Nutrition for Yeast Infections

Many of the nutritious foods that support good health also unfortunately encourage growth of candidiasis albicans, the fungus that causes yeast infections. If you have a yeast infection or seem to get such infections often, you will want to reduce or avoid the foods that make your body a good host. It is equally important to know which foods can fight yeast infections and boost your immunity to these pesky infections.

What Foods Favor the Growth of Yeast Infections?

Surprisingly, many of the “good guys” on the pantry shelf—the ones that we count on to nourish us—are the ones to limit or avoid. Just about everyone lives with a certain amount of the fungus candidiasis albicans in the body. This yeast-like fungus lives in the mouth, the intestines, the skin, and the vagina. It usually exists in small, harmless colonies. Certain events and items, however, including some foods, can encourage these manageable colonies to multiply alarmingly. These overgrowths produce the unpleasant and even potentially harmful conditions that we call yeast infections.

Consider, for instance, the foods that make up a typical lunch. Let’s include a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, a glass of milk, and a big, juicy, red apple. Certainly a large number of us rely on a simple, basic lunch like this each day. The truth is though, that each item in that lunch includes elements that can contribute to an overgrowth of candididias and, thus, to a yeast infection. This example is not intended at all to discourage one from eating these good foods. Instead, it is meant to show how important it is to be aware of the foods and beverages that can favor the growth of yeast infections.

What Foods Can Encourage Yeast Overgrowth?

Sugary foods
Although candidiasia albicans is a fungus, it tends to thrive under the same conditions and in the same type of environment that yeast does. Just as yeast flourishes in the presence of sugar, candidiasis flourishes when an abundance of sugar is available. Sugar, honey, and maple syrup are the obvious delights of this common fungus. Unfortunately, the same fruits and fruit juices that we hail as healthy, immunity-boosting foods often contain large amounts of sugar. For that reason, anyone on an antifungal (opposed to yeast overgrowth) diet would be wise to limit fruit or fruit juice to one serving per day.

Nonsweet sugary foods
Some foods that we would not normally suspect of being sugary actually do contain a form of sugar. The yeast bread that goes into our lunch sandwich, for instance, relies on a form of sugar. Pizza is actually a sugary substance because the flour in the crust contains a form of sugar. The sauce and toppings may also contain sugar-based ingredients or a form of corn sweetener. How can we detect sugar in a nonsweet food item? Read the label on the package. The label tells how much sugar can be found in each serving.

Yeast foods
Foods and beverages that contain yeast or are made with the help of yeast are especially appealing to candidiasis. That expands the list of unwelcome foods considerably. All the many food products that depend on fermentation, such as cheese, bean curd, yeast breads and vinegar are included. Beer, wine, and alcoholic drinks are important on this list, too.

Dairy foods
By now, you are probably wondering just how much of your normal, healthy diet you need to eliminate in order to starve out a yeast infection. Unfortunately, another category of healthy foods can also encourage the growth of candidia: dairy. Dairy products, even when prepared under the most sterile conditions, are contaminated with mold. Particularly cheese and yogurt, because they are made with the process of fermentation, should be avoided when you are working to cleanse your body of fungus overgrowth. Even milk, just as it promotes the maintenance of healthy bones and cells, promotes the growth of yeast infections.

Dried Fruits and Peanuts
Make a mental note here—most nuts are actually beneficial on an antifungal diet. It is only peanuts and their products that need to be limited or avoided. The trail mix that seems like such a good idea for that long, invigorating hike is just one more item to consider carefully or avoid altogether.

With all these foods on the “red flag” list, can we find any foods that actually discourage yeast infections?

What Foods Actually Discourage the Yeast Infection Fungus?

Garlic
Garlic is the superhero for this battle. Some people who are frequently troubled by yeast infections actually make a habit of eating one garlic clove every day. Garlic works proactively against many fungi, notably candidiasis.

Vegetables
Fresh vegetables are another great standby when building an anti-yeast infection diet. Particularly orange and yellow vegetables are good at boosting immunity. Wise cooks, however, will avoid adding sauces or other ingredients that might include sugary glazes.

Fatty Acids
Foods that contain essential fatty acids are helpful in preventing and treating yeast infections. For instance, flaxseed meal may be sprinkled on salads or cooked vegetables to add pleasing nutty flavor.

Particular spices
Fortunately, some very pleasing spices are can be included in even the strictest anti-yeast infection diet. Cinnamon, sage, cloves, rosemary, and oregano all help boost immunity against yeast infections.

Herbs
Some herbs are known to discourage an overgrowth of fungus. Although Pau d’Arco is not usually considered part of a customary diet, it can be made into a tea that helps discourage fungus. Echinacea is another herb that stimulates the immune system and helps discourage yeast infections.

Do I Need To Take Vitamins or Other Types of Food Supplements?

Vitamins A, C, and E are recognized as immunity boosters. Since Vitamin A can be toxic in large doses, however, you need consult your health care provider before beginning any supplementary vitamin regimen. Although Vitamin C is a powerful immunity booster, it appears in many fruits that also contain lots of sugar. To avoid the sugar, you may want to add a Vitamin C supplement to your diet.

Probiotics often called “friendly bacteria” are known to be helpful in the prevention of yeast infections. Lactobacillis acidophilus, the most commonly known probiotic, breaks down milk sugars into byproducts that discourage the growth of undesirable organisms. However, lactobacillis acidophilus is found primarily in foods that are not recommended on a strict diet against yeast infections: milk products and also miso, which is made through a process of fermentation. In order to gain the benefits of probiotics without using the milk or fermented products, you may prefer to use a prepared probiotic product such as those to be found in a health food store. Consult your health care provider to help you choose the most appropriate course of action for your own health profile.

How Can Food Choices Be Affected by Antibiotics?

Some antibiotics destroy beneficial bacteria that live in the intestine. Since these bacteria are part of the immune system, eliminating them will automatically lower a person’s immunity. For that reason, some health care providers encourage their patients on antibiotics to include yogurt containing acidophilus to discourage the onset of a yeast infection.

Additional Resources
Additional information on Yeast Infections is available at mothernature.com

Several herbal remedies listed at altMD.com are also effective for candidiasis infections.