Food Groups
One of the key elements of a Candidadiet is to limit the intake of sugar that feeds the fungus in the digestive tract. Energy must therefore especially come from fat and more complex carbohydrates (fibers) and to a lesser extent starch. Your main source of carbohydrates should be vegetables (ALLOWED foods) with a high content of fiber. Your second most important source of carbohydrates should be legumes such as beans, lentils and chickpeas. You also get some of your carbohydrates from whole grains (CAUTIOUS) consisting mainly of starch and fiber. You get your fat especially from oils, meat and fish as well as nuts, seeds and grains. Your proteins you get especially from meat, fish and legumes.
Another factor that influence the diet composition is how allergenic the food is. Foods with allergenic effects are not surprisingly forbidden in the diet (CAUTIOUS and FORBIDDEