Salt and the candida diet
Salt is the mother of all spices. You’ve never heard of a paprika, have you? It is so well known and so widely used that it even deserves its own adjective; salty. Salt, used sparingly, is excellent for enhancing the flavor of food. However, salt often comes under fire because when used in excess it can be a contributing factor to high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to other serious health problems. While I believe that a moderate amount of salt in your diet is not harmful and makes eating much more enjoyable, using salt can be problematic for those on the Candida diet.
The Candida Diet is used to treat a condition called candidiasis. This condition is characterized by an overgrowth of yeast (Candida) in the intestinal system. Candida is typically a benign microorganism that is an integral part of a healthy intestinal system, but external factors help turn this benign microorganism into an opportunistic one. When Candida becomes opportunistic, it causes a wide range of seemingly unrelated health problems throughout the body. Numerous external factors, such as overuse of antibiotics, birth control, diets high in processed/sugary foods, and stress, contribute to yeast infection. In reality, these external factors create an imbalance that often kills off the friendly bacteria in the intestinal system that keep Candida at bay. Coincidentally, while friendly bacteria are being killed off, Candida feeds on poor dietary choices and continues to thrive. The goal of the Candida Diet is to restore the body’s delicate intestinal balance by significantly reducing Candida’s food supply. This kills off the Candida and the friendly bacteria can be reintroduced via probiotics. The Candida Diet eliminates processed/sugared foods, all forms of sugar, glutinous grains, and even fruits in the early stages. Salt causes problems in the diet due to the additives it usually contains.
When I say salt I mean common table salt. This always makes me think of the Morton’s Salt container we always had in our cupboard when we were kids. This salt can be problematic for the Candida dieter because it contains dextrose, which is a form of sugar. Also, dextrose is usually derived from corn. While corn is allowed in moderation in the diet, many people with yeast infections also have food allergies/sensitivities, and if corn is one of them, continued use of salt is not beneficial. So is all salt off limits on the Candida diet? The answer is no. The diet recommends using sea salt without additives. Label reading is imperative when choosing sea salt because many varieties contain the same prohibited ingredients found in regular table salt. You are looking for a brand whose only ingredient is sea salt. I don’t think sea salt is necessarily better for you than regular table salt, but the fact that it contains no additives makes it a better choice for the Candida diet. Even sea salt should be used sparingly, so remember that the fact that it’s a Candida-friendly alternative to regular table salt means it should be used in excess.
For more information on the candida-diet visit Yeast Free Living.