What Is the Candida Diet?

According to Eric Bakker, a candida diet focuses on consuming certain foods while limiting or entirely avoiding other types of foods. The latter most common foods are alcohol, gluten, sugar, and dairy products. All of these are thought to fuel the overgrowth of yeast that is Candida albicans in the human body.

The diet also encourages consuming more anti-inflammatory foods and healthy fats. Although there’s limited research to confirm whether or not such inclusions and exclusions would reduce yeast infection; these recommendations seem helpful in maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle all the while aiding gut health.

In this post, we aim to shed light on what all to avoid while on a candida diet and what things to eat more of. We’ll also discuss the potential benefits of the healthiest foods and how they may help with C. Albicans.

Risk Factors for a Candida Infection

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several risk factors if you talk solely about the vaginal candida infection. Those risk factors typically include – having a compromised immune system, diabetes, prolonged antibiotic usage, and increased levels of estrogen.

Out of these, antibiotics seem to be so far, the commonest and the leading cause of candida overgrowth. Antibiotics work by killing bacteria (both good and bad). They sterilize the entire gut microbiome population. That’s what leads to an imbalance of the yeast in the body which eventually causes an overgrowth.

Other than that, lifestyle factors are also common triggers. This includes high alcohol intake and chronically elevated stress levels that can render you more susceptible to yeast overgrowth and infections.

Below are some more, common risk factors to watch out for –

  • Consuming too many refined carbs
  • Diet high in sugar
  • High alcohol intake
  • Elevated stress levels
  • Gut microbiota imbalance
  • Weak immune system
  • Antibiotics and birth control pills
  • Diabetes mellitus

If you suspect any combination of these risk factors for your infection, you should make a healthy lifestyle and diet changes.

These simple changes can sometimes work wonders in reversing the condition. Other than that, it pays to seek some kind of stress management tool such as yoga, meditation, art therapy, laughter therapy, etc.

Biggest Candida-Fighting Foods

Coconut oil

This is the Cadillac of the anti-candida diet. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid with close to 50% of its constituency. Lauric acid is a powerful antimicrobial and antibacterial. It’s hard to think of any other food so rich in this compound.

Many studies have found lauric acid to be highly effective in fighting against Candida yeast. The commonest method for using coconut oil is using it as a mouthwash. The method is called oil pulling. It’s supposed to help curb thrush and overgrowth of candida in the mouth.

Ginger

Ginger is rich in shogaols and gingerols; both being big on antifungal and inflammation-fighting components. Ginger root supports gut health by fueling healthy gut microbes and eliminating candida yeast.

Other than that, ginger is also rich in glutathione which offers significant support to the liver which is always good for detoxification of the body.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is rich in polyphenols which are a type of antioxidants. Primrose oil, avocado, and flax are also rich in them. Other than that, olive oil contains oleic acid – the main fatty acid which fights inflammation and supports a healthy immune system.

Cloves

Cloves contain eugenol – a powerful antifungal. It’s one of the most powerful foods you can eat to fight candida cells which begins inhibiting the candida growth almost instantaneously. Additionally, clove oil is also a powerful topical aid for fighting fungal infections of the fingernails and toenails.

Garlic

Garlic is yet another powerful spice that carries strong antifungal properties. It’s loaded with allicin. When you crush a clove of fresh garlic, that’s when this substance is formed.

In one study, when allicin was administered in mice, it seemed to be fighting off candida almost just as effectively as fluconazole – the popular antifungal drug.

Some more foods to eat and avoid

Below are some foods that you should eat more to fight bacterial infections –

  • Non-starchy vegetables
  • Herbs and spices
  • Low sugar fruits
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Leafy greens like kale and lettuce
  • Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts
  • Spices like cumin, lemon, ginger

Foods to Avoid-

  • Sugary foods and beverages
  • Grains containing gluten
  • Processed junk, and fried foods
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol
  • Fermented foods
  • Seeds and nuts high in mold

Bottom Line

Candida albicans is not something to be afraid of. With right lifestyle changes and proper medical advice – you should be able to reverse this condition within a few days to a few weeks.