Candida Diet- What is it and Does it Work?

Yes, we had the same reaction… “Oh my god there’s another diet, already?!”. The Candida is a genus of yeasts that normally lives inside of your body and on your skin. There are hundreds of these yeasts, but many species can cause fungal infections if their numbers grow out of control or if they enter the bloodstream or other organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it is this candida that has its own new, hip diet program. Let’s get into it.

The candida diet involves removing all sources of flour, sugar and yeast from your diet.

It encourages lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats, as well as several supplements to encourage the process. By doing so it staves of yeast overgrowth. It is particularly important to use supplements that support the die-off of yeast and the removal of yeast and it’s by-products out of the body. 

Before commencing the cleanse you will want to check with your health professional first. The creator recommends six weeks of a candida cleanse, eating 60 grams of total carbs per day, maximum. It is vital to avoid flour-based foods, grains and sweeteners, and limit fruit and starchy vegetables to two total servings per day. 

The diet puts focus on lean protein, healthy fats and leafy vegetables. It is designed to weaken yeast overgrowth and regulate blood sugar. This diet is not radical and is safe for most people, except pregnant and breastfeeding mums. One thing you may notice is that you feel worse before you feel better. This includes flu-like symptoms and fatigue, however it is important to remember that it will not last for the entirety of the six-week cleanse. 

Foods that you are allowed to eat on the Candida diet include: wild fish, grass-fed beef, chicken, eggs, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, lettuces, asparagus, zucchini, onions, shallots, turmeric, cumin, ginger, lemon, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, almonds, walnuts and macadamia nuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds and hemp seeds, cilantro, basil and oregano, avocado, olive oil and olives, coconut oil, bone broth, dark chocolate, water and finally green tea. 

Foods to avoid whilst on the Candida diet include: flour based foods such as pizza, bread and bagels, sweetened foods such as ice cream and candy, vinegar, mushrooms, dairy, alcohol and fermented foods such as kimchi, yogurt and sauerkraut. 

An example of what a day on the candida diet looks like would be: 

• Breakfast: 2 eggs with spinach, sautéed in coconut oil. 
• Lunch: shredded turkey breast on a bed of greens with a lemon-olive oil vinaigrette
• Dinner: salmon, roasted cauliflower and zucchini. 

It is very important that we highlight that there is no strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of the candida diet. While the diet is healthy overall, many of its recommendations are not based on science.

Nevertheless, if you have been diagnosed with a candida infection, it may be helpful to see if this diet works for you.