Candida on a Diet

Now Playing: Candida! Starring…You

It may sound like a Broadway Musical…

But too much of it is far from All That Jazz

The stage is set… you worked hard at getting the part for years.

Your audition included:

• Taking antibiotics when you were sick
• Antacids when you had heartburn
• Having a little too much sugar in your diet
• Frequent use of contraceptives
• Diabetes
• Smoking

The stage is now set and you are cast as a starring role in the show.

But the show Candida isn’t inherently bad. As we know, it only develops into a serious medical condition if it grows uncontrollably in the right environment…

Act 1 – Candida’s Cravings

Candida makes you crave what it craves…

• Cafe con leche
• Pies and strudel
• Beer, wine
• Pot roast, pork loin, bacon…cheeseburgers
• Milk chocolate
• Ice cream
• And fried rice!

Any of those sound good? Ever have those cravings?

Well, it could be the little voices behind the curtain from yeast living in your body. And Candida yeast cells love sugar so much they excrete a chemical that makes you crave sugars in all forms, especially carbohydrates. They will beat you to the trough and digest them before you do. Chronically low blood sugar will bring on more cravings and on it goes.

Their overindulgence can lead to:

• A weakened immune system
• Lethargy
• A mental fog no coffee can lift

Prolonged candida cell growth and development leads to:

• Food allergies
• Decreased hormones
• Decreased sex drive
• Recurring sinus infections
• Appearance of bad skin
• Chronic digestive problems
• And acid reflux

And the burn…while nursing, each feeding can feel like you and your baby are being scalded by liquid magma.

With this condition, you cannot afford to ignore the universal paradigm: EVERYTHING in moderation.

Why? Because your own overindulgence is a sure fire way to weaken your immune system and with it – your most powerful line of defense against the wrath of multiplying Candida cells.

Want to discourage Candida yeasts from growing?  Starve them! Stay away from food that has refined sugars – white OR brown:

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  Honey
• Maple syrup
• Corn syrup
• Molasses
• Date sugar
• Turbinado (even raw)
• Demerra
• Amaske
• Rice syrup
• Sorghum

Make no mistake – Candida will hunt any form of sugar down, consume it, and make you go back for more.  And if you think you can out-smart these unassuming fungi with artificial sweeteners, think again!

Candida albicans are mutant ninjas that will disrupt your body’s homeostasis FOREVER! Candida will colonize you like the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock.  Because they aren’t native and like all invasive species, they are opportunists. They will trick you into eating foods they can use to expand their colonies.

But, not if you put them on a strict diet with the following Candida-thinning recipes.

Act 2 – Candida on a Diet

Cutting down on Candida by putting it on a diet is identical to cutting fat by putting yourself on a diet. Eat stuff like coconut, gluten free flour, oats, quinoa pasta, avocados, eggs, spinach, unsweetened almond, rice, soy, coconut or flax milk, cinnamon, berries, Kefir, cocoa powder, apples, grape seed or olive oil.

Preferring poultry, salmon, chickpeas, black beans, and brown rice is a good start because these foods nourish your body and keep you from becoming a giant breeding ground for colonies of Candida albicans. And you don’t have to worry about losing out on flavor…plenty of delicious foods are included in the Candida diet.

Here’s a great healthy way to start each day – and super-charge your immune system!

Paige’s Breakfast Protein Smoothie[i]

What you’ll need:

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  Crushed ice
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 scoop of egg or whey protein powder
• A handful of fresh organic spinach (According to Paige, once it’s in the mix you can’t even taste it)
• 2 tsp of coconut oil
• 2 tbsp hemp seeds (33% protein, 9% omega-3)
• Chia seeds (great source of omega -3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein and dietary fiber)
• Avocado
• Ground flax seeds
• Raw cocoa powder
• Cinnamon
• Alcohol free vanilla flavor
• You may also use other herbs such as slippery elm or ultimate greenzone

What to do:

Blend in bullet or blender. Enjoy!

Breakfast: Anti-Candida zucchini omelet[ii]

What you’ll need:

• 1 small zucchini, sliced
• Two cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 eggs
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• 1 tbsp fresh chives, snipped
• ½ tbsp soy sauce (the wheat free, gluten free variety – and only if you tolerate soy)
• Sea salt (with minerals) and freshly ground black pepper

What to do:

Heat the oil in a stainless steel or cast iron pan. Add the sliced zucchini and crushed garlic and cook on medium to low heat until zucchini is tender, but not sloppy. Break the eggs into a dish, add the turmeric, snipped chives and soy sauce and whisk until blended. Pour over the zucchini. Flip using a spatula once the base is set, cook for another couple of minutes, season with salt and pepper.

Here’s a funky little caveat to this recipe: turmeric is an antifungal, Candida cutting herb, and the black pepper helps activate its super-powers!

Lunch: Mediterranean Chickpea Patties [iii]

What you’ll need:

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  1 (15-½ oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed & drained
• ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• ¼ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp sea salt, divided
• ½ tsp black pepper, divided
• 1 egg, whisked
• 4 tbsp gluten-free buckwheat flour (I used Buckwheat, which is gluten-free)
• 2 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil

What to do:

1. Pulse first 4 ingredients (through Cumin) add ¼ tsp each of salt and pepper in food processor until coarsely chopped and mixture comes together.
2. Transfer to a bowl, add egg and 2 tbsp flour – form into 8 patties. Place remaining flour in a small dish and roll patties in it with floured hands. Tap off excess flour (the mixture will be very
   sticky but it works).
3. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown.

Makes: 4 servings

Works as a side dish or as a vegetarian meal served with a side salad and hummus. Delicious!

Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken Dinner[iv]

What you’ll need:

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  ½ tsp sea salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/8 tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp dried thyme
• ¼ tsp dried parsley
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp garlic powder (in addition to the above amount)
• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

What to do:

In a small bowl, mix the salt, cayenne, paprika, ¼ tsp garlic powder, onion powder, thyme & parsley. Sprinkle generously on both sides of chicken. Heat butter & oil in large heavy skillet over medium heat. Sauté chicken until golden brown, about 6 minutes per side. Sprinkle with 2 tsp garlic powder and lime juice. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently to coat. Serve over brown rice with mixed, steamed veggies like broccoli, squash, carrots and Brussels sprouts.

Act 3 – Epilogue

You can control your risk of developing (or feeding) a dangerously large colony of Candida albicans, but only if you’re mindful and take the proper steps toward eating a healthy, balanced diet that starves the Candida – preventing it from multiplying and growing.

And how do you know if you’re at risk of developing (or have) such an infectious, fungal, froth?

Here are some simple steps to take that can answer that question for you:

Test your hormonal levels:

1. Guys:  Higher testosterone keeps progesterone levels low, but when testosterone levels drop, that’s the high sign that Candida production may be reaching levels leading to infection.
2. Gals: Candida can block the receptors of alpha estrogen in female reproductive organs. This tricks the body into making more progesterone, which Candida loves to eat.
3. Ladies AND gentlemen – have your estrogen levels tested: If estrogen is low but progesterone is high, Candida might have high-jacked your hormones and blocked the receptors. Why? Because they know that causes your body to make more progesterone, which is exactly what they need to feed on for more energy. The adrenal glands produce estrogen in both men and women. 

These are only warning signs that your body is trying to tell you something. Don’t panic if you’ve unknowingly been rehearsing for this show…you’re not alone and it’s certainly not your fault.

So many infections, illnesses and diseases can be easily prevented or cured simply by eating right and taking good care of yourself. In the case of Candida, you just need to be aware of what you’re doing with your diet. Candida is good to have because it aids in digestion. But when you play your part in your own Broadway musical, remember you have the power to not only act – but to oversee Candida’s production…and make sure – for your good health – that this show is never overproduced.