Edamame on the Anti-Fungal Diet

Millions of bacteria and fungi live on and in your body. Many of them have health benefits or are harmless when they do not grow too fast, but an overgrowth of fungi can occur in various parts of your body and lead to health problems. Edamame can be part of a healthy diet to help prevent or reduce fungal overgrowth, but medical treatment may be necessary for some conditions.

Fungal Overgrowth and Treatments

Overgrowth of a yeast-like fungus called Candida albicans causes candidiasis, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center 3. Vaginal yeast infections, resulting from too much Candida growth in the vagina, affect three-quarters of women at least once. Individuals with HIV/AIDS, babies, older adults and immunocompromised individuals are susceptible to oral thrush, or a mouth infection. Over-the-counter and prescription antibiotics are common treatments for candidiasis. Tea tree oil cream, vinegar douches for vaginal yeast infections and an anti-fungal diet may relieve the condition, according to MayoClinic.com 2.

The Anti-Fungal Diet

Proponents of an anti-fungal diet claim that an anti-fungal diet can stop the growth of Candida albicans and reduce common general symptoms, such as headaches and overwhelming fatigue, according to MayoClinic.com 1. The diet eliminates yeast and all foods with yeast in them, such as bread and beer. On the diet, you avoid sugar, refined white flour and cheese. The diet emphasizes unprocessed, nutrient-dense foods, and edamame, or green soybeans, can be part of this diet.

Edamame and Its Nutrients

Edamame are green, immature soybeans. Unprocessed edamame do not contain any yeast, sugar, flour or cheese, so they can be part of an anti-fungal diet. They are rich in calcium, and many individuals with candidiasis have inadequate calcium levels, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center 3. Edamame contain the antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E, which may reduce the inflammation that can result from yeast infections.

Considerations

You can eat roasted edamame as snacks or use cooked edamame in salads on an anti-fungal diet. Eating them with garlic may prevent yeast infections because of garlic’s antibacterial effects, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center 3. Fermented soy products, such as miso and tofu, provide probiotics according to the University of Michigan. These healthy bacteria may prevent candidiasis. No evidence scientifically proves that an anti-fungal diet can effectively prevent fungal overgrowth, according to MayoClinic.com. The safest approach is to consult your doctor if you have concerns about a vaginal yeast infection, oral thrush or unexplained symptoms 2.