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Low Carbohydrate & Low Yeast Foods
Peruse the internet and you will find several websites that advise those with yeast infections to stick to a diet that is low in carbohydrates and low in yeast. These earnest but misguided sites have it only half right. If you suffer from a recurrent or chronic yeast infection, you should reduce carbohydrates to help gain control of the unwelcome colonists. However, eliminating yeast in foods serves no useful purpose.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Yeast Defined
Yeast is an invasive, single-cell organism, a form of fungi that takes up residence throughout your body. If you’re a woman, it can also thrive in the vagina. Given the right conditions, yeast reproduce quickly. Normally your body’s immune system keeps yeast populations low. However, if your immune system is stressed or compromised, yeast can overwhelm your body’s defenses and establish colonies. Most yeast infections involve some form of candida yeast 4.
- Yeast is an invasive, single-cell organism, a form of fungi that takes up residence throughout your body.
- However, if your immune system is stressed or compromised, yeast can overwhelm your body’s defenses and establish colonies.
Yeast Symptoms
Foods to Avoid With Candida Albicans
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The symptoms of yeast infection vary depending on the type of infection. A white, cheesy discharge, itching and soreness occur with a vaginal yeast infection. Yeast skin infections, which usually occur in moist areas of the body such as in the groin or under folds of skin, present as a rash. Yeast infections of the mouth or throat, referred to as thrush, present as patches of white. Yeast under your nails appears as white or yellow discoloring and can cause your nail to separate from the plate. Yeast infections of the intestinal tract can cause:
- bloating
- gas
- heartburn
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- constipation
- persistent coating of the tongue
- canker sores in the mouth
- food intolerances
- anal burning
- The symptoms of yeast infection vary depending on the type of infection.
- Yeast skin infections, which usually occur in moist areas of the body such as in the groin or under folds of skin, present as a rash.
Yeast Feast
Yeast feed on sugar. Since, according to MSNBC, the average American consumes about 84 lbs. of sugar a year, yeast usually have plenty to eat. Sugars or simple carbohydrates, which are transformed into blood glucose after digestion, keep your yeast well-fed. Deprive yeast of their food, and their population will dwindle to the point where your immune system can keep them in check.
- Since, according to MSNBC, the average American consumes about 84 lbs.
- of sugar a year, yeast usually have plenty to eat.
Low and Slow Carbs
The Carbohydrates in Glazed Doughnuts
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Eliminate high-carb foods and stick to foods that are either low in carbohydrates or that contain carbs that are digested slowly. Slow-release foods, usually referred to as low-glycemic foods, have long digestion periods, so glucose reaches your bloodstream at a rate that allows for efficient breakdown of the glucose. Foods to avoid include high-carb, high-glycemic fare, such as:
- sugar
- sweets
- foods with added sugar or sweeteners
- processed flour
- white flour or white rice pastas
- breads
- pastries
- coconut
- dairy products
- soft drinks
- sweetened yogurt
- ketchup
Low-Yeast Food
Yeast you consume does not cause yeast infections. Likewise brewers yeast and edible fungi, such as button, maitake or shiitake mushrooms, do not cause or exacerbate yeast infections. It is true that some foods with yeast such as wine or beer should be avoided, but that is because they also contain sugar or simple carbs. Also, if you are allergic or sensitive to foods containing yeast, you should avoid them to minimize stress to your immune systems.
- Yeast you consume does not cause yeast infections.
- It is true that some foods with yeast such as wine or beer should be avoided, but that is because they also contain sugar or simple carbs.
Related Articles
References
- Disabled World: What is Candida and Candidiasis?
- Family Doctor: Vaginal Yeast Infections
- MSNBC: Cut Back, Way Back, On Sugar, Says Heart Group
- The Diet Channel: Natural Dietary Tips For Yeast Infections
- Planned Parenthood. What is a yeast infection?
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Vaginal yeast infection (thrush): Overview. 2019 Jun 19.Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK543220/
- Singh A, Verma R, Murari A, Agrawal A. Oral candidiasis: An overview. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2014;18(Suppl 1):S81–S85. doi:10.4103/0973-029X.141325
- Jeanmonod R, Jeanmonod D. Vaginal Candidiasis (Vulvovaginal Candidiasis) [Updated 2020 Feb 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459317/
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Oral thrush: Overview. 2012 Apr 26 [Updated 2019 Aug 15].Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK367586/
- Blostein F, Levin-sparenberg E, Wagner J, Foxman B. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Ann Epidemiol. 2017;27(9):575-582.e3. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.08.010
- Aguin TJ, Sobel JD. Vulvovaginal candidiasis in pregnancy. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2015;17(6):462. doi:10.1007/s11908-015-0462-0
- Rajalakshmi R, Kalaivani S. Prevalence of asymptomatic infections in sexually transmitted diseases attendees diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis, vaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2016;37(2):139–142. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.192121
- Ringdahl EN. Treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Am Fam Physician. 2000;61(11):3306-12, 3317.
- Aguin TJ, Sobel JD. Vulvovaginal candidiasis in pregnancy. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2015 Jun;17(6):462. doi: 10.1007/s11908-015-0462-0.
- Blostein F, Levin-Sparenberg E, Wagner J, Foxman B. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Ann Epidemiol. 2017 Sep;27(9):575-582.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.08.010.
- Chew SY, Than LT. Vulvovaginal candidosis: contemporary challenges and the future of prophylactic and therapeutic approaches. Mycoses. 2016 May;59(5):262-73. doi: 10.1111/myc.12455.
- Roberts CL, Algert CS, Rickard KL, Morris JM. Treatment of vaginal candidiasis for the prevention of preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev. 2015 Mar 21;4:31. doi: 10.1186/s13643-015-0018-2.
- 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 Nov 23;11:CD010496. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010496.pub2.
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Writer Bio
Jon Williams is a clinical psychologist and freelance writer. He has performed, presented and published research on a variety of psychological and physical health issues.