The Yeast Connection Diet

The Yeast Connection Diet is based on a 1979 book 23. The premise of the book, which was written by a doctor, is that yeast overgrowth can cause lots of symptoms, from ongoing fatigue to concentration problems, and dietary measures can help alleviates such symptoms. The Yeast Connection diet provides guidance on the control of carbohydrates and the use of anti-fungals to help eradicate the undesirable organisms 23.

History

The late Dr. William Crook, a family physician known to his patients as “Billy,” spent several years pondering about the chronic health complaints of many of his patients 2. In the 1970s, he realized that these seemingly unconnected complaints were all due to the overgrowth of pathogenic yeast in the bodies of the patients. His success with resolving these problems prompted him to release the best-selling book, “The Yeast Connection."

Systemic Yeast

In the book, Crook discussed the problems that undesirable yeast like candida could cause and offered his opinions on why mainstream medicine continued to miss them. He noted that systemic yeast infection could result in an almost unlimited number of symptoms, although highlighted that sufferers all tended to experience tiredness, brain fog, carbohydrate cravings and itching.

Low Carbohydrate Intake

Crook advised starving the yeast organisms using a low-carbohydrate diet. He explained that the yeast population derived their nourishment from sugar, so the diet eliminates sugar completely. It also eliminates starches and any foods containing yeast or mold, although you can eventually reintroduce many of the banned foods into your diet after a period of a few weeks. More modern practitioners like Jonny Bowden, a board-certified nutritionist and the author of several books on natural healthcare issues, agree wholeheartedly with this approach, and it remains the first step in most anti-yeast programs.

Nystatin

Crook published “The Yeast Connection” in 1979 23. At the time, the use of the antifungal drug nystatin featured in many treatment protocols, and the doctor makes recommendation to use the compound several times in his book. Bowden, like many of his comtemporaries, voices doubts about the fungal resistance to this old drug and prefers the use of natural anti-fungals like coconut oil, garlic, grapefruit seed extract and pau d'arco.

Die-Off

Despite being several decades old, the “Yeast Connection” diet remains effective in reducing the symptoms of systemic yeast infections, its supporters claim 23. However, those undertaking such a regime should expect their symptoms to temporarily worsen before they improve. Crook explains that this results from a wave of fungal toxins that the dying yeast cells release into the circulation, and often lingers for around 24 hours.