Candida Diet: Foods to Eliminate

What is Candida?

Candida is a yeast infestation, or type of fungus. Most of us have a benign amount of candida in our body which helps maintain our immune system. In some circumstances however, the candida micro-organisms may proliferate to produce a symptomatic infection of the mouth, intestines, vaginal area, skin or (rarely) the entire body. The species most often involved is Candida albicans, and the infection is known as candidiasis.

Health Symptoms and Effects

Health symptoms and complications of candida may include: bladder infections, energy loss, puffy eyes, fatigue, food cravings, hay fever, heartburn, hyperactivity, inflammation, itching, insomnia, migraine, mouth infections, rashes, sore throat, thrush and thyroid problems.

Diet Treatment of Candida

As well as anti-fungal drugs, diet is an important part of most Candida treatment programs. The purpose of a candida reduction diet is to eliminate those foods that "feed" the yeast infestation, by rigid adherence to a "restricted foods list." The duration of the diet is typically determined by the history and severity of the symptoms and overall health. Once on the anti-candida diet plan, many patients experience an improvement within 2-4 weeks. In any event, once laboratory tests give the all-clear certain foods from the restricted list can be incorporated back into daily eating.

General Dietary Advice

Reduce Carbs
Sugar feeds Candida. It is therefore vital to minimize carbohydrate intake. For example, during the first 3 weeks of the program, it is typically recommended that carb consumption be restricted to 20-60 grams per day, according to age, activity level, and degree of grain sensitivity.

Reduce Yeasty Foods
Foods that contain yeast should be eliminated.

Reduce Dairy Products
Dairy foods should be reduced as Candida can reduce the body's ability to digest fats.

Reduce Intake of Fungi and Mold
Moldy or mold-containing foods should also be eliminated.

Reduce Intake of Processed/Packaged Food
These foods and drinks often contain sugar, yeast or other Candida-feeding ingredients.

For optimum reduction of Candida symptoms, it is advisable to avoid the following foods. Once laboratory tests give the all-clear certain foods from the restricted list can be incorporated back into daily eating.

1. All Types of Sugar
Brown, white, syrup, molasses, turbinado, demerrara, honey, corn syrup, maple syrup, maple sugar, date sugar, amisake, rice syrup, sorghum. This includes "hidden sugars" such as: sucrose, dextrose, maltose, lactose, glycogen, glucose, mannitol, sorbitol, galactose, monosaccharides, polysaccharides. Fruit sugars (fructose) also feed Candida, so avoid all frozen, canned, and dried fruit, and fruit juices. Alcoholic drinks like wine, beer, cider, whiskey, brandy, gin, scotch, any fermented liquor, vodka, rum, and all liqueurs.

2. All Yeast-Containing Foods
Baker's yeast, Brewer's yeast, Engevita, Torula, bakery products raised with yeast like breads, rolls, crackers, bagels, pastries, muffins, ready to eat cereals (excepting Shredded Wheat and Kashi), white flour or white flour foods like cakes, cookies, pasta. Vinegar is made using yeast culture. Vinegar-containing foods include: pickles, pickled foods, relishes, mayonnaise, salad dressing, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, mustard, horseradish, chili sauce, to name but a few.

3. Dairy Products
Dairy foods to be avoided typically include: cow's milk, (whole, skim, 2% fat) and dry powdered milk. Dairy intake largely depends on the level of patient sensitivity to cow's milk and cow's milk products such as cheese, yogurt and butter.

4. Fungi and Mold-Containing Foods
Mushrooms, peanuts, peanut butter, pistachios, melons (eg. cantaloupe), mouldy and/or processed cheese like roquefort, stilton, blue cheeses, processed cheeses like cheese slices, Velveeta, cream cheese, cheese snacks.

5. Processed/Packaged Foods With Restricted Ingredients
Many processed, packaged, boxed, and bottled foods contain yeast, refined sugar, refined flour and/or other ingredients that encourage Candida. Examples include: sodas, potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, junk food.