richards :
Some practitioners say to avoid peanuts/peanut butter because of potential
mold (part of the process in peanuts). Mine did not, peanut butter was
permitted and I did fine. Everyone tolerates things a little
differently. If someone is trying to be 100% total yeast free, sticking to
Almond Butter is better. There is also an article under my titles that
lists desserts that are approved for yeast free diets. I've included
peanut butter in the ingredients - one reader has suggested adding cashew
butter instead. Good to try different nut butters. Best of luck! http://balancing-meals.suite101.com/article.cfm/yeast_free_diet_desserts
Oct 22, 2009 4:36 AM
Guest :
Even the title of this article was a breath of fresh air after the
frustration of trying to eat "right" to remedy the yeast problem
I have. Thank you for such a positive, helpful article.
Oct 25, 2009 1:14 AM
Guest :
There's yeast in peanuts, including peanut butter (obviously). Trust me,
I've had IBS for over a year with an intolorence to yeast.
Oct 29, 2009 4:55 AM
Elizabeth Richards :
There are some diets that say peanut butter, coffee, etc are okay in
moderation and others that strictly forbid them because of the potential
mold in their normal process. Each person has a different sensitivity and
can figure out fairly quickly if they can tolerate a little of these in
their diet. I was able to, but many people cannot. Best of luck!
Nov 1, 2009 8:06 PM
Guest :
My daughter just saw this article, and we plan to follow the diet to see if
it helps her rheumatoid arthritis. I notice that no fruits are allowed,
and I normally eat a banana a day to help eliminate my leg cramps. Can you
give me some good substitutes for that?
Thanks
Nov 2, 2009 3:13 AM
Elizabeth Richards :
Some diets do allow a little fruit in moderation. My doctor allowed
watermelon & honeydew & cantelope -of all things- which did not
make any sense to me because of the sugar content. I did eat a little,
even in the beginning strict phase, because it really helped my cravings
and also helped nutritionally. I'm guessing it is the potassium in the
banana that helps your leg cramps and if it were me, I would probably still
eat the banana every day. That one fruit most likely won't upset the diet
balance. Everyone is different though. If you feel the banana is keeping
you from achieving your desired results, you could ask your doctor about a
potassium supplement. Another fruit that is acceptable is a small amount
of blueberries. They are very low in sugar and satisfying. There are
many versions of diets that are considered yeast free and some are more
strict than others. The more foods you can avoid with sugar, the faster
you will feel better. I had friends who were so strict on their diets
that they could have been sporting halos and wings - that level was for
impossible for me- and I felt the occasional small piece of melon or 1/4
cup of blueberries (without sugar) were nutritionally sound and helped me
through the toughest parts. One thing you will notice that is
amazing -if you can follow the diet for a period of time and then start
adding in other fruits, you will be incredulous at how sweet natural fruit
tastes. When we take all the sugar and corn syrup out of our daily diet,
we're left with what nature gave us and it is really impressive. Let
me know how you and your daughter are doing on the diet - hang in there,
the first few days are the toughest but then it gets pretty easy! I'm
posting new recipes this week or next, so watch for a new article by me
with holiday yeast-free recipes! Best of luck!
Nov 5, 2009 1:31 AM
Guest :
Aloha!Do we avoid ALL fruits?
Nov 7, 2009 4:43 AM
Elizabeth Richards :
Hi, Because yeast-free diets vary from doctor to doctor, individual
restrictions vary too. My doctor allowed melons initially and blueberries
after a few weeks. I've also researched recent studies that allow more
fruit initially. In hindsight, for myself, I think it would have been
detrimental to eat too much fruit initially because of the high sugar
content. The point of the restrictions is to get your body to adjust to
less sugar and starve off the yeast by not feeding them their sweets. The
more strict a person can be, the quicker the success and the better you'll
feel. The first few days are really the hardest and after that, I
didn't miss sweets at all. In fact, when I could add in fruit, it tasted so
sweet it was like a dessert. Remember to focus on what you can eat, not
what you can't, and things get easier (there's an article with that title
on my list as well) Best of luck!
Aug 6, 2007
