Safe Products (or what to avoid)

First off, I would like to stress this is a yeast-free diet.  It is not gluten-free.  From my experience, there is no need to be gluten-free in order to stop the pain of IBS, IBD, or yeast intolerance. This list only takes yeast into consideration. Be prepared though, people are used to hearing gluten-free but yeast, not so much.

On products with yeast

In order for a product to be safe, it cannot contain yeast or items that have touched yeast.
Finding products that have yeast as an ingredient is fairly simple.  This will include breads, crackers, pizza, and pastries. If it has the word YEAST in the ingredients, avoid it. This may also include processed meats and soups. Check the label!

The following are items that might not be so easy to figure.

There are three different categories of things that contain yeast that I will cover.  This list is not exhaustive but is meant to be a general guide to help you on your way.  Always look at ingredient lists when they are available.

Uses yeast in processing AVOID:
Alcohol
Anything brewed
Anything fermented
Artificial Sweeteners (other than Stevia)
Autolyzed Yeast
Baking Powder (made with cream of tartar only)
Balsamic Vinegar
Beer
CBD tinctures or products made with an ethanol process (glycerin or CO2 process should be safe)
Cider Vinegar
Condiments with Fancy Vinegar (see note below on distilled vinegar)
DATEM (diacetyl tartaric acid ester of mono- and diglycerides)
Dijon Mustard (contains wine)
Fancy Vinegars (red wine, white wine, balsamic, rice wine, apple cider, etc. i.e not distilled)
Fermented Bean Paste
Fermented Vegetables
Flavored Extracts (contains alcohol)
Ginger Ale (only the fancy brewed kind)
Hard Cider
Ketchup made with fancy vinegar (see note below on distilled vinegar)
Kim Chi
Liqueurs
Liquors
Malt Beverages
Malted Vinegar
Miso
MSG (often written out as Monosodium Glutamate)
Olives
Pickled Foods
Pickles
Red Wine Vinegar
Relish
Rice Wine Vinegar
Root Beer (only the fancy brewed kind)
Sake
Salad Dressings (with fancy vinegars, wine, msg, yeast extract)
Sauces with Vinegar
Sauces with Wine
Sauerkraut
THC tinctures or products made with an ethanol process (glycerin or CO2 process should be safe)
Vinegar
Wine
Wine Coolers
Yeast Extract

  • A word on exceptions- Vinegar is created with a fermentation process.  Generally, it should be avoided, however, I have found that distilled vinegar is refined enough that it doesn't create symptoms.  If it does for you, continue to avoid it. Lemon juice makes a suitable replacement for it in a pinch.

  • I've also been told that highly refined quality potato Vodkas are also consumable without issue.  If you want to drink alcohol, you might want to start your experiments there.

Grows yeast naturally AVOID:
Berries (other than strawberries-generally any berry that gets a cloudy skin)
Blue-Veined Cheeses (if it touches anything that isn't sterilized during production, it grows LOTS of yeast)
Coffee (beans are fermented)
Cream of Tartar (made from grape skins) aka Potassium bitartrate
Dried Beans
Dried Fruits (cranberries and acidic/citrus fruit without rind/skin seems to be an exception)
Grapes
Grape Juice (or any blend containing grape juice)
Overripe fruit
Peas/Pea Protein 
The skin of MOST fruit - anything that gets a cloudy skin is harboring yeast

Removing the skin from most fruits will make them safe as long as the fruit itself is not overripe.  Strawberries do not need to have the skin removed and are generally safe when fresh and not overripe.


May contain yeast but often times not or TRY AND SEE?!:
Black Tea (can be fermented)
Canned Beans, Fruits, and Vegetables (canning process can trap yeast)
Chocolate (can be fermented - milk chocolate is usually fine)
Corn Starch (made with fermentation process)
Modified Food Starch (corn or not listed- made with fermentation process)
Yellow Corn (can naturally grow yeast)
Honey (can be contaminated with yeast)
Malted Products 
Mushrooms (can naturally grow yeast)
Peanuts (can naturally grow yeast)
Some Cheeses (the aging process can invite yeast)
Soy Sauce (can be fermented)

Baking Soda can be a trigger for some people and should be avoided if it causes a problem as well.  I found that after about 3 months of avoiding it completely, I am able to handle baking soda with no problems, but when I first started, I was reactive.



Safe Replacements

Replace:
Vanilla extract with vanilla powder or vanilla paste (available in gourmet stores and online)
White wine with Sparkling Apple Cider
Red wine with Pomegranate flavored Sparkling Apple Cider (or 100% pomegranate juice)
Vinegars with Distilled Vinegar or Lemon Juice
Baking Powder with baking soda and acid (like buttermilk or vinegar)
Baking Soda/Powder with Ammonium Bicarbonate (available in gourmet stores, pharmacies, or online)


This list has been compiled from various sites around the internet as well as through my own research of specific products and personal experience.