Yeast Free Living

The Candida Control Cookbook: What You Should Know and What You Should Eat to Manage Yeast Infections (New Revised & Updated Edition) by Gail Burton is one of the best Anti-Candida Cookbooks out there.  I realize that this is an extremely strong statement and may seem somewhat biased but I write this book review after an evening of successfully entertaining friends who are not on the anti-candida diet.  I cooked a four course meal based on recipes solely from the Candida control cookbook and last night was a huge success thanks to Gail Burton.  My friends were very skeptical about eating a meal at my house due to my being on a yeast free diet coupled with the multiple food allergies that I must cater to for my children but by the end of the night I think they realized that living without certain foods and ingredients does not mean accepting tasteless food as norm.  We enjoyed turkey roll-ups, salad with dressing, spaghetti and meatballs and pumpkin cookies for dessert. 

The Candida control cookbook is unique in that Gail Burton herself has had to struggle with overcoming Candida Overgrowth, also known as Candidiasis.  Candidiasis is a fungal infection or mycosis of any of the Candida species, of which Candida albicans is the most common.  Candida albicans is usually present in small, benign amounts in all of our bodies but sometimes because an opportunistic infection in due to many external factors such as a diet high in processed foods, birth control, antibiotics and toxins.  When this imbalance the body occurs many seemingly unrelated symptoms can manifest. 

Burton like many of us experienced great relief of her symptoms while strictly adhering to the anti-candida diet but often found the diet extremely limiting and consequently very hard to stick to.  This of course led her to cheat, like so many of us do, and her symptoms would quickly return.  She acknowledged that she felt better when on the diet but she knew she needed to find a way to enjoy the food that she ate while adhering to the candida diet.  Her thought was, “I needed good recipes.”  Burton began to experiment with anti-candida diet foods and ingredients in the kitchen and was able to create recipes that not only she would enjoy, but for her family and for entertaining.  She presents us with over 150 of these recipes in the Candida control cookbook.  Burton is a gourmet cook and a former food columnist so you can trust that she does know her way around the kitchen. 

Burton shares her story with the reader in the preface.  She also incorporates two  professionals well versed in Candidiasis.  The foreword is written by Gail Nielsen, MS, Founding Director, Candida Research and Information Foundation.  The introduction which explains the Candida problem is written by Michael E. Rosenbaum, MD from Corte Madera, California.  Dr. Rosenbaum specializes in preventative medicine, allergies and nutrition and is the doctor the diagnosed Burton with Candidiasis. 

The book gives a brief overview of what Candida is, the importance of the Candida Control Diet and list permitted and prohibited foods clearly and provides their substitutes.  There is a 14 – Day Candida Control Menu Plan, Carbohydrate Guide, Suggestions on Dining Out and description of all ingredients that may be unfamiliar.
The Recipe section includes Dairy Substitutes, Appetizers, Soups, Eggs, Fish, Poultry, Meats, Grains, Vegetables, Dressings, Breads, Muffins, Pancakes, Beverages, Sauces and Desserts.  The book also contains a guide on where to get unfamilar ingredients.  Some of the information is out of date but a quick Google Search of the ingredient you are looking for or the company Burton has listed will put you on the right path.  

Although I believe this is a great cookbook, I don’t like all of the recipes.  The fact is that there are enough recipes that I do like that make this purchase completely worth it.  Burton’s recipe directions are sometimes lacking which some may find a bit annoying.  I was able to follow along pretty easily and I am by no means an experienced cook.  Burton’s use of a controversial alternative sweetner, vegetable glycerin, concerns some.  Although I found little evidence to suggest that it is harmful I personally feel more comfortable substituting stevia for the vegetable glycerin but as always do your research and speak to your health care provider and you will feel confident in your choice. 

Although not perfect, The Candida control cookbook by Gail Burton is an excellent offering for anyone trying to follow the candida diet.  These are real recipes, with real flavor without yeast laden ingredients.