Candida is a type of yeast that grows in the human body. An overgrowth of candida has been found to be at the root of many health problems, from chronic fatigue and digestive disorders to skin conditions and allergies. Some health professionals are calling it a hidden epidemic. One of the main instigators of candida overgrowth is sugar, of which the average American consumes more than seventy pounds per year.

In Living Candida-Free, Ricki Heller (with functional nutritionist Andrea Nakayama) offers a complete exploration of this condition and an expansive approach for anyone wishing to follow an anti-candida diet. A comprehensive guidebook for living a life free of refined sugar, it includes a three-stage program; tips on how to transition to eating the anti-candida way with ease; information on herbal supplements and treatments; a full list of substitutions; and delicious, satisfying recipes that anyone can prepare.

RICKI HELLER is an author, blogger and instructor who has worked with food—running a catering business, teaching cooking classes and writing cookbooks—for over twenty years. Her blog was nominated for SHAPE magazine’s Best Healthy Eating Blog award in 2011 and named one of Saveur.com’s Sites We Love in 2009. Her articles and recipes have appeared in Clean Eating, Living Without, Canadian Living, The Gazette (Montreal), The Globe and Mail, Tonic Toronto and Zoomer.com, among others. An associate editor of the new Simply Gluten-Free magazine (vegan cuisine section), Ricki is also a regular contributor to TheBalancedPlatter.com and Fitalicious.com. She shares recipes on her website, www.rickiheller.com, for sugar-free, gluten-free, allergy-friendly whole foods for an anti-candida lifestyle.

ANDREA NAKAYAMA, C.N.C., C.N.E., C.H.H.C., is a functional nutritionist, a health writer, an educator and the founder of Replenish PDX and Holistic Nutrition Lab.

Ricki Heller's profile page