Excess sugar is a major culprit in yeast overgrowth and many other diseases. Too much glucose in the bloodstream robs your body of minerals, feeds Candida, initiates inflammation and taxes your immune system. In this article, you’ll learn how to stop sugar cravings and improve your diet.
“If you’re good, you can have a tasty reward.”
Those were the words my mum used to bribe me with when I was a kid.
Back then, cookies and candy were reserved for special occasions. But later on, they became a 24/7 addiction, which – when combined with antibiotics, stress, and immunocompromising steroids – ultimately led to severe yeast overgrowth that cost me two years of my life.
Needless to say, I wasn’t alone. Because the average American consumes 150 pounds of sugar per year, many people have learned the hard way that these dietary habits create a perfect environment for Candida albicans (the organism causing yeast overgrowth) to proliferate and grow out of control.
If you’re one of them, you’ll also know that sugary foods and sweetened drinks can be quite addictive! But unfortunately, the more sugar you eat, the more you feed Candida – and thus the more opportunity for yeast cells to grow and multiply.
5 Simple Tips for Overcoming Sugar Addiction
Researchers from the American Heart Association advise moderation and recommend women to limit their sugar intake to no more than six teaspoons of sugar (about 100 calories) a day. Men can consume up to 150 calories, which is about nine teaspoons.
However, from my own experience I know that this is easier said than done. When I first started on the Candida diet, my cravings didn’t care one bit that I was trying to get healthy – I was used to eating foods high in sugar content and my body wanted more. Fortunately, over time I learned a few effective ways to ride the wave of crave without falling into the ocean:
- Eat protein with your meals. Nuts, seeds and avocados are all perfect snacks when you’re on the Candida diet. Eating protein helps keep your blood sugar stable enough to carry you to the next meal without cravings.
- Keep your hands busy. Staying active until the crisis passes helps you stay away from the cookie jar – go for a walk, play with your pet, go to the cinema, organize your house – you name it.
- Read labels. A brief look at the ingredients list should give you a basic grasp of how suitable a product is. Brown sugar, fruit juice concentrates, corn syrup, fructose, dextrose, lactose, maltose and honey are all sugar in disguise.
- Choose complex carbohydrates. As you may know, carbohydrates come in two varieties – simple (refined) and complex. And while you want to avoid all refined sugars, you can still (and should) enjoy complex carbs such as whole grains, beans and vegetables. Not only are these little gems packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber; they also give your body the positive effects of glucose without throwing your blood sugar out of whack and creating cravings.
- Ditch artificial sweeteners. Aspartame, Splenda, NutraSweet and other fake sugars won’t quell your cravings for sugar, but increase them. Not to mention that their consumption has been linked to obesity, diabetes and cancer. The only acceptable substitutes for sugar are stevia, agave and xylitol.
There’s no need to get mad if you slip and eat a dessert every once in a while – it’s all part of the process. Giving up sugar is tough, but hang in there! The health benefits waiting for you are worth it.
Photo courtesy of kaibara87
Candida Treatment Made Simple
The fact that you read this article means you've already got started in your understanding of your yeast overgrowth. You've taken the first step towards lasting freedom from candida related symptoms.
If you'd like to take the next step, your best bet is to find professional help and learn simple lifestyle and diet tricks to get rid of Candida once and for all.
We at eCANDIDA found that the only guide to describe this process accurately is Linda Allen's ebook Yeast Infection No More, in which she helps you understand the root cause of your Candida infection, and then teaches you to do lifestyle and diet changes necessary for a lasting relief.
You learn to work with your body, not against it, and studies show it can be effective. All explained step-by-step by a world-renowned nutritionist and medical researcher.
Before you get the book, make sure to listen to inspirational testimonials who have adopted this anti-candida regimen. There are more than 138,000 people who cured their Candida overgrowth with this program - and their stories are as powerful as the people who share them.
