Nutrition

Carb Bingeing Could Be Yeast Craving

Yeasty restaurant foods

Candida yeast, present in every­one’s gut, can grow out of proportion. Outsmart your yeasty gut with your grocery cart.

Publish 20 April 2021

Trick or Treat?

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Your body is playing tricks on you when it craves something you are trying to avoid. Candida yeast, present in everyone’s gut, can grow out of proportion if you consume too much sugar. When this happens, you feel tired and lose concentration.

Various carbohydrates convert to glucose (sugar) at different rates according to a glycemic index. Carbs lacking fiber convert quicker. When you have too much Candida, you crave even more sugar. [1,2]

Why So Much Yeast?

The increasing and widespread use of certain medical practices, such as immuno­suppressive therapies, invasive surgical procedures, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics contributes to Candida pathogens. Of over 150 Candida genus species, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis frequently thrives within human hosts. [3]

Yeasty foods

How can you crave something harmful? You open a bag of potato chips, a box of chocolate, a pint of ice cream, or a bottle of beer. (Insert your guilty pleasure here.) One bite or sip turns to two. Before you know it, you are in binge mode. Fatigue follows your initial burst of energy.

After some rest, you awaken with a strong appetite. Holding an open refrig­era­tor door handle in your hand, everything you focus on is either a simple carbohydrate or sugar. The craving can extend for hours or days as you keep building up more yeast.

The yeast wants more sugar to proliferate. As it does, it spreads to other parts of your body. This causes skin problems, athlete’s foot, nail fungus, vaginal yeast infections, and oral thrush. [1] Over-the-counter or prescription yeast remedies can reduce abnormal buildup. Probiotics can help you maintain proper gut flora balance.

Outsmart your yeasty gut with your shopping cart. Eat fibrous carbohydrates like celery, cabbage slaw, and leafy salads. It takes longer for your body to convert these to sugar. If you exert yourself afterward—perhaps going for a vigorous walk—you can utilize the energy.

Stock up on foods with a low glycemic index (GI) so that when the refrigerator door swings open, you combat cravings with healthy options.

List of Low GI Foods (20–49) [4]

  • All Bran
  • Fruit’ n Oats
  • Fiber One
  • Oat Bran
  • Oatmeal (not instant)
  • Apple juice
  • Apples
  • Apricots
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Cherries (not dried)
  • Cranberries
  • Grapefruit
  • Grapefruit juice
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Plums
  • Prunes
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Tangerine
  • Tomato juice
  • Black-eyed peas
  • Butter beans chickpeas
  • Green beans
  • Kidney beans
  • Pinto beans
  • Lentils
  • Lima beans
  • Navy beans
  • Snow peas
  • Hummus
  • Artichoke
  • Asparagus
  • Avocado
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Greens
  • Lettuce
  • Mushrooms
  • Okra
  • Onions
  • Peppers
  • Spinach
  • Summer squash
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnips
  • Zucchini
  • Barley
  • Bulgur
  • Rye
  • Wheat pasta
  • Wheat tortilla
  • Wild rice
  • Almonds
  • Hazelnuts
  • Oils (liquid room temp)
  • Olives walnuts
  • Peanuts
  • Pecans
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Almond milk
  • Egg beaters
  • Egg whites
  • Egg yolks (≤3 week)
  • Fish
  • Lean red meat
  • Low-fat cheese
  • Shellfish
  • Skim milk
  • Chicken/turkey (skinless)
  • Soy milk
  • Soy products
  • Yogurt (low-fat or greek)

It is not just your gut that is enticing you with tasty food lacking adequate nutrition. Food manufacturers launch advertising campaigns that quell your desire to cook wholesome meals. They convince you that what is fast or easy takes precedence.

Don’t buy into the perception that deleterious meals offer benefits. Combat the urge to binge on yeast-proliferating foods. You will feel more alert and healthy.

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To support the writing of useful articles about nutrition, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.

ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about nutrition. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.

ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.

You can support the writing of useful articles about nutrition by sponsoring specific articles or remitting a small donation. Visible content is optimized for device size.

References
  1. Is A Candida Infection Driving Your Sugar Cravings? liverdoctor.com/is-a-candida-infection-driving-your-sugar-cravings/ Retrieved 20 Apr 2021
  2. Candida Yeast Overgrowth and Carbohydrates. yeastinfection.org/yeast-infections-and-carbohydrates/ Retrieved 20 Apr 2021
  3. Silva S, Negri M, Henriques M, Oliveira R, Williams DW, Azeredo J. Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis: biology, epidemiology, pathogenicity and antifungal resistance. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2012 Mar;36(2):288-305. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00278.x. Epub 2011 Jun 6. PMID: 21569057.
  4. Low Glycemic Index Foods. nhrmc.org Retrieved 20 Apr 2021

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