Mercury Detox Diets–Killing the Yeast

One of my biggest mercury symptoms throughout my detox journey has been a chronic and system-wide case of yeast overgrowth. Not only does mercury interfere with the way in which the immune system kills off yeast cells, the chelator DMSA also has the side effect of depressing the body’s yeast killing abilities.

That one-two punch of mercury plus regular DMSA use meant that for a couple of years, I had to be incredibly vigilant about making sure that yeast didn’t get out of control in my body.

Even if symptoms appear as a skin rash or athelete’s foot, all yeast problems originate in the gut. Yeast or candida is an organism that is a normal part of the microflora in your gut. Problems only arise when the population of other more beneficial bacteria (like acidophilus found in yoghurt) decline and yeast takes over.

If yeast has gotten the upper hand in your system, there are three things that need to be done all at the same time to restore balance:

1. Take a yeast-killing agent, whether it’s a prescription antifungal like diflucan or nystatin, or an over-the-counter supplement like oil of oregano or grapefruit seed extract.
2. Take probiotics daily, either in the form of lactofermented foods like yoghurt or sauerkraut, or as probiotic capsules.
3. Starve the yeast by depriving it of its favorite food–refined sugar.

The Yeast Killing Diet–The Basics

Yeast thrives on a diet high in refined sugar and carbs. If you are battling chronic yeast issues, the first step you must take is to radically cut down your intake of refined sugar. This means no candy, cake, sodas, cookies, or anything that has sugar as a significant ingredient. And switching to honey or agave nectar is not an option. Yeast feeds just as readily on these sweeteners.

While you do this, it’s also a good idea to avoid all but freshly-squeezed fruit juices–especially commercially-made orange juice–and to limit your consumption of dried fruit. For some people, fresh fruit is also problematic, but luckily, it never gave me any trouble.

More Options

If the above changes don’t control your symptoms, there are a few more options to try.

Cut the Carbs: You can take the extra step of cutting your consumption of all  carbohydrates. Switching your calorie intake to include more proteins and vegetables and healthy fats will deprive the yeast even more. This approach is easily implemented using the Atkins Diet.

Try the Specific Carbohydrate Diet: This diet, outlined in the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle by Elaine Gottschall, defeats yeast by only allowing consumption of carbs that are readily absorbed in the gut so that nothing is left for the yeast to feed on. All grains are considered illegal on this diet.

The Body Ecology Diet: This diet–described in The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates–has a strong focus on fermented foods that naturally build healthy flora in the gut. Like the SCD, this diet is gluten free, but some grains like millet are allowed.