It may seem hard to believe, but there are about 150 types of yeast that live in your body. Some of these yeasts help to keep your system in balance. But there?s one tiny yeast in particular that can cause your system to get seriously out of balance. When this bad yeast in your body multiplies and becomes greater in number than the good bacteria that keep you healthy, you can experience all kinds of nasty symptoms.
This yeast is called Candida albicans and its overgrowth can lead to infections, immune system diseases, weight gain, weight loss, brain fog, digestive problems, and tiredness, to name just a few! Normally, in a healthy body, candida won’t cause you any of these health concerns. However, when the balance in your body is upset, candida can start multiplying and problems begin to occur.
To eliminate the health problems associated with candida, try to follow a candida maintenance diet for four to six weeks. Doing this could help to make sure that the candida in your body doesn’t start multiplying out of control again. Eat whole grains, vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. Basically, there are a few foods you need to avoid:
–All sugars, including cane sugar, glucose, and fructose
–Condiments
–Vinegar
–Products made with refined white flour
–Alcohol
–Fruit juices
–Caffeinated beverages
–Cheese
–Pickled or smoked foods
–Processed meat
There are two foods that you can add to your regular diet that should help keep your system balanced. The first is yogurt; try to eat some every day. Yogurt contains friendly bacteria that could prevent the growth of candida. Make sure the yogurt you buy contains lots of acidophilus, bifidus, and other probiotics. And make sure you buy unsweetened yogurt. You can add fresh fruit at home instead. The second food to add (especially if you don’t care for yogurt) is horseradish. It also contains a lot of the friendly bacteria you need to keep candida in check.
One final thing to try to beat candida is the use of probiotics in supplement form. Probiotic supplements can literally give you billions of friendly bacteria in a single dose. Two of the most popular strains of friendly bacteria are Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bifidus. Some supplements mix together a variety of different strains of these good bacteria. So check the label before you buy; get the supplement that carries the highest number of bacteria. Also, try to choose one that has an enteric coating. This allows the bacteria to find their way down to your intestine before being released into your system. Check expiration dates to find the freshest product possible — bacteria will die off over time. It may be necessary to refrigerate your probiotic supplements. Remember to get a brand that has a high count of friendly bacteria.