A poor diet can also increase the risk of infection because there is a certain food that can increase the growth of Candida Albicans. Moreover, obesity, caused by a poor and unhealthy diet, can also be a risk factor for getting a yeast infection.

Candida Albicans is a type of yeast part of the human microbiota naturally. It lives on the skin and within a human’s gut without causing harm. Even this organism can help the human body in performing certain kinds of functions.

But overgrowth of this yeast can cause an infection known as a yeast infection. There can be different reasons for the outgrowth of this bacteria. Like if a person has a weaker immune system, takes any medication, or has certain health conditions like diabetes or HIV.

See, Non-Fortified Nutritional Yeast Flakes and Vegan Cheese Balls

What Is Yeast Infection

candidiasis, known as yeast infection, is a fungal infection caused by a yeast ” candida.” Some species of Candida, like candida Albicans, can cause infections in people. This yeast is commonly present on human skin and in different human organs like the vagina, mouth, gut, and throat.

This yeast doesn’t cause any harm to the body as it is naturally present within the human body. The problem starts when this yeast starts to grow out of control or if it enters deep inside the human body.

In that case, this yeast can cause infection within organs like the brain, kidney, and heart. There are many different reasons behind the increasing growth of this yeast. For example, it can grow faster in moist and warm areas like overweight people with extra skin folds. And also, those people with a weak immune system or diabetes are at higher risk.

This yeast also grows in warm and moist areas, like an obese person with extra skin folds has a higher risk of getting a yeast infection.

Causes

Anyone from infants to adults can get a yeast infection. some other people who are at higher risk of this infection are

infants
People taking antibiotics
People with health conditions like diabetes and HIV
People getting cancer treatment
People wear dentures
Overweight or obese people

Symptoms

Yeast infection can be in many different parts of the body. And the symptoms depend upon where it is located. Different organs with yeast infections show different symptoms.

Skin Folds	· Pimples · Itching · Rashes with redness · Patches with fluid
Vagina	· Itching · Burning · Redness of the vagina · Yellow vaginal discharge
Penis	· Swelling and redness on penis underside · Redness on penis underside · Scaling on penis underside
Nail Beds	· Pus · Swelling · Pain · White or yellow nails, separated from nail beds
Mouth	· Difficulty in swallowing · White patches on the tongue · Redness or soreness

Food to Avoid With Yeast Infection

If you have suspected candidiasis, there are several steps that you can take to minimize the growth by candida-starting with a diet. Here are a few foods that can worsen yeast infection symptoms, so should be eliminated from the diet.

1 Sugar:

Any form of processed sugar, whether brown or white sugar derived from the cane sugar plant or any other simple sweetener derived from honey, brown rice syrup, agave, or malt, can increase the risk of yeast infection, especially in women. Moreover, high fructose corn syrup should also be avoided because it is a processed form of sugar derived from the corn plant. It can be very problematic, especially when it comes to yeast infection.

Increased intake of sugar can create an environment inside the body that is favorable for the overgrowth of yeast. But this sugar consumption can be brought down with the help of a few healthy dietary modifications.

Start by replacing all the refined grains with whole grains. Read the labels carefully if you are buying any product from the market because you never know the hidden sources of sugar you are consuming. Packaged coffee, soups, and seasoning can all be processed sugar sources. Moreover, avoid desserts, juices, dressings, and sauces with added sugar.

2 Mold:

Consuming food high in mold can increase the number of fungal spores in the intestinal tract, increasing Candida’s growth. Many foods can have molds in them, for example, smoked, pickled, or dried meat such as hot dogs, cured pork, smoked salmon, and bacon.

Moreover, cheese, specially molded cheese, should be avoided to reduce the risk of yeast infection. A person suffering from yeast infection should eliminate all kinds of cheese from his diet.

Dried fruits or bottled fruits in the market in cans or jars should also be avoided because they all belong to the sugar category and mold category, as well as these canned fruits, contain added sugar and mold spores on their skin.

3 Yeast:

The main cause of yeast infection is Candida, which is yeast. So, consuming food containing yeast means adding more yeast to an already heavy-yeast environment. Many foods contain a high amount of yeast.

Alcohol is fermented by using yeast. Moreover, wine and beer contain a higher amount of yeast. And people with yeast sensitivity can have terrible side effects from drinking these, while they don’t have any major side effects in consuming spirits like tequila, gin, and vodka because these all contain less yeast than beer or wine.

Most of the bread is also not allowed on the candida diet as they contain a certain amount of yeast. The yeast raises the bread and makes it light and fluffy. While some breeds like sourdough are allowed to consume as these are made with the starter without mixing any active yeast. But these starters came from naturally occurring yeast spores, so avoiding any kind of bread is recommended if you are suffering from yeast infection.

Tortillas can be the best option to use in replacement of the bread as they don’t contain any yeast. Some other fermented products include salad dressing, vinegar, ketchup, mustard, tamari, soy sauce, and mayonnaise.

4 Food Additives:

Certain foods contain harmful chemicals like artificial sweeteners and monosodium glutamate. These chemicals can harm the body in many ways, mainly destroying the friendly intestinal flora.

