Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort and bloating. But, there may be a hidden connection that triggers your next IBS flare-up.
There have been cases where candida and IBS sufferers have found relief from both conditions through a single treatment. Candida symptoms are often similar to IBS. They include:
| IBS Symptoms | Yeast Infection Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Changes in bowel function: Diarrhea or Constipation | Changes in bowel function: Diarrhea or Constipation |
| Intestinal Gas/Bloating | Intestinal Gas/Bloating |
| Mucus in the stools | Mucus in the stools |
| Food Allergies/Food Sensitivities | Food Allergies/Food Sensitivities |
| Dysbiosis (Disbalance in intestinal flora; excess of bad bacteria) | Dysbiosis (Disbalance in intestinal flora; excess of bad bacteria) |
| Fatigue and Feeling Drained | Fatigue and Feeling Drained |
| Depression, Anxiety, Irritability | Depression, Anxiety, Irritability |
Standard Medical Treatments
The standard prescriptions for a yeast infection include nystatin, diflucan and nizoral.These medications can effectively suppress yeast infections, but they may only be a temporary fix if an underlying cause is not dealt with. This may include food allergies, moldy foods, drugs, birth control pills. If these potential culprits aren’t addressed, once medications are discontinued, the yeast infection may come back.
This isn’t just empty rhetoric. I have observed this phenomena in a number of my own patients.
What is a Yeast-Free Diet?
With people who suffer from candida symptoms, the yeast that occurs naturally in their gut grows to unhealthy levels, which throws off the balance of good and bad bacteria in the intestinal tract. A yeast-free diet attempts to remove these excess levels of Candida Albicans.
While there are most likely variances in yeast-free diets, one example is to start off with a detox phase where you cleanse the system of the toxic byproducts of candida. You can use anti-microbial herbs to help revers the imbalance.
Yeast benefits from high sugar, alcohol and simple carbohydrate intake.
Foods to Avoid:
- Processed Meat and Fish (hot dogs, sausages, pastrami, corned beef).
- All Fruit Juices, Dry Fruits and Fresh Fruits (except berries).
- Coffee and Tea (except Pau d’arco tea).
- Fermented foods and alcohol (beer, wine, vodka, rum, vinegar, cider, root beer).
- Mushrooms, Melons, Peanuts and Pistachios.
- All Grains and Cold Cereal (wheat, rye, oats, barley, corn).
- Sugars (any sugar, honey, maple syrup, molasses. fructose, maltose, glucose, sorbitol).
- Baked goods (breads, muffins, cakes, cookies, pastries).
- Cheese (cheddar, swiss, cream cheese, cottage cheese, macaroni&cheese plus any food containing cheese).
Foods to eat:
- Meat (chicken, lamb, turkey, veal)
- Fish ( salmon, cod, flounder, halibut, shrimp)
- Vegetables ( celery, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, sprouts, asparagus)
- Fruits ( blueberries, blackberries, raspberry, avocado)
- Eggs ( free- range boiled or poached)
- Dairy (plain yogurt with live bacteria: lactobacillus bulgaricus, streptococcus thermophilus)
- Nuts (not roasted or salted, just raw – almonds, cashews, filberts)
- Seeds (raw – sunflower, pumpkin)
- Oils ( extra -virgin, cold pressed olive oil)
- Beverages ( filtered water and pau d’arco tea)
Consume raw garlic with every meal.
I provided here general dietary guidelines, which I use for my patients with IBS. However, some people can have a hidden food allergy to some commonly eaten foods like eggs, shrimp, nuts. Those allergies can easily be detected by doing IgG4 Food Allergy Test.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Galina,
I have been looking over your website because I have been diagnosed with IBS, though I am not positive that this diagnosis is exactly what is causing the problems I am currently having. I am going to the health store right now to get some liquid chlorophyll because I have had bleeding after bowel movements for a few weeks now. I have had a colonoscopy, CT scan, ultrasound and an endoscopy and all appeared normal. I ended up in the hospital two weeks ago after intense upper abdominal cramping. I do suffer from constipation every so often so I am hoping increasing my soluble fiber intake plus using your tea recipe will help. I am wondering about these tests you are talking about though for testing for allergies and excessive yeast in your gut. How do I go about getting these done?
Thanks,
Stacy
Dear Stacy,
Your situation is rather typical. Some of my patients with IBS do exhibit symptoms of abdominal cramping and bloating while having the normal results of the following tests: colonoscopy, ultrasound and abdominal CT scan. But your abdominal distress is real and must be addressed.
Because you suffer from constipation and abdominal cramping modifying your diet based on the results of Food Allergy/Intolerance Test and GI Function profile should be a good first step in a program for your recovery.
I am in a process of making these tests available to my subscribers on my website; in the meantime, if you so desire, I can order these tests for you.
Please communicate to me via separate e-mail for further instructions.
However, you must consider that your problem is clearly a complex one and in order to be resolved once and for all it requires holistic approach and comprehensive program. Comprehensive program simply means addressing much more that food allergies.
For example, if the test shows that you are allergic to wheat simple elimination of wheat may not be enough to get rid of your problem but simple adjustments to your diet and introduction of some supplements could resolve your GI problems for good.
Therefore my recommendation is to follow these tests by an appointment with a qualified licensed health care professional who can not only interpreted the results of the test but more importantly, incorporate the interpretation into holistic program for you.
Best of Health
Galina Kotlyar MS RD
Meat and animal products are toxic not to mention cruel which causes IBS to be worse. A low fat plant based diet helps.