Cheese and the candida diet

Cheese is such an important part of the American diet. We eat cheese on everything including sandwiches, burgers, salads, eggs, and chili, just to name a few. Cheese boards boast elegance and sophistication at our special events. Cheeses help us create fabulous casseroles, and can you imagine many of your Italian favorites without cheese? There are so many different types of cheese. I found out that on a very popular website that talks about cheese, there are actually 670 types of cheese listed in their database. That’s a lot of cheese and surely not all of them are off limits on the Candida diet?

The Candida Diet is a diet used to treat a condition called candidiasis. Candidiasis is an overgrowth of yeast (Candida) in the intestinal system that releases toxins and causes health problems. Candida actually overloads the intestinal system causing an imbalance in its functioning. The Candida Diet seeks to correct this imbalance by cutting off the food supply that allows Candida to flourish. Sugar and fast-acting carbohydrates are the biggest food sources for Candida, but things like cheese can also contribute to feeding Candida.

The main ingredient of cheese is cow’s milk. Cow’s milk, also prohibited in the diet, has a high sugar and lactose content. Lactose is difficult for many people to digest and therefore not ideal for fighting yeast infections. Also, many ingredients are added to the cheese, such as vinegar and salt. These are also prohibited ingredients and can aggravate yeast infection symptoms. Many cheeses also contain mold and some are even produced through a fermentation process, which adds yeast. All of these factors make eating cheese a risky affair for the Candida dieter. To make matters worse, there is a lot of conflicting information about cheese and the Candida Diet on the internet.

Many sources say that certain types of cheese are okay to eat, but fail to warn dieters that they will most likely be consuming additives that are prohibited in the diet. In my opinion, cheese is not good for the Candida diet. Every time I take it my symptoms come back. However, this is how it affects me and may not be the case for others. If you’re new to this diet, you’ll find that what doesn’t work for some may work for others. If you want to experiment and see if cheese is something you can still enjoy in moderation on the Candida diet, here are some suggestions.

Stay away from moldy, aged, or processed cheese. Some examples of moldy or aged cheese include Brie, Roquefort, Stilton, and Gorgonzola. Processed cheeses, such as shredded cheese, cheese sauces, and cheese whiz, are also unhealthy and are prohibited. Cheeses you should try include mozzarella, provolone, and/or Swiss. Try to find these varieties of cheese with as few additives as possible, especially without vinegar.

For more information on the Candida diet, visit Yeast Free Living.