Eating a yeast-free diet to treat treat infections, candidiasis or related conditions may have side effects.
Yeast is a generally harmless, naturally occurring bacteria in the digestive tract. It becomes a problem, however, when there is an overgrowth of the bacteria creating an imbalance with the healthy bacteria also present. An overgrowth of candida albicans, a type of yeast, is referred to as Candidiasis. Eliminating yeast foods from the diet by following a yeast-free diet may be beneficial to people suffering with yeast infections. However, due to lack of scientific validity, the benefits of such a diet are questionable. Consult a physician if you are experiencing yeast-related symptoms affecting your health.
Effects of Eating Yeast
Eating a diet that contains yeast may lead to potential negative health effects. Typical symptoms of yeast overgrowth include fatigue, bloating, flatulence, urinary frequency, migraines and skin rashes. If left untreated, further health complications could develop such as rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, digestive disorders and chronic infections. A yeast-free diet is believed to reduce and eliminate harmful bacterial overgrowth by eliminating foods that feed the yeast. Common yeast-containing foods include breads, cookies, muffins as well as many packaged and processed foods. The Mayo Clinic exclaims that the elimination of these processed foods may actually decrease yeast-symptoms vs. following a so-called yeast cleanse as these foods have poor nutritional quality.
Withdrawal Effect
As with many medications, making changes to diet and lifestyle habits can induce side effects. The body may need time to adjust, especially at the beginning of the diet, to the introduction of new foods and the elimination of old foods that were staples in the diet. Foods high in yeast particularly are typically carbohydrate foods such as bread, cookies or processed packaged foods that also contain sugar. Eliminating sugar from the diet can cause negative side effects as the body may be addicted to the temporary boost in energy it provides.
Side Effects
According to Fasterloss.com, typical side-effects involved with a yeast-free diet may include fatigue, difficulty concentrating and focusing, and headaches. These effects are typically due to the decrease in sugary-foods which the body becomes dependent on for quick energy. Much like caffeine withdrawl, the body needs to adjust to the elimination of substances it once relied on. Muscle weakness may be experienced during the initial stages of the new diet. This may be explained due to lack of energy and poor nutritional intake in the beginning stages of the diet. Dieters may not know which foods are safe to eat and need time to establish a healthy new way of eating.
A Healthy Diet
In general, the potential positive side-effects of a yeast-free diet outnumber the negative. According to MayoClinic, following a healthy diet rich in nutrients and fresh foods may lead to individuals feeling better within a few weeks. For instance, the introduction of new, fresh foods, such as raw vegetables are harder to digest initially if a person isn't used to eating foods high in fiber. However, as time passes, the body adjusts to an increase in fiber and benefits from the nutrients it is receiving from healthy foods.
Sources
- Wisconsin Institute of Nutrition, LLP: Answers To Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) For Yeast Free/Wheat Free/Milk Free Dietshttp://www.nutritioninstitute.com/FAQ.html
- The Yeast Diet: Yeast Free Diet http://www.theyeastdiet.com/yeast-free-diet.html
- Candida Yeast Guidebook, Revised 2nd Edition: Everything You Need To Know About Prevention, Treatment & Diet; Jeanne Marie Martin & Zoltan P. Rona, M.D.; 2000
- Mayo Clinic: Consumer Health: Candida Cleanse: What Does It Treat?http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/candida-cleanse/AN01679
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