What is a Yeast Allergy?

A yeast allergy is an allergy to foods or products containing yeast. This includes bread, beer, cider, pastry, crackers, rolls, some fruit skins, and malted beverages. Those who have a yeast allergy are susceptible to a yeast infection called candidiasis. This infection causes the following symptoms: abdominal gas, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, sinus infection, rectal itching, mental fogginess, depression, earaches, thrush, indigestion, and chronic pain.

Candida Albicans is a fungus that occurs naturally in the human body and performs needed digestive functions in concert with other bacteria in the colon. It is found in the mucous membranes such as the vagina, mouth, and rectum, and is also found on the skin. Candida Albicans does not generally cause issues, but those with a yeast allergy produce an overabundance of this fungus and it upsets the balance of bacteria and yeast in the digestive tract as well as all of the mucous membranes. This imbalance wreaks havoc on the body by upsetting digestion and causing athlete's foot and vaginal yeast infections. The excessive growth is triggered when allergy sufferers ingest foods with yeast or take antibiotics.

Other foods that can trigger a yeast allergy reaction are mushrooms, sugar, vinegar, wheat, processed foods, moldy foods, and dairy. Once a yeast issue is recognized, those foods should be avoided and other foods should be introduced. Protein and low carb vegetables will help, as will drinking a lot of water and avoiding caffeine. Meat that comes from animals that have ingested large quantities of antibiotics should be avoided as well.

Some practitioners recommend cleaning out the colon with a coffee enema or taking psyllium seed with a large glass of water. Acidopholus supplements or yogurt containing live acidopholus is also helpful in many cases, and some take garlic supplements and caprylic acid. Each individual's case will be different, so experimentation is key to controlling the growth of excess fungus and re-balancing the digestive tract. Exercise can help improve digestive functions and general healthy eating plans should always be followed.

If all else fails, physicians can prescribe anti-fungal medications. A yeast allergy is usually an ongoing problem, but it can be controlled as along as special attention is paid to the diet. The most important thing to remember is to gain control over the yeast allergy as soon as symptoms begin to present themselves, because once the candida albicans take over the digestive tract, they become harder and harder to control.