Candida and Leaky Gut have been linked to most of the problems that people experience every day. Anything from headaches, bloating and weight gain to severe sinusitis and is even linked to asthma!
Fortunately, there is a diet that can be followed that will, in most cases, allow for recovery from a Candida-related condition.
The problem with this diet is that it is highly restrictive in calories from carbohydrates. Some people, like me, need to follow a diet like this to avoid symptoms, at the same time that I’m shrinking and losing weight every week when I follow it to the letter. In fact, I argue whether the complete reduced sugar/carb diets that some people with Candida and leaky gut follow are worth it.
People like me who are quite skinny and have a hard time gaining weight are called ectomorphs. We require a higher amount of calories on a daily basis. The different body types are, in simple terms, ectomorphs, mesomorphs, and endomorphs. Endomorphs tend to always look for the next best weight loss diet, as their body type retains fat and they can gain weight quite easily. Mesomorphs fall somewhere in between, they don’t accumulate fat as easily as endomorphs, but they can also have a hard time getting rid of it completely. Then there are ectomorphs like me, who could eat the world’s entire supply of bread and still not gain a pound. So for an Ectomorph, their diet requires a high intake of carbohydrates to support their bodies with high caloric needs; otherwise, weight loss occurs much like how an Endomorph can gain fat just by thinking about food. So a low-calorie diet for an ectomorph would seem like a ridiculous idea. Although in the case of diets like the Candida diet, where the goal is to eliminate sugars and carbohydrates in order to kill off the overabundance of bad bacteria, this is exactly what the person does.
This is where the balancing act comes into play. For one thing, you have an individual suffering from Candida overgrowth with a need to cut carbs and eliminate sugars. At the same time, if this individual is going to give up too many carbohydrates, he will be putting his body in jeopardy as his own health and energy will be compromised. As an ectomorph, I have had the experience of giving up my carbs and sugars while on a Candida protocol only to find myself feeling even worse and rapidly losing weight, most of which was muscle mass. This was not the result of a healing crisis. This was a food crisis! I was chronically fatigued even worse than before, so when someone suggested that I had gone the other way and was now experiencing fatigue due to lack of carbs, I decided to increase my carb intake again and the symptoms disappeared. Any diet can be modified, nothing is set in stone.
My point is that even a Candida diet protocol is not an end, it is everything to everyone. Every “body” is different, and no matter what the goal is, that should never be forgotten. Eliminating sugars is definitely a must as bacteria in the presence of sugar have been shown to rapidly grow up to 200 times faster! At the same time, your carb intake should remain stable! Not all carbs are bad! Just eat the right ones. Stick with brown rice and eat more quinoa. I know some people say that brown rice should only be eaten in moderation, but I say if you have a very high metabolism then DON’T. Now, with that being said, if you eat brown rice and feel worse, don’t, but otherwise don’t deprive yourself either. Your body’s needs come first and foremost than what a cleanse or diet protocol might ask for! If your body doesn’t have more calories to burn, it will deplete all your energy, and at worst, it can be dangerous for you over time!
In addition to all of this, you must be willing to take the time to cook your own food and prepare it to be successful on this diet. If you succumb to processed foods that are very high in sugar and artificial ingredients, then this entire diet plan will fail miserably. The key is to eat whole foods that are not processed, eat your carbs from vegetables and grains. Again, just make sure they’re the right ones, like I mentioned brown rice and quinoa, as well as amaranth and millet. Also, this sweet potato is an excellent source of carbs as it provides plenty of good carbs, but the sugar content won’t make your Candida as badly worse as canned processed sugar. Just don’t overdo it, as it’s key to avoid eating too much of any food when you have this condition, as you’re much more prone to developing food allergies to just about anything. Of course, as if I didn’t need to mention it, you can never do too many greens. Try to only cook them with rapid steam if you choose to cook your vegetables. Which means no more than 1 minute of steaming and then taking them out before they lose too many nutrients.
So if you’re trying to do a Candida diet, suffer from leaky gut, or are just doing a complete elimination diet. Keep in mind that carbs and grains are not ALL bad. Some are but not all. Just stay away from processed foods, just plain sugars like cane sugar and honey. Also avoid glutinous grains like kamut, spelt and, of course, wheat. With this, compare it to a lot of vegetables and you will be on your way to success in getting your health back without making it worse!
