The Self-Healing Body
The human body is equipped with self-healing mechanisms that work in conjunction with nourishment, hydration, as well as energy use (exercise and sleep). If the body is poorly supplied these necessities, it will respond – over time – with poor maintenance and an overall degradation of the entire system. If it is adequately supplied, these same self-healing mechanisms are capable of killing cancer cells, fighting infectious diseases, even combating the aging process, and so much more.
The body needs preventative, natural care and healthy habits in order for it to thrive and maintain optimum health. Any imbalance, especially gastrointestinal, will allow for vulnerability toward infiltration, infection, and disease.
While preventative care is best, oftentimes circumstances and injury allow for vulnerability as well. No matter the cause or situation, supplying the body with the nourishment, hydration, exercise, and sleep that it needs, will enable it to perform self-healing and regain optimal bacterial, yeast, and chemical balances.
Foods to Cure a Yeast Infection
In an earlier article, we highlighted a YouTube video titled “How to Cure a Yeast Infection” by naturopath, nutritionist, and international speaker – Barbara O’Neill – of the Misty Mountain Health Retreat in Bellbrook, New South Wales. In this next video, O’Neill focuses on the anti-fungal diet, which aids in overcoming yeast infections by encouraging the body to heal itself.
In this short clip, O’Neill explains that yeast is an opportunistic microorganism that loves sugar, fellow yeasts, and even human and animal waste. In essence, an anti-fungal diet excludes yeast’s favorite forms of sustenance and enables the body to function uniformly, purging itself of the offending yeast. In order to accomplish this, O’Neill makes the following suggestions:
- Increase water intake
- Decrease fruit consumption
- Increase vegetable consumption
- Maintain proper protein consumption
- Avoid peanuts and pistachios
- Be mindful of spices and seasonings
- Avoid grains (mainly wheat) and yeast breads
Increase Water Intake
Because yeast doesn’t shy away from utilizing waste as a nutriment, a victim of yeast must ensure they are eliminating frequently throughout the day. For example, if a person eats three meals a day, they should be eliminating three times a day. If the colon is not properly functioning, then eliminations will be infrequent.
Adequately hydrating the body allows all organs, especially the colon, to perform at their best. To calculate how much water is needed daily, an individual’s weight can be divided in half. This remaining number represents the ounces of water that should be taken in each day. For example, a 160-lb. individual will need to drink 80 ounces of water per day. (If the individual does heavy labor or exercise, there should be a slight increase to that number.)
Decrease Fruit Consumption
Yeast thrives on sugar in any form. While fruit is an excellent source for vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and even hydration, it should be avoided for the purpose of the anti-fungal diet because of its sugar content. O’Neill proposes that the inclusion of grapefruit, Granny Smith apples, lemons, tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocados is a safer alternative to the inclusion of all other fruits (if an individual must indulge).
Increase Vegetable Consumption
All vegetables have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, although the levels of protection vary by type. Increasing vegetable consumption will benefit the body in many ways, but mainly, the yeast will be starved of the sugars it needs to survive and the entire digestive system will experience a more idealistic process as nutrients are more quickly absorbed and waste is more efficiently eliminated.
Maintain Proper Protein Consumption
Scientists and nutritionists like to make many suggestions when it comes to protein intake. The truth is, it is not fully understood how much protein the body needs each day, whether male or female, and the grams suggested are guesstimates at best. What is known is that the body cannot accomplish self-healing without protein. The best, most absorbent proteins are plant-based. O’Neill encourages the consumption of dark, leafy greens, which are high in protein. She also states that all legumes are a safe and beneficial inclusion to the anti-fungal diet. (MoldBlogger would like to add that, while legumes are an excellent choice in the fight against fungal infection, it is best to avoid canned items.)
Avoid Peanuts and Pistachios
Peanuts and pistachios – commonly mistaken for nuts – are actually a derivative of fruit. Storage for peanuts, in particular, is generally improper, allowing for the development of mold and – as a consequence – aflatoxins. Yeast victims should avoid these two “nuts” entirely. For snacking, it is best to stick to walnuts or almonds because they are just as enjoyable and filling, and are especially high in anti-fungal properties.
Be Mindful of Spices and Seasonings
There are many beneficial spices and seasonings, specifically those that encourage good circulation. However, some are guaranteed to complicate yeast infections because of the mold content already present. Black pepper, for example, is dried and prepared in moist environments, which is a fungal paradise. O’Neill insists that cayenne pepper is a better option.
Avoid Grains (Mainly Wheat) and Yeast Breads
Grains present a similar issue to spices. They, too, are stored improperly in moist conditions. Wheat silos, especially, generate heat and trap moisture, allowing the grains to be infiltrated by various fungal types, as well as harmful bacteria that will only add insult to injury. Many breads not only contain riskily-stored grains, they also contain yeasts that do not die off in baking. The safest choices are miso and sourdough (or miso-sourdough), which contain wild yeasts that dissipate during the baking process, leaving behind no traces of yeast in the final product.
Conclusion
In addition to these suggestions, O’Neill encourages the viewer to avoid meats and gives examples of yeast-starving, plant-based meal ideas that are both filling and satisfying. All throughout her video, she is promoting the viewer’s capacity to work in a concomitant relationship with their own body, stimulating and equipping every component of the anatomy to work in a collaborative effort to restore health and balance.
For more information regarding mold, mold prevention, and mold solutions, please check out the rest of MoldBlogger.com.
Further Recommended Reading :
- Foods to Eat When You Have Mold or Yeast in Your Body
- Foods to Avoid When You Have Mold or Yeast in Your Body
About the Author: Amanda Demsky is the mother and personal chef of two boys, the domestic technician of a three-bedroom desert home, and occasionally, a freelance writer and editor. Feel free to follow her on Twitter @fullquiver777
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