As you probably already know, yeast or candida overgrowth in the body is an incredibly common condition among those with autoimmune diseases, intestinal problems, fatigue, brain fog, and other chronic health problems.
It occurs when candida, a form of fungus that lives in your digestive tract, colonizes your gut, overpowering the good bacteria that usually keep it in check. This wreaks havoc on your gut, causing leaks (leaky gut) to form and leads to a wide variety of symptoms, including digestive problems, fatigue, brain fog, recurring fungal infections, skin problems, seasonal allergies, joint pain and changes in humor.
Many factors, including medications such as antibiotics and birth control, and toxins contribute to candida, but diet is often the most important factor. A diet full of inflammatory, sugary, and processed foods creates the perfect conditions for candida to thrive and multiply. That's why eliminating the foods that feed this fungus and replacing them with whole, nutrient-dense foods is a key step in defeating it and healing your gut.
Don't eat these foods if you have candida in your body
If you have active candida growth in your body, have recently overcome its overgrowth, or are trying to prevent it, here are nine important foods to eliminate from your diet as they are precisely the ones that feed your candida.
1. Sugar and sweeteners
Candida feeds on sugar so you will have to cut out all the sugar and sweeteners. The key here is to avoid not only the obvious sources, like soda, candy, cakes, and cookies, but also the sugar that lurks in unexpected places, like salad dressings, low-fat packaged foods, protein bars, and more. Be sure to carefully check all of your food labels for hidden sources of sugar while on an anti-candida diet.
2. Wine and beer
You should limit alcohol, but it is particularly important to cut out beer and wine while candida is maxed out. Wine is not only fermented (that is, it is made from yeast), it is also high in sugar. And beer, which is also fermented, contains gluten. All of these factors contribute to candida tremendously.
Additionally, alcohol can make a leaky gut worse, which is one of the most dangerous impacts of yeast overgrowth because it leads to many other symptoms and health problems. It also suppresses your immune system, and a strong immune system is necessary to keep your candida population in check.
3. Dried fruits and fruit juices
Although fruits can be part of an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich diet, they are rich in sugar and still feed this fungus. If you find you have a problem with yeast overgrowth, try eliminating all nuts and fruit juices. You can still enjoy up to one cup of delicious whole fruits per day.
4. Gluten and grains
As you know, gluten is highly inflammatory. It is also a grain, and all grains break down into simple sugars during the digestive process, which can feed candida. That is why it is recommended to avoid them completely (especially if you have an autoimmune disease) or limit the consumption of them.
5. Beans and other legumes
Even though beans and legumes provide great plant protein, they are still starchy and feed candida. Legumes can also be inflammatory for many people because they contain glutinins. As grains, it is recommended to minimize legumes or eliminate them entirely.
6. Starch vegetables
Like fruits, this is one that sneaks up on many people. Certain vegetables like acorn squash, butter squash, and spaghetti squash are good sources of carbohydrates, but once eaten, they break down into sugars that feed this fungus. Instead, focus on eating plenty of leafy greens and other tasty veggies like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus.
While following an anti-candida diet, it is advised to keep your combined consumption of grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables to one cup per day.
7. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are members of the mushroom family and can cross-react with candida, which means that your body and immune system can mistake them for candida. This can cause you to have an inflammatory reaction to mushrooms and can interfere with your treatment.
8. Fermented foods
This is a hotly debated topic, but anyone with candida overgrowth should avoid fermented foods until their yeast population is back under control. Fermented foods can be great for restoring good bacteria because they are essentially food for good bacteria. However, candida also likes to feed on fermented foods, which is why it is recommended to kill candida first and then use fermented foods to help restore good bacteria.
9. Dairy
Dairy does not directly feed this yeast, but it is highly inflammatory for many people. The inflammation damages the lining of the intestine, which is already leaking due to candida. This allows the yeast to continue to escape into your bloodstream, along with toxins, microbes, and other particles.
Once all these foreign particles enter your bloodstream, they cause a new wave of inflammation as your immune system tries to neutralize the threats. But, until your perforated gut heals, the particles will just keep coming in, and this constant level of inflammation can lead to autoimmune disease.
Foods that fight candida overgrowth
Getting rid of these nine foods will go a long way toward eliminating candida and helping your good bacteria restore a healthy balance to your gut. You can also stock up on foods that fight candida overgrowth to help your body fight this problem.
Some of the main foods that can help fight candida growth are:
- Coconut oil
- Garlic
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cruciferous vegetables
- Ginger
- Olive oil
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Wild salmon
- Lemon juice
Supplements to help eliminate candida
While adopting a low carbohydrate, anti-inflammatory diet is key to overcoming candida overgrowth, the diet alone can take up to six months to restore your gut's natural balance. That is why the use of supplements is recommended, such as high-quality probiotics and plant enzymes, among others.
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