Does the Candida Diet Allow Whole Grain Bread?
When candida overgrows in your body, this yeast can cause muscle and joint pain, fatigue, sugar cravings, gastrointestinal problems, depression and repeated vaginal infections in women. To get rid of this excessive yeast, the candida diet eliminates most carbohydrates, such as sugar, starchy vegetables, grains and fruits, as well as dietary sources of yeast, such as fermented cheeses, fermented vegetables and alcohol 12. Despite being healthier than refined grains, whole grains are not suitable for the candida diet 12.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates consist primarily of starches and sugars. Both starches and sugars break down into sugar that can become food for the yeast in your digestive tract. If your diet is rich in carbohydrates, you can worsen and prolong your candida infection 1.
Whole Grain Bread
Gluten & Yeast Free Foods
Learn More
Most whole grain breads contain wheat or other gluten-containing grains, which are not acceptable for the candida diet 12. If you have a candida overgrowth and want to get rid of this yeast or better manage your symptoms, you should avoid whole grain and refined breads containing wheat. Instead, you can opt for whole grain bread made from acceptable gluten-free grains, such as rice or millet flour. Avoid gluten-free breads made from potato flour or containing other nonacceptable ingredients for the candida diet, such as additives and preservatives 12.
Candida Diet Bread
Making your own whole grain bread is the easiest way to avoid unacceptable ingredients on the candida diet 12. Grind about 1/2 cup of whole, gluten-free oats in a blender and mix with an equal amount of water and two beaten eggs. Bake like a crepe in coconut oil in a frying pan. Add oat bran, rice bran, vanilla extract, cinnamon or other natural flavorings to make your own candida-approved whole grain bread. You can use this whole grain bread to make sandwiches, or eat it as is to satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Making your own whole grain bread is the easiest way to avoid unacceptable ingredients on the candida diet 1.
- Add oat bran, rice bran, vanilla extract, cinnamon or other natural flavorings to make your own candida-approved whole grain bread.
Other Bread Substitutes
Gluten-, Egg-, Soy- & Dairy-Free Foods
Learn More
Eliminating whole grain bread can be difficult, but it can help you to get rid of your candida overgrowth. You can obtain all the fiber you need by including generous amounts of nonstarchy vegetables at each meal and using vegetables as a bread substitute. For example, you can prepare a grain-free pizza on portobello mushroom caps; use grilled eggplant slices to make grain-free lasagna; or replace the bread in your grain-free sandwich by making a wrap from lettuce leaves.
Related Articles
References
- Everydiet.org: Candida Diet
- The Candida Diet: Foods To Eat
- Yapar Nur. Epidemiology and risk factors for invasive candidiasis. Ther Clin Risk Mgmt. 2014;10(2014):95-105. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s40160
- Buggio L, Somigliana E, Borghi A, Vercellini P. Probiotics and vaginal microecology: fact or fancy? BMC Womens Health. 2019 Jan;19:25. doi:10.1186/s12905-019-0723-4
- Gunther LSA, Martins HPR, Pimenta de Abreu AL, et al. Prevalence of Candida albicans and non-albicans isolates from vaginal secretions: comparative evaluation of colonization, vaginal candidiasis and recurrent vaginal candidiasis in diabetic and non-diabetic women. Sao Paulo Med. J. 2014;132(2):116-20. doi:10.1590/1516-3180.2014.1322640
- Xie HY, Feng D, Wei DM, Mei L, Chen H, Wang X, Fang F. Probiotics for vulvovaginal candidiasis in non-pregnant women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;23;11(11):CD010496. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010496.pub2
- Niewenhuizen WF, Pieters RHH, Knippels LMJ. Is Candida albicans a trigger in the onset of coeliac disease? Lancet. 2003;361(9375):2152-4. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13695-1
- Pérez-Torrado R, Querol A. Opportunistic strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A potential risk sold in food products. Frontiers Microbiol. 2016;6:8. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2015.01522
- Wilson D. A tale of two yeasts: Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a therapeutic against candidiasis. Virulence. 2017;8(1):15-7. doi:10.1080/21505594.2016.1230580
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2015) Appendix 7. Nutritional Goals for Age-Sex Groups Based on Dietary Reference Intakes and Dietary Guidelines Recommendations. 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Kim J, Sudbery P. Candida albicans, a major human fungal pathogen. J Microbiol. 2011;49(2):171-7. doi:10.1007/s12275-011-1064-7
- Martinez RCR, Franceschini SA, Patta MC, et al. Improved treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis with fluconazole plus probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Letters Applied Microbiol. 2009;48(3):269-74. doi:10.1111/j.1472-765x.2008.02477.x
Writer Bio
Aglaee Jacob is a registered dietitian. She has experience working with people who have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and obesity issues. Jacob obtained a bachelor of science and a master of science, both in nutrition, from Laval University in Quebec City, Canada.