Any diet designed to reduce or eliminate an overgrowth of yeast must restrict sugar. Sugar is what keeps this organism alive. When it doesn't have access to sugar it basically starves and dies. Restricting these foods goes beyond avoiding foods that contain sugar. There are many foods, namely simple carbohydrates like pastries, which convert to sugar after they are consumed. As a note of caution, you should not follow an anti-yeast infection diet without first consulting with your doctor. Once you are cleared to continue the diet, you should follow the steps to slowly progress through the diet.

It is a good idea to start the diet very aggressive and slowly taper off. The aggressive step helps to detoxify your system quickly. This step should last for a couple of weeks. Your symptoms should start to subside and you should feel an improvement in your well-being. You should then start introducing some of the avoided foods back into your diet. Introduce foods slowly so that you can detect if certain foods are causing you a problem. Once you've successfully introduced these foods into your diet, you should then focus on stabilizing your diet. A recommended approach to keep yeast infections at bay is to follow a diet that includes mostly vegetables, modest amounts of protein, and very little carbohydrates.

The foods that you should avoid and enjoy in order to eliminate a yeast infection are listed for each of the following groups:

Sugar Avoid: All refined forms (i.e. honey, maple syrup, raw sugar) Enjoy: Stevia

Fruit Avoid: All dried fruits, melons, apples Enjoy: Berries, lemons, grapefruit, limes, green apples

Vegetables Avoid: Corn, carrots Enjoy: All fresh varieties, including raw garlic

Meats Avoid: Pork Enjoy: Seafood, fish, all lean meats

Dairy Avoid: Aged cheese, soy milk, cow's milk Enjoy: Yogurt, cream cheese,

Yeast Avoid: Green olives, pastries, pickles, mayonnaise, bread, brewer's yeast Enjoy: Apple cider vinegar

Nuts Avoid: Peanuts, pistachios Enjoy: Almonds, walnuts, cashews,

Starches Avoid: Potatoes, pasta Enjoy: None

Beverages Avoid: Black tea, fruit drinks, alcohol, all types of soda, coffee Enjoy: Bottled and distilled water, herbal tea, vegetable juice, grapefruit juice

Other Foods Avoid: Mushrooms, packaged foods, processed foods, chips, crackers, spices, foods containing gluten

The degree to which you should restrict foods depends on the depth of the condition. If your condition is mild, a short-term diet may be beneficial. However, a long-term exposure to yeast infections requires a longer treatment plan. In both cases, it is recommended that you establish a highly nutritious diet after the yeast has been contained. In many cases, the foods that people enjoy eating the most can provoke a yeast overgrowth.

In addition to the foods listed above, it is a good idea to take oral supplements. Probiotics and a multi-vitamin are recommended on a daily basis. The probiotics will help to rebuild the natural flora of your digestive tract. This is essential since a yeast infection indicates that there is an imbalance. The multi-vitamin will provide you the essential nutrients that you may not consume through the strict diet.

Although this is just a glimmer of a candida and yeast infection diet, this guide will get you started along the way. A full program and diet for eliminating yeast and candida is best.