One of the first things I tell anyone who walks into my clinic seeking treatment is that they need to adjust their diet. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to holistic care, there are a couple of sure-fire things you can do to improve your health. One of the things you need to do, whether you’re looking to cure Candida or not, is to eliminate sugar from your diet.
Sugar and Your Immune System
Simply put, sugar makes you sick. There’s no way around it. According to research done by Linus Pauling, recipient of two Nobel Prizes, sugar and vitamin C compete for entry into your cells. This means if you are sick or have a cold, but are eating sugar and carbs or are drinking alcohol, there will be an epic battle inside your body. If there’s more vitamin C than sugar, the vitamin C will win entry into your cells. If there’s more sugar than vitamin C, the sugar wins. Even more interesting is the idea that higher vitamin C intake actually curbs your cravings for sugar.
There are tons of negative consequences to too much sugar intake. Just a handful include:
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Sugar feeds yeast, which results in the development of Candida;
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Too much sugar can cause hormonal imbalances;
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Sugar depresses your immune system;
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Sugar makes it difficult for your body to absorb magnesium and calcium;
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Sugar makes it difficult for your body to absorb protein; and
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Sugar can cause you to retain fluid.
Just this brief list shows how dangerous sugar can be. The more you’re eating, the more malnourished you’re likely to become as your body loses its ability to properly absorb the vitamins and nutrients you really need.
Sugars to Watch Out For
You already know that your favorite snacks and sweets are filled with sugar – candy, cakes, pastries, and even sodas and your favorite sweet coffee. Sugar has a ton of different names, though. It’s especially important for you to avoid sugar if you have a Candida yeast infection because yeast loves to eat sugar. With that and other health conditions in mind, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for unfamiliar names, including:
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Aspartame;
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Corn starch;
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Fructose;
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Glucose;
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High Fructose Corn Syrup;
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Maltose (malt sugar);
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Sucrose;
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Polysaccharides; and
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Saccharin.
Yes, artificial sweeteners, which you see on this incomplete list, are also bad for your health. Many of them don’t fuel Candida growth like actual sugars, but they all have neuro-toxic effects that can damage your nervous system and ability to function normally.
How to Kick the Habit
First, it’s important to remember that you can’t go cold-turkey when giving up sugar. If you try to give it all up at once, you’ll become frustrated and give into your cravings. I usually tell my clients to give themselves at least 3 months and to be patient with themselves, cutting back slowly but surely and eliminating as much sugar as possible. The more nutritious your diet, the easier it will be to stay away from carbohydrates, processed foods, sweets, and the junk that was making you sick to start with.
Talk to your doctor about taking extra vitamin C to reduce those cravings, and consider adding a probiotic to your diet to promote intestinal health as your body detoxes. You’ll also want to spend some time adjusting your lifestyle – reducing stress, sleeping properly, and even meditating. The lower your stress levels, the less you’ll crave sugars and other Candida feeding foods.
Ditching sugar isn’t easy. It’ll take time, patience, and a little bit of guidance – but don’t give up. The sooner you give up sugar, the easier it will be to cure your Candida yeast infections – or some of the other heath conditions, like diabetes, you may be on the road to developing.
