Cheese is such a big part of the American diet. We eat cheese on everything like sandwiches, burgers, salads, eggs and chili to name a few. Cheese platters add elegance and sophistication to our special events. Cheese helps us create amazing casseroles, and can you imagine many of your Italian favorites without cheese? There are so many different types of cheese. I found out that a very popular website dedicated to cheese actually lists 670 types of cheese in their database. That’s a whole lot of cheese and sure aren’t all off-limits to 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 affects health. The Candida actually overloads the intestinal system and causes an imbalance in its functioning. The candida diet attempts to correct this imbalance by cutting off food intake to allow the candida to thrive. Sugar and fast-acting carbohydrates are the biggest food sources for candida, but things like cheese can also help feed candida.
The main ingredient in cheese is cow’s milk. Cow’s milk, also prohibited in the diet, is high in sugar and contains lactose. Lactose is difficult for many people to digest and is therefore not ideal in the fight against candidiasis. Also, many ingredients such as vinegar and salt are added to the cheese. These are also prohibited ingredients and can make candidiasis symptoms worse. Many cheeses also contain mold and some are even made through a fermentation process that adds yeast. All of these factors make eating cheese a risky business 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 it’s okay to eat certain types of cheese, but don’t warn dieters that they will most likely be consuming additives forbidden in the diet. In my opinion, cheese is not good for the candida diet. Every time I consume it, my symptoms return. However, that is how it affects me and it may not be the case for others. If you are new to this diet, you will 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 cheeses are Brie, Roquefort, Stilton, and Gorgonzola. Processed cheeses such as sliced cheese, cheese dips and cheese whiz are also unhealthy and taboo. Cheeses to try instead include mozzarella, provolone, and/or swiss. Try to find these cheeses with as few additives as possible, especially no vinegar.
For more information about the candida diet Visit Yeast Free Living.
Thanks to Tennille Jordan
