The Yeast-Fighting diet has four distinct stages. For best results, it should be followed in order from elimination to maintenance:

1.          Elimination of sugar and yeast containing foods

2.          Challenge - Re -introduce some foods you've eliminated and check for

             reactions

3.          Reassessment - Explore food allergies and sensitivities

4.          Maintenance - Eat those foods that work for you

Each stage includes foods choices that are permissible and not permissible. The right supplements and prescription medications can help you deal with your body's imbalance from several angles.

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1. ELIMINATION

In the first stage, you'll eliminate foods that feed yeast organisms and encourage overgrowth. These include sugar, yeast, mold, starches and fermented foods.

The Elimination Stage usually needs to last for 2 to 4 weeks, depending on how long it takes your major symptoms to subside. The simplest approach is to focus on eating fresh meats, vegetables, nuts, seeds, unprocessed oils, water and tea. Our shopping list will get you started.

Eating other foods during this stage may slow the process of clearing yeast and toxins from your body. It may also be more difficult to notice a direct link between foods and symptoms. You may find that some of these don't cause you trouble at all. Our books recommend foods to eat cautiously or experiment with that aren't on the grocery list. Feel free to experiment. Just tune in to your body's signals and document what happens.

As you eliminate yeast-feeding food from your diet and incorporate supplements or other medication, you may experience "die-off". This is actually a great sign that you're on the right track!

To help you through this limited diet, check out our site's recipes and The Yeast Connection Cookbook for easy, quick, tasty meal ideas. Try This and Expert Advice offer other ideas for relief.

 

2. CHALLENGE

You are ready for the challenge stage when you have experienced some relief and begun to control your yeast overgrowth. Now you're ready re-introduce or "challenge" some of the foods you avoided in Stage 1.

Continue following the food plan from the elimination stage. Add one portion of one new food a day and notice any reactions or symptoms your body experiences in response to the new food. If you notice a reaction, give yourself at least one day without symptoms before introducing another new food. If you don't notice a reaction, continue another new food per day and observe your body's response.

When re-introducing foods, start with foods containing only one ingredient . If you experience a reaction to bread, the culprit could be yeast, wheat, eggs, or sugar. Instead, Dr. Crook suggests taking a tablet of brewer's yeast to find out if you're sensitive to yeast.and proceed from there.

Next, you may want to re-introduce fruit. Try only one type of fruit initially and watch for your body's response. Then move on to another food, and so on. For best results, don't eat sugar until your body has been clear of symptoms for a much longer period of time.

Record the foods you eat each day and body symptoms and sensations linked to eating those foods.

 

The Challenge stage can be just that - a challenge! Vent your frustrations on online discussion boards. Communicating with people who have made it through the program can give you hope to hang in there.

When you have a good list of foods that your body seems to tolerate and not tolerate, it's time to move to Stage 3, Reassessment.

3. REASSESSMENT

If you are feeling much better, you may choose to go on to Maintenance. But maybe you still have quite a few symptoms. At this point, you might have accumulated a long list of foods that set you off. The Yeast Connection and Women's Health discusses allergies, asthma, and food and chemical sensitivities in greater depth.

Now it's time for the reassessment phase. Avoid the following foods for at least two weeks:

•  Chocolate

•  Citrus

•  Corn

•  Food coloring and additives

•  Fruit punches

•  Milk

•  Processed and packaged foods

•  Soft drinks

•  Sugar

•  Wheat •  Yeast

•  Beef

•  Chicken

•  Coffee

•  Eggs

•  Oats

•  Pork

•  Rice

•  Tea

•  Tomatoes

•  White potatoes

Also avoid any food or beverage you consume over once a week. Track your normal week's intake and note which foods appear on the chart frequently. Some bodies need 3-4 weeks to clear out enough to notice a distinct change. If you don't detect a noticeable difference in symptoms, continue this process for a few more weeks.

Once you do feel more "clear", gradually integrate each food back into your diet. Add only one new item at a time. Allow at least a day or two between each addition to help you clearly identify any symptoms that might be caused by that particular food. Make sure you track in detail your food and symptoms as you do these experiments.

If you don't notice any symptoms, wait another four to seven days before eating that particular food again. This rotation of foods helps you detect hidden sensitivities.

If you notice symptoms, avoid that food. You may want to discuss allergy treatments with your health care professional. This may allow you to eat a particular food without problems. You may, however, need to avoid it on a regular basis.

By the end of reassessment, you'll have developed a list of foods you can and cannot tolerate. It's now time to move to Maintenance.

4. MAINTENANCE

Congratulations! You may not be all the way back to where you want to be, but you have faced a challenge -- and you've acquired valuable knowledge about yourself and your body. Now you can loosen up a bit. You now know what to watch for and return to a more restricted food plan any time you run into trouble. And remember, diet is only one part of the program.

Don't forget other ways to care for yourself. Most importantly, notice and trust your intuition. Humans have great instincts about what works for them and what doesn't. Remember, even respected professionals don't know everything. Don't let anyone convince you that you don't know what you're talking about. You alone are the "expert" on yourself and your body. Take advantage of available resources, and talk to others, but don't devalue your own instincts.

 

 

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