How To Beat the Yeast Beast

If you're reading this you are probably wondering WHY is she doing this?  Why are you making life difficult for yourself?  Well, for one thing, I feel like crap!  And I have been under a lot of stress since I've had my two little girls starting about five years ago.  Sleep deprivation is a MAJOR stressor on the body.  And I know that is why I am a wreck.  That is why I am highly acidic, depressed, worn out, have a poochy tummy, and on and on.  I know this will make me feel better in the long run.  It can't hurt me!  Why not do something that will make me feel like a new woman???  Below is an article I found explaining all of this.

(I am also taking several supplements with this diet.  I will link to that here when I can).

Here's a great link to yeast information...I will add more as I find them.

I am also getting interested in the acid/alkaline function in the body...over acidity can cause diseases to set in etc.  (Coffee is very acid by the way...have to take more calcium!)

My personal notes are in GREEN.
Foods I am avoiding are in RED.
Foods I am avoiding for the first two weeks are in BLUE.  And I could possibly have a sensitivity to foods in BLUE if eaten more than once or twice a week.

 What is systemic yeast (Candida)?

Candida albicans is a fungal organism that is present in everyone’s intestinal tract. It is normally kept under control by the immune system and by beneficial intestinal bacteria.
This balance is upset when these bacteria are destroyed (typically by antibiotics), when our immune function is impaired (typically due to stress or illness), or when we develop environmental or food sensitivities.
Once that balance is upset, Candida begins to proliferate and invade and colonize our body tissues. It most commonly appears as a vaginal yeast infection or as oral thrush. But Candida albicans can also spread inside the body and become a systemic problem.

What are some of the symptoms of Candida yeast infections?

While many of these symptoms may be caused by conditions other than candidiasis, a woman suffering from systemic yeast will typically experience a number of the following symptoms: I will mark my symptoms in BROWN.
Generalized: Fatigue, lethargy, migraine headaches, weakness, dizziness, sensory disturbances, hypoglycemia, muscle pain, respiratory problems, chemical sensitivities.
Gastrointestinal: Oral thrush, diarrhea, constipation, rectal itching, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), flatulence, food sensitivities.
Genitourinary: Yeast vaginitis, menstrual and premenstrual problems, bladder inflammation, chronic urinary tract infections (UTI’s), bladder inflammation, cystitis, PMS.
Dermatological: Eczema, acne, hives.
Mental and emotional: Confusion, irritability, memory loss, inability to concentrate, depression, insomnia, learning disability, short attention span.
Autoimmune: Multiple sclerosis, arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, myasthenia gravis, scleroderma, hemolytic anemia, sarcoidosis, thrombocytopenic purpura.

Guidelines for a yeast-free diet:

1.  Avoid yeast-containing foods:

• Beer, wine, and all other forms of alcohol
• Breads, rolls, pretzels, pastries, cookies, and sweet rolls
• B–complex vitamins and selenium products, unless labeled “yeast–free”
• Vinegar or foods containing vinegar, such as mustard, salad dressings, pickles, barbeque sauce, mayonnaise, anything pickled, (I have been reading that some organic, raw vinegar such as Braggs is okay as it turns alkaline in the body)
• Commercially prepared foods such as soups, dry roasted nuts, potato chips, soy sauce, cider, natural root beer, olives, sauerkraut,

2.  Avoid mold-containing and mold-supporting foods:

• Pickled, smoked or dried meats, fish, and poultry
• Cured pork bacon
• All cheese, aged or fresh
• Mushrooms
• Tempeh
• Soy sauce, tamari, and miso (there is a wheat free tamari sauce available)
• Peanuts, peanut products, and pistachios
• Herbs and teas that may be moldy
• Malt or foods containing malt
• Canned or prepared tomatoes (fresh tomatoes are fine)  I didn't know about this...what about sauce?

3.  Avoid all concentrated sugars:

• Honey, maple syrup, brown sugar
• Fruit juices (canned, bottled, or frozen)
• Dried fruits
• All processed sugar
• Anything containing high-fructose corn syrup
• High glycemic index foods
• Also, no fake sweeteners such as saccharine or aspartame!

What foods can you eat in a Candida diet?

• All fresh vegetables — a large variety, raw or lightly steamed, is best; be sure to include dark green leafy vegetables.
• Fresh protein at every meal, including beef, chicken, fish, turkey, eggs, and shellfish. Organic is best, but fresh is essential.  (I am allowed lamb, turkey, fish, goose and bison, but will not necessarily be eating goose or bison!)  Eggs is a big deal for me, they are high in acid, but I would really like to use them in baking...maybe one a week.
• Complex carbohydrates, including grains (rice, buckwheat, barley, millet, couscous), whole grain oatmeal, beans (kidney, lima, red beans), and certain types of pasta (whole wheat, spelt, corn, rice). Be careful not to get too many carbs — 15 grams per meal maximum.
• Unprocessed nuts and seeds, except peanuts.
• Unrefined olive, sesame, safflower and corn oils (be sure to keep them in the refrigerator after opening to prevent spoiling).
• Lemon juice with oil for salad dressing — this may be a prepared product, but be careful to avoid any salad dressing that contains vinegar. (Braggs with the mother ok)
• Beverages such as mineral or spring water, soy milk, and unprocessed nut milks.  I have been reading up on soy and it doesn't seem like such a good idea.  Much soy is genetically modified now and is highly acidic also.  Too much is probably not a good idea.  Also I was reading that if you go off dairy and switch to soy immediately then your body will recognize it as a milk/dairy and process it as such.  I read this in the book by Marilu Henner.
• Limited quantities of fruit (three daily), unless you see a reaction, then limit to twice weekly. Avoid grapes, raisins, dates, prunes and figs. (I am avoiding fruit for the first two weeks, except for apples and bananas, and a limited amount of "sweet fruits")

If you notice an adverse reaction to certain foods, remove them from your diet for 4–6 months. If you know you’re upset by something but aren’t sure what it is, there’s a simple way to isolate your food sensitivities: don’t eat the same foods every day. Instead, rotate what you eat over a 4–5 day cycle. (Remember, it can take up to 72 hours for the adverse food reaction to appear.)   There are several good books on food rotation, that makes a lot of sense to me.  If we only eat certain foods every four days then we can avoid sensitivities.

In any case, avoid the artificial colors, sweeteners and dyes found in almost all processed foods. Duh!  Don't eat any processed food!  Try to eat simply and naturally. Avoid toxins and pollutants, especially in the first few weeks of these dietary changes. You may notice that you become more reactive to environmental toxins such as paints and cleaning agents.