Using pesticides, hormones, and other chemicals in food production also destroys the gut microbiome, affecting overall immunity and damaging healthy gut bacteria. This loss of healthy gut bacteria results in a good environment for yeast cells to grow and rapidly trigger the infection.

5 Mushrooms:

Mushroom is a fungi; therefore, it can contribute to an overgrowth of yeast cells. Many mushrooms are used for medicinal purposes, and some species can also help increase immunity. But for the person suffering from yeast infection, avoiding all foods with fungal components is important.

Foods To Eat During Yeast Infection

As some foods can increase the growth of yeast cells in the body, certain foods can reduce the risk of yeast infection and also help in reducing the severity of its symptoms.

1 Coconut Oil

Plants can be very helpful in protecting against fungi and yeast. Plants have their own defense system against these, and some plants even produce toxic chemicals for fungi.

For example, lauric acid is a fatty acid that has been very famous due to its antifungal and antimicrobial effects. And coconut oil contains almost 50% of this lauric acid, which makes it one of the best dietary sources of this acid, which cannot be easily found in most foods.

Test tube studies (Bergsson, 2011) have also shown the effectiveness of lauric acid against candida yeasts. And coconut oil has a similar effect. That’s why using coconut oil as mouthwash can be used for candida infection in the mouth, which is known as the oil-pulling method.

2 Probiotics

Several factors can make a person more sensitive to candida infection, like diabetes, and weaken the immune system. The higher dose of several medications like antibiotics may also increase the risk of killing beneficial bacteria present in the gut.

Probiotics can be very helpful in increasing the population of beneficial gut bacteria. These bacteria play an important role in protecting the body against yeast infection. as these work as a natural defenders. These bacteria reduce the growth of yeast cells as they compete with them for nutrition and space. Probiotics are mostly present in fermented foods like yogurt and can also be taken through supplements.

Several studies have also shown the benefits of probiotics in fighting against candida infection or yeast infection. For example, in one study (Kraft-Bodi, 2015), of 215 adults, consuming supplements that contain probiotics can significantly reduce the growth of yeast cells, especially in the mouth.

3 Low-Sugar Diet

The growth of yeast cells increases in the environment of a high amount of sugar. In fact, a high level of sugar in the blood can also increase the risk of yeast infection. According to one animal study (Vargas, 1993), the growth of Candida is increased in the digestive system of the mice, which has weakened immune systems.

Several human studies also showed that. For example, one human study (I Olsen, 1976) has shown the link between high blood sugar levels and an increase in the number of yeast cells present In the mouth. So, people suffering from diabetes are at higher risk of yeast infection. But the low-sugar diet can be very helpful in this.

Eliminating Artificial sweeteners, added sugar, and desserts will not help in managing diabetes but also improve health in many ways. Low-sugar diets can also help in weight loss because the high amount of sugar and diabetes are both associated with obesity.

4 Garlic:

Garlic is a very famous plant for its antifungal properties. This is because of the presence of allicin in it. This is a substance that is formed when fresh garlic is damaged or crushed. This substance has been shown to be very effective against candida infection.

Studies have shown that garlic extract can reduce the ability of yeast to get attached to the lining of the mouth. According to one animal study (Khodavandi, 2011), mice that consume a high amount of allicin seem to have less effective candida yeast than those who take antifungal drugs.

Garlic can be used in the diet in many different ways. Some people like to add garlic into tea which can be very beneficial for other bacterial infections as well. Adding garlic to foods and recipes for spice is also safe and healthy. But using raw garlic in sensitive areas like the mouth can also be harmful and cause a chemical burn.

5 Curcumin:

Curcumin is a main component of turmeric and can be very effective in killing candida yeast. Studies have shown that it can be very helpful in reducing the growth of candida yeast.

For example, one study (Martins, 2009) of people suffering from HIV suggested that curcumin helps reduce the yeast’s ability to attach to the cells of the mouth of these patients. This study found that curcumin is more effective than other antifungal drugs.

Curcumin can be added to recipes as it is a popular Indian spice. Curcumin supplements are also present in the market these days. But before using those supplements, check the ingredients list to see if all the ingredients used in these supplements are safe. Because sometimes manufacturers use additives in those as well.

Bottom Line

The overgrowth of yeast cells, which are naturally present within the human body, can sometimes cause infection, also known as candida infection. This overgrowth can be due to many different reasons, especially when these yeasts’ environment changes. These cells grow more in a moist environment.

Overgrowth of Candida can result in many other diseases as well if these are not treated properly. There are many various treatments present for candida infection. A candida diet is the first thing you should consider if you suffer from this condition. Several foods like alcohol, sugar, additives, molds, and yeast can make the environment for yeast cells more favorable to grow.

But there are certain foods as well that can help eliminate this infection. Plants like garlic, coconut, and turmeric can be very effective. A healthy diet can make a difference if it takes preventive measures and a healthy lifestyle.

If the infection is spreading, consult a doctor and take antifungal medication. Follow a healthy diet with probiotic supplements to keep yeast growth limited.