What do you think of the diets aimed
at controlling candida and are they good for weight loss?
Are there supplements that can help? Why are candida controllling
diets only offered through Alternative Medicine?
My opinion of these
"diets" is, if they help people maintain an ideal pH, they
have their place. They do keep people away from refined carbs
and processed sugars which is always a positive. The reason
you only see it in alternative medicine, chiropractic, or
yoga journals is because these diets are sought out by people
looking to cure a "condition." If you have candida, the condition
can limit fat release, and switching to an alkaline raw foods
type of eating regimen can release fat, not because it's a
fat burning diet, but because it's helping to optimize metabolic
functions that might have been compromised by the growth of
yeast. I would not endorse this type of eating regimen as
a solution for the masses for two primary reasons. Firstly,
I've learned that while many people seek out "the diet that
works," few people take the time to really understand the
nutritional requirements necessary in order to maintain health
and metabolism. Most people have a basal metabolic rate that
requires somewhere between 1350 and 1700 calories per day
to maintain. Add in exercise and activity and caloric requirement
goes up. Because the organic foods, with the exception of
nuts, are low in calories, a switch from the typical American
Diet to your chosen eating regimen will result for most people
in calorie deprivation. If you're maintaining muscle mass,
that's a sign you're getting at least adequate calories. The
second reason I wouldn't recommend this as a weight loss solution
for the masses . . . most people I meet who are following
"raw food" diets, including juice fasts, are severely lacking
in protein intake. Although they do get some protein from
vegetable based sources, compounded by nuts and nut butters,
the amino acid ratios in most vegetable foods drops the value
of the protein to the presence of the lowest amino acid present.
I'd rather teach people to make natural food choices, but
to integrate proteins, starches, fibers, and essential fats.
Of course, when there is a digestive or metabolic condition
present, this might not be ideal. Here is a response I provided
for someone else who asked about candida. I hope you find
this useful: < What is commonly called candida is usually
a condition named systemic candidiasis which means rather
than yeast being limited to localized infection, it begins
to grow all over the body as well as in the bloodstream. This
seems to be more identified by alternative medicine practitioners
and health food store operators as the medical community does
not readily recognize systemic candidiasis except as a symptom
of some other illness such as a severe immune deficiency.
The actual organism
that is responsible for the condition is Candida Albicans,
a fungal yeast which is usually held to manageable levels
by the body's natural defense systems. Stress, drugs, etc.
seem to be associated with the proliferation of this fungus.The
most time honored treatment seems to be a complete elimination
of sugars and white flour. There are also medications that
can treat this condition, but alternative medicine folks promise
they can get better results by modifying diet and perhaps
adding some supplements such as essential fatty acid compounds
such as flaxseed oil and borage seed oil.
The most oft-recommended
supplements I've seen recommended to treat candida are acidophilus
and caprylic acid. There is a blood test a physician or laboratory
can perform to identify overgrowth of yeast in the intestinal
tract and ultimately the bloodstream.The symptoms associated
with candida are usually excessive fatigue, digestive discomfort,
and headaches compounded by frequent localized infections.
More recently, many health practitioners have linked candida
to a resistance to shed bodyfat.Interestingly, the type of
nutrition I recommend asks people to minimize simple sugars
and white flour. Often people think because they may have
a "condition" they need something special. As I mentioned
earlier, in a state of health the body is very capable of
managing candida.
Let
Phil Know Your Opinions and Comments:
[ Feedback ]
 e-mail
Phil Kaplan
site
designed and operated by
Phil Kaplan
Phil Kaplan's Fitness Associates
1304 SW 160th Ave., #337
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33326
(954) 389-0280
Fax (954) 742-3173
|
