Beans and Legumes
The wide variety of beans and legumes available include adzuki beans, black beans, fava beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, mung beans, navy (white) beans, peas, pinto beans, and soybeans. They are high in protein but also high in starch, which converts to sugar in the body, so it's best to eat only small servings so as not to feed the candida. Adzuki and mung beans, however, are higher in protein, so it's okay to eat slightly larger portions of these. Soy is overprocessed and overconsumed in this country. Since there is still much controversy about whether eating soy is good or bad for you, I recommend eating only small amounts of organic, non-genetically modified soybeans, tofu, and soy milk.
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| Candida Diet Foods |
To remove phytic acid from beans and avoid flatulence, soak the beans overnight, discard the water, and cook the soaked beans in fresh water. Cook beans in one or more of the following herbs and spices for optimal digestion and taste: cumin, dove, caraway, dill, fennel, sage, thyme, onion, oregano, ginger, garlic, rosemary, tarragon, and turmeric.
Vegetables
Organic vegetables are loaded with phytochemicals, which your body needs to help it regenerate. Because vegetables have alkalinizing properties, they help reduce acidity in your body, which reduces inflammation. Green leafy vegetables are nutrient-dense foods and contribute greatly to staying vibrantly healthy, so you need to eat them daily. Because of the nutrient loss in our foods, it is also advisable to take a supplemental green food source.
Fruits
Organic fruits have many beneficial vitamins and minerals that keep your body balanced. You need to limit your intake, though, because fruits are high in natural sugars, which can feed candida. Berries contain the smallest amounts of sugar, and the skins have beneficial antioxidant properties. Limit yourself to one fruit (or a small handful of berries) per day or every other day.
Dairy
I have found that after the 90-day program, small amounts of unsalted organic butter and raw goat and sheep products (milk and cheese) are beneficial for supplying the body with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Whereas bovine dairy products (from cows) are congesting to the body, goat and sheep products are easier to assimilate because of their molecular structure, which is similar to human milk. Goatein, a product made by Garden of Life, is a high.potency goat dairy powder that is predigested so that lactose-intolerant individuals can consume it.
Think about it - we are the only species that drinks milk from another species. How do cows get their calcium? Not by drinking milk from another species but by eating grass (if they're being raised humanely). It's more beneficial to get your calcium from organic plant sources than from dairy products, contrary to what the media and most medical doctors would have us believe. Plant foods that are high in calcium - higher in some cases than cow's milk - include dark-green, leafy vegetables; sesame seeds; almonds; broccoli; and carrots. These also contain trace minerals that assist the calcium to enter your bones.
Some excellent green supplement sources are Hydrilla (a product made by MegaFood) stinging nettle leaf, and alfalfa, all of which feed the body calcium and other important minerals.
Unrefined Sweeteners
If you feel the need for something sweet, you can use stevia (a sweet herb from South America) throughout your 90-day program and afterwards. It helps to balance blood sugar and has anitimicrobial properties that can reduce candida overgrowth. When your candida levels are back in balance after completing the 90-day program, you can use raw, unfiltered honey and raw agave nectar in small quantities. Raw honey has amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to your body. Raw agave nectar is a good sweetener because it doesn't drastically increase blood sugar levels.
Even though xylitol is a carbohydrate, it is metabolized slowly and therefore does not increase sugar levels rapidly, so consuming it in small quantifies in lozenges and mints is acceptable. Xylitol has also been found to be effective in preventing and reducing bacterial infections in the mouth, sinuses, and ears. To find out more, you can check out Candida Diet Foods.