Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (268 page)

Candida albicans
(see page
219
).

Itchy anus or nose.

Action plan

The key is to cut out irritants and add plenty of gut-friendly foods to your diet.

EAT/DRINK

Veggie juices to boost nutrition because most sufferers will be nutritionally depleted.

Whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and sprouted seeds. These fiber-rich foods pass smoothly through the intestinal tract. However, go easy on broccoli, cauliflower, onions, and cabbage, which may aggravate this condition.

Dried figs that have been soaked in water.

Artichoke soup.

AVOID

Wheat and dairy products, as these are common gut irritants. You might be OK with almond or hemp milk, but cow’s milk is a trigger, so avoid it for now.

Corn, processed foods, sugars, sweeteners, margarine, red meat, alcohol, and coffee for two months and monitor the results. Do not replace sugars with artificial sweeteners.

Spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and anything else to which you may be intolerant (consider a food intolerance test, www.gillianmckeith.info).

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

The best herb for this condition is gentiana root. You may want to disguise its unpleasant taste in some apple purée or mashed banana.

Two peppermint capsules or peppermint oil in between meals may be enough to reduce gas and intestinal spasms.

Artichoke extract.