Candida albicans is a type of fungus that naturally lives inside the body, in the throat, mouth, gut and vagina without causing problems. To have it in a small amount it’s even good for us, as part of the microbiome, it helps our digestion run smoothly. If the amount of candida is not kept in check by the ‘good’ bacteria, then the immune system gets compromised and it can cause infection in people such as thrush (vaginal yeast infection) or it can even cause infections in the bloodstream and internal organs and must be treated with antifungal medications.
In severe cases and in people with compromised immune systems, treatment with anti-fungal medications is absolutely necessary.
In this article, we will concentrate on the best food to eat while going through the cleansing process. In order to beat candida, it’s absolutely crucial to consume the right food with key nutrients.
The right food feeds “good” bacteria in the body keeping them strong and active and that process can naturally help prevent Candida overgrowth or get rid of candida naturally by having the right balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria.
Scientific sources are linked throughout the article and at the bottom.
Table of Contents
Who is at the highest risk?
It may be possible to get rid of candida naturally for people who’ve had a short-term reason for candida overgrowth.
- Taking or have recently taken antibiotics
- Imbalance of microbes
- Malnutrition
For people with long-term reasons for candida overgrowth, it’s wise to seek medical help without delay instead of trying to get rid of candida naturally alone.
- Pregnant
- Use hormonal contraceptives (for example, birth control pills)
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- Have a weakened immune system due to HIV or similar
Some of the possible symptoms of candida
- In men, a red rash, itching and burning on the genitals. In women, vaginal itching, soreness, and redness; a white, clumpy discharge from the vagina
- Pain or discomfort when urinating
- Digestive issues include nausea, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea
- Chronic fatigue
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Irritability and mood swings
- Anxiety or depression
- Joint pain
- Strong sugar cravings
What does Candida thrive on?
Sugar!! A diet that’s high in sugar and processed foods
Candida loves refined sugar found in sweets and fizzy drinks. It’s the perfect fuel for them to grow, to thrive and it helps them reproduce.
Some theories suggest that when you consume a lot of sugar, the organism will feed on it from the digestive system and demand more. As a result, they will make us crave sugar even more in order to meet their demands. The more sugar we eat, the more it grows. And that’s how we end up with candida overgrowth. This is not backed up by strong scientific evidence.
Too much sugar can end up in the bloodstream where it runs throughout the body. It can end up in various places where there is a high amount of blood vessels. The excess sugar creates a perfect environment causing the yeast to feed causing overgrowth.
Eating processed food often can lead to health implications. Processed foods loaded with toxins, trans fats, additives, artificial food colouring and flavouring can release toxins into our system, causing inflammation leading to a weakening of the immune system and creating a perfect opportunity for candida to overgrow. While this is perfectly logical, the evidence supporting this is anecdotal and not backed by scientific research.
High refined carbohydrates
Even though the studies on the effect of simple carbohydrates on candida overgrowth are not strong, it is still a good idea to abstain from eating flour-based foods such as bread, pasta, cakes, cookies, biscuits and sweet baked goods as a high-carb diet may increase candida counts in some people, until the symptoms of candida subside.
Taking antibiotics
Antibiotic not only kills bad bacteria but wipes out good bacteria too. This impedes our ability to get rid of candida because it creates the perfect environment for them to flourish.
Vaginas maintain their own balance of good bacteria, Lactobacillus and yeast. The good bacteria keeps the vaginas slightly acidic which keeps the yeast growth under control. If this gets disrupted by antibiotics candida is likely to take the lead.
Taking a probiotic along with the antibiotic can prevent this from happening. Talk to your physician about this when they are prescribing antibiotics.
Alcohol consumption
Beer and wine both contain sugar and yeast. Alcohol is produced when yeast ferments sugar. Drinking excessively creates a recipe for yeast infections.
What to Avoid
These food items are best avoided to help your body get rid of candida naturally. The candida diet is similar to a Keto diet with a few additions.
- High-Glycemic Fruits including dry fruits, canned and fruit juices
- Caffeine (coffee, black tea, and green tea)
- Vinegar – all vinegar (apple cider vinegar is an exception)
- Yeast – (baker’s, brewers and nutritional yeast)
- Starchy Vegetables – yams, potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, parsnips, sweetcorn, peas
- Additives and preservatives such as MSG
- Legume, beans, chickpeas
- All refined grains and flours
- Grains that contain gluten and glutinous food – rye, wheat, spelt, barley
- Sugars – all sugary syrups
Foods that may help get rid of Candida naturally
There is limited scientific evidence that a candida diet can help directly. Nevertheless, the popular candida diets do make sense and can support your overall health which can then help balance the candida in the body.
Gluten-free grains
Healthy fats
Don’t forget to check out 6 Reasons You Need Avocado In Your Life
Some nuts contain a lot of starch, so it’s best to eat keto-friendly nuts.
See the 9 Best Nuts for Keto Diet & What Nuts to Avoid
Hemp, flax, chia, sunflower and pumpkin.
Walnuts, almonds, pecans, macadamia, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts.
Non-starchy vegetables such as keto vegetables
These vegetables are highly nutritious. In healthy individuals they they will improve the immune system and gut flora to help get rid of candida naturally.
Garlic
Cauliflower
Asparagus
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Spinach
Kale
Bell Pepper
Swiss Chard
Radish
Bok Choy
Turnip
Eggplant
Okra
Water Spinach
Fennel
Arugula
Bitter Melon
Bean Sprouts
Cabbage
Lettuce
Celery
Cucumber
Brussels sprouts
Green beans
Zucchini
See the article about keto-friendly vegetables that are highly nutritious but low in carbs.
Quality protein – Non-GMO, unsweetened soy products
Nuts, seeds, grains and vegetables listed above contain enough protein to meet the daily requirements.
Algae
Unsweetened plant-based milk and yoghurt
Low-sugar fruits eaten in small amounts
Here is the list of low-sugar fruits that should be eaten in moderation while dealing with candida symptoms. Aside from helping get rid of candida naturally, they will also give your immune system a boost.
Non-caffeinated beverages – Herbal teas
Alcohol, sugary drinks like sodas, smoothies, milkshakes, fruit juices, hot chocolate, and energy drinks should be avoided. Caffeinated coffee and teas without sugar are allowed but in very limited quantity.
Drinking herbal teas could be beneficial for managing symptoms of yeast infection. Herbal teas have various health benefits depending on the type of tea. Some of them have anti-fungal and antiviral properties, some are excellent for digestion and reduction of inflammation whilst other herbal teas act as prebiotics capable of feeding the beneficial bacteria to balance out gut flora.
Have a look at this article 11 Best Herbal Teas For Your Health | Benefits & Dangers you might find it interesting and hopefully will be able to choose the best tea for your taste buds and the one that will help you to ease the symptoms that you are dealing with.
Herbs and spices
Herbs and spices are used in cooking to enhance flavour. They release their savoury, or aromatic medicinal properties that are beneficial for our health.
A Study in 2006 found that garlic and onion have shown a promising result in fighting Candida. The result of another study in 2019 showed that rosemary extracts inhibit the growth of Candida albicans. Similarly, a study has been done on the efficacy of turmeric on yeast infection, it has been found that Curcumin in turmeric dramatically inhibited the growth of Candida.
Here is a list of herbs and spices that are excellent remedies for fighting candida.
Find out about cinnamon and its effect on health
All About True Ceylon Cinnamon & Cassia | 7 Benefits & Risks
Condiments
It’s scientifically proven that Apple cider vinegar has multiple antimicrobial and anti-fungal effects not only on Candida but on other bacteria as well such as E-coli and Staphylococcus. However, the experimental results have been discovered on a small sample of Candida culture in a lab setting with different concentrations of ACV.
More research is needed to be carried out on humans to confirm if ACV has the same effect on the human body. Nonetheless, consuming ACV may create an unfriendly environment in the body for Candida to survive.
How to use apple cider vinegar
- Drinking: Add 1 -2 tbsp of vinegar to a 250ml glass of filtered water and drink it 30 minutes before meals.
- Adding to salads: Add a splash of vinegar to homemade salad along with seasoning.
Coconut aminos
Most soy sauces contain gluten.
Coconut aminos is a liquid seasoning made by fermenting coconut palm sap with sea salt. It’s free from soy and gluten. It is very similar in flavour to soy sauce but slightly lighter in consistency and contains significantly less salt.
If you’ve decided to use coconut aminos in cooking it’s best not to use salt at all as coconut aminos can be a perfect salt substitute.
It is used in the same way as soy sauce in soups, dressings, dipping and flavouring. It’s a good substitute for soy for people with soy and gluten allergies and for those on low-sodium diets.
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is made from fermented cabbage that contains healthy bacteria which act as a probiotic. It is good for the gut as it boosts the number of good bacteria and keeps the balance of the gut flora. While there were no peer-reviewed studies at the time of writing, there are many anecdotal claims about Sauerkraut working for countless people all over the world in helping them get rid of candida naturally
No-sugar plant-based sweeteners
Final thoughts
While following this diet is healthy and may help get rid of candida naturally, it shouldn’t be a substitute for professional medical advice. If you feel that you have an overgrowth of candida, you should seek professional advice from a qualified practitioner.
The food options above are plentiful and all of them will help the body get rid of candida and other infections if you are otherwise in good health by giving your immune system and good microbes a boost.
Your questions
What is Candida and its symptoms?
Candida is a type of fungus that naturally lives inside the body, in the throat, mouth, gut and vagina without causing problems. When the environment is right, the yeast can grow out of control causing an infection called candidiasis.
The symptoms of vaginal candidiasis include soreness, vaginal itching and burning, and pain or discomfort when urinating and during sexual intercourse.
What is the main cause of Candida?
Candidiasis is caused by the yeast fungus that multiplies and grows out of control in the right environment, leading to a harmless infection of Candida albicans.
Can Candida be cured?
In healthy people, infections such as thrush, and vaginal yeast infections can go away by themselves without any medical treatment. Eating healthy food can contribute to reducing candida symptoms. For quicker results, in most cases, Candida infection can be eliminated with a single dose of antifungal medication.
What kills Candida fast?
Despite anecdotal evidence for home remedies to get rid of Candida naturally, only antifungal medication put a stop to Candida with quick results.
What does a vaginal Candida infection look like?
Some of the known symptoms of Candida are:
In men, a red rash, itching and burning on the genitals.
In women, vaginal itching, soreness, and redness; a white, clumpy discharge from the vagina.
Pain or discomfort when urinating.
Digestive issues include nausea, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea.
Chronic fatigue.
Recurrent urinary tract infections.
Irritability and mood swings.
Anxiety or depression.
Joint pain.
Strong sugar cravings.
How can I naturally get rid of Candida?
You can follow the Candida diet to get rid of candida naturally if you are healthy. You can reduce the intake of what candida thrives on and include foods that help your immune system and the good microbes in your system.
How long does it take to reverse Candida?
A candida diet can get rid of candida in healthy individuals but it will take a while as your body needs to fight the overgrowth. For quicker results, for most healthy individuals, Candida infection can be eliminated with a single dose of antifungal medication.
Is candidiasis a toilet infection?
They are not, it is extremely unlikely to contract through a toilet seat. The infection can be triggered by the imbalanced of “good” and “bad” bacteria in your body.
Sources
Chronic intestinal candidiasis as a possible etiological factor in the chronic fatigue syndrome
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7476598/
Candida Infections of the Genitourinary Tract
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2863365/
Inflammation and gastrointestinal Candida colonization
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3163673/
Candida Osteomyelitis: Analysis of 207 Pediatric and Adult Cases (1970–2011)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3657498/
Vaginal Candidiasis – CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/genital/index.html
Interactions between Candida Species and Bacteria in Mixed Infections
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2486/
Candidiasis – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA)
https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/candidiasis/index.html
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