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Candida Cleanse & Weight Loss
Candidiasis is believed to be a medical condition caused by overproliferation of Candida albicans yeast. Although this yeast occurs naturally in the gut, a dramatic increase in population can cause fatigue, joint pain and gastrointestinal distress. Proponents of the candida diet claim it reduces these symptoms in addition to promoting weight loss 1.
Time Frame
The candida cleanse diet consists of three phases, according to The Candida Diet website 1. In the first phase, which lasts two to three weeks, dieters adopt a strict detoxifying diet. Eliminate all sugars, alcohol, processed foods, nuts, caffeine and cheeses. The website recommends flushing the colon to cleanse it, although this step is optional. The second phase, lasting four weeks, allows dieters to add beans, starchy vegetables and berries back into their diets. The Candida Diet recommends a course of antifungal treatment to eliminate remaining yeast in the gut 13. The final phase involves repopulating the gut by eating probiotic products such as yogurts containing live and active cultures. Many dieters stay in phase three long term and continue to avoid excessive sugar, aged cheeses and processed foods.
Diet Guidelines
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Following a candida diet requires eliminating most sources of sugar from your meals. Avoid fresh, dried or canned fruits as well as fruit juices, as these are high in sugar. To receive important vitamins and nutrients, eat leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, squash and other non-starchy vegetables. Nuts, lean meats and fish make excellent sources of protein and healthy fats. Rather than eating glutinous products such as white bread and pasta, choose whole grain substitutes such as quinoa, oatmeal or whole grain pasta.
- Following a candida diet requires eliminating most sources of sugar from your meals.
- Rather than eating glutinous products such as white bread and pasta, choose whole grain substitutes such as quinoa, oatmeal or whole grain pasta.
Weight Loss
The website Yeast Infection Advisor reports that many people following a candida diet lose weight 13. Changing to an anti-candida diet will likely cause you to lose several pounds over the first few weeks 1. Weight loss is caused by reduced caloric intake and elimination of processed foods. To maximize weight loss effects, exercise at least 30 minutes per day most days of the week. Cardiovascular exercise in conjunction with a healthy anti-candida diet promotes weight loss.
- The website Yeast Infection Advisor reports that many people following a candida diet lose weight 1.
Benefits
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In addition to losing weight, following a candida diet eliminates many symptoms of candidiasis, according to The Candida Diet website 1. After several weeks on the diet, people report getting fewer headaches, feeling more energetic, requiring less sleep and experiencing a reduction in gastrointestinal distress. Repopulating your gut flora with beneficial bacteria increases immune functioning. If you feel better and more energetic you are more likely to maintain an exercise plan, which will help you reach your weight loss goals.
- In addition to losing weight, following a candida diet eliminates many symptoms of candidiasis, according to The Candida Diet website 1.
- After several weeks on the diet, people report getting fewer headaches, feeling more energetic, requiring less sleep and experiencing a reduction in gastrointestinal distress.
Considerations
While proponents of a candida diet claim that it eliminates symptoms of candidiasis, some medical professionals remain skeptical of the diet's benefits 1. According to the MayoClinic.com website, little scientific evidence supports the medical syndrome of candidiasis 2. Any weight loss and symptom relief are simply due to adopting a healthier diet, rather than to the killing off of harmful populations of yeast. The candida diet is an effective weight loss technique because of its incorporation of vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats into the diet in place of processed foods 1.
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References
- The Candida Diet: Foods to Eat
- MayoClinic.com: Candida Cleanse -- Does it Treat Candidiasis?
- YeastInfectionAdvisor.com: The Recommended Candida Diet or Yeast Infection Diet
- Yapar Nur. Epidemiology and risk factors for invasive candidiasis. Ther Clin Risk Mgmt. 2014;10(2014):95-105. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s40160
- Buggio L, Somigliana E, Borghi A, Vercellini P. Probiotics and vaginal microecology: fact or fancy? BMC Womens Health. 2019 Jan;19:25. doi:10.1186/s12905-019-0723-4
- Gunther LSA, Martins HPR, Pimenta de Abreu AL, et al. Prevalence of Candida albicans and non-albicans isolates from vaginal secretions: comparative evaluation of colonization, vaginal candidiasis and recurrent vaginal candidiasis in diabetic and non-diabetic women. Sao Paulo Med. J. 2014;132(2):116-20. doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2014.1322640
- Xie HY, Feng D, Wei DM, Mei L, Chen H, Wang X, Fang F. Probiotics for vulvovaginal candidiasis in non-pregnant women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;23;11(11):CD010496. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010496.pub2
- Niewenhuizen WF, Pieters RHH, Knippels LMJ. Is Candida albicans a trigger in the onset of coeliac disease? Lancet. 2003;361(9375):2152-4. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13695-1
- Pérez-Torrado R, Querol A. Opportunistic strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A potential risk sold in food products. Frontiers Microbiol. 2016;6:8. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2015.01522
- Wilson D. A tale of two yeasts: Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a therapeutic against candidiasis. Virulence. 2017;8(1):15-7. doi:10.1080/21505594.2016.1230580
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2015) Appendix 7. Nutritional Goals for Age-Sex Groups Based on Dietary Reference Intakes and Dietary Guidelines Recommendations. 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Kim J, Sudbery P. Candida albicans, a major human fungal pathogen. J Microbiol. 2011;49(2):171-7. doi:10.1007/s12275-011-1064-7
- Martinez RCR, Franceschini SA, Patta MC, et al. Improved treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with fluconazole plus probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Letters Applied Microbiol. 2009;48(3):269-74. doi:10.1111/j.1472-765x.2008.02477.x
Writer Bio
Aurora Harklute has been writing since 2009. She works with people with depression and other mental illnesses and specializes in physical and mental health issues in aging. Harklute holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and physiology from Marquette University and a Master of Arts in cognitive psychology from the University of Chicago.