“Milk does the body good.” I am sure many of you remember seeing advertisements and/or hoardings of the National Dairy Council with this slogan, touting the health benefits of milk. More recently, I have seen advertisements for dairy products promoting weight loss. Additionally, mothers all over the world have emphasized on drinking lots of milk for their babies to grow up strong and healthy. So if milk is so good for you, why is it banned from the candida diet?
The candida diet is a cornerstone of treatment for a medical condition called candidiasis. This condition is characterized by an overgrowth of yeast (Candida) in the intestinal system. External factors such as overuse of antibiotics, which kill all intestinal bacteria and a diet high in processed/sugary foods, which feed Candida, contribute to creating an imbalance in the intestinal system. When the natural balance of the intestinal system is disrupted, Candida proliferates and becomes an opportunistic microorganism that causes diseases throughout the body. The candida diet attempts to restore balance to the intestinal system by cutting off the food supply of candida. It is the sugar content of milk that is of concern to the Candida dieter and thus why it is banned from the diet. Lactose, a sugar found in milk, is also hard to digest for many people and can cause gastrointestinal upset that only worsens candidiasis.
It is unfortunate that milk can exacerbate candidiasis because milk is a great source of so many vitamins needed for optimal health. I don’t know whether there is any comparable natural food source that can provide such a complete source of calcium and vitamin D as cow’s milk. So what should a candida dieter do about milk? Certainly we don’t want to deprive ourselves of these nutrients while trying to restore our intestinal balance. Fortunately, due to the common occurrence of lactose intolerance and food allergies today, there are a wide variety of milk alternatives available that are fine for a candida diet. Many of these milk substitutes are fortified with calcium and vitamin D levels comparable to cow’s milk.
i am milk Seems to be one of the most commonly used milk substitutes. Most of us have noticed this heart-healthy milk alternative, with brands like Silk sitting right next to cow’s milk in the grocery store. I use unsweetened soy milk a lot in the candida diet. It has a consistency similar to cow’s milk and behaves similarly in recipes. Soy is however one of the top eight allergens, so it may not be suitable for everyone.
Badam Milk Another popular milk substitute. It is ideal for those who cannot consume soy due to sensitivity or allergy. I haven’t used almond milk because both of my kids have severe allergies to nuts. Although I’ve heard great things about almond milk, both for its taste and usefulness. Almonds are tree nuts so they are considered one of the top eight allergens and can cause problems for some.
rice milk A good alternative to milk. This is what I use for my kids as they are allergic to cow’s milk, soy and tree nuts in varying amounts. Rice milk is great in cereal but only mediocre for cooking. The consistency is too watery so it cannot be used effectively in some recipes. It is very sweet even when using the unsweetened version. Rice milk is also high carbohydrate so it may not be ideal for candida dieters, especially in the early stages of the diet.
hemp milk Seems to be the new kid on the block but I haven’t used it yet. Contrary to what it sounds like it is not illegal nor does it contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) which is the active chemical in marijuana. From what I’ve read, hemp milk has a creamy consistency and performs well in cooking.
When you are choosing a milk substitute, make sure it is unsweetened and does not contain any prohibited additives.
for more information candida diet Go yeast free living.
Source by Tennille Jordan
