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What Can I Eat if I Have Candida?
Under normal circumstances, candida, a yeastlike fungus, is harmless and lives in harmony in your mouth, stomach and vagina. However, if candida is allowed to overgrow, it causes an infection called candidiasis. This can cause an oral infection called thrush, skin rashes or a vaginal yeast infection. Infants, elderly adults and those with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk for thrush. Taking medications such as antibiotics and certain birth control pills and having conditions such as diabetes are other causes of candidiasis. A candida diet aims to reduce the recurrence of such infections in susceptible people.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Role of Sugar
If your immune system is healthy, the chances of developing a candida infection are typically low. Some data suggests reducing sugar in your diet may help prevent yeast infections, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center 1. Candida can metabolize dietary sugar and use it to fuel growth and create larger colonies, according to research published in the August 2011 issue of the journal "Fungal Genetics and Biology."
The Goal
Foods to Eat on a Candida Cleanse Diet
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The goal when following a candida diet is to reduce the amount of dietary sugar you consume each day. Substances that convert to sugar, such as:
- breads
- malt
- are typically to be avoided
Milk and dairy products might be limited on this type of diet as well, with natural yogurt being an exception. Those following a candida diet commonly eliminate fruit temporarily due to its sugar content, and add it back in after a brief abstinence. Mushrooms are also avoided since they are edible fungi.
- The goal when following a candida diet is to reduce the amount of dietary sugar you consume each day.
- Those following a candida diet commonly eliminate fruit temporarily due to its sugar content, and add it back in after a brief abstinence.
Meal Planning
On a candida diet followers stick to foods such as:
- lean meat
- fish
- poultry
- eggs
- vegetables of all varieties
- healthy fats
- nuts
- seeds
You'll get carbohydrates from complex sources such as whole grains and legumes. Examples of whole grains include
- brown rice
- wild rice
- quinoa
- oats
- buckwheat
- bulgur
- amaranth
Beans, peas and lentils provide complex carbohydrates from the legume family. You can eat natural yogurt with live probiotic cultures as well. Avoid yogurt with fruit or added sugar. The probiotic bacteria in yogurt helps crowd out candida.
- On a candida diet followers stick to foods such as: * lean meat
* fish
* poultry
* eggs
* vegetables of all varieties
* healthy fats
* nuts
* seeds You'll get carbohydrates from complex sources such as whole grains and legumes.
Candida Diet Menu
Diet for Oral Thrush
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A candida diet is nutritious and low in sugar with an emphasis on vegetables for their antioxidants and nutrient density. A typical breakfast on a candida diet can be anything from an egg scramble with your favorite vegetables, to oatmeal with natural yogurt and nuts. For lunch and dinner you can always have lean meat with vegetables and a serving of complex carbohydrates. An example is salmon with asparagus and brown rice or skinless chicken breast with broccoli and quinoa.
- A candida diet is nutritious and low in sugar with an emphasis on vegetables for their antioxidants and nutrient density.
- For lunch and dinner you can always have lean meat with vegetables and a serving of complex carbohydrates.
Related Articles
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Candidiasis
- Fungal Genetics and Biology: The Metabolic Basis of Candida Albicans Morphogenesis and Quorum Sensing
- Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook 2nd Edition; Jeanne Marie Martin and Zoltan P. Rona, M.D.
- 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
Janet Renee is a clinical dietitian with a special interest in weight management, sports dietetics, medical nutrition therapy and diet trends. She earned her Master of Science in nutrition from the University of Chicago and has contributed to health and wellness magazines, including Prevention, Self, Shape and Cooking Light.