Does a Woman’s Diet Effect Yeast Infections?

It is estimated that 3 out of 4 women get yeast infections on a regular basis and while an infection once or twice a year can easily be treated with over-the-counter medication, women who get them frequently find yeast infections quite debilitating.

Not only are they uncomfortable but they also put a burden on marriages and social lives as well. While the medical profession generally recommends antifungals as a treatment, there is an ever growing amount of anecdotal evidence that suggests the best yeast infection treatment option comes by adjusting the woman’s diet.

Candida albicans Yeast

The most common type of yeast that infects humans is candida albicans. Just like other yeast, they thrive in sugary environments. So the same recipe used to make bread and beer can apply within the human body. If a woman’s diet is rich in simple sugars and refined carbs then that provides an excellent breeding ground for Candida alibicans yeast and in turn frequent yeast infections.

This poor diet along with stress weakens the immune system of the woman which further exacerbates the problem by allowing these fugal cells to grow unchecked by the her defenses.

In addition to the poor, sugar rich western diets the woman eats, the over use of antibiotics also is a contributing factor. Antibiotics kill good bacteria along with the bad and unfortunately, the good bacteria within a woman’s body are responsible for keeping Candida yeast cells at bay.

The Yeast Infection Eliminating Diet

Women who have learned to follow a specific diet that has been formulated to kill yeast overgrowth and to change the internal environment of the body to one that’s not favorable for Candida to grow, have found success eliminating yeast infections long term.

A Candida diet is one that teaches the woman how to avoid sugar and refined carbs, restores the body’s good bacteria, strengthens the immune system, and incorporates foods and supplements that have natural antifungal properties. The first 60 days of a Candida diet is rather restrictive, but once the yeast overgrowth has been eliminated a less restrictive, healthy maintenance diet can be continued.

Women who are plagued by frequent yeast infections would be wise to consider a nutritionally based Candida diet as a natural yeast infection remedy instead of constant trips to their doctor and pharmacies for prescriptions and creams.

This article was contributed by Ted Kallmyer who is the editor of Candida Diet Foods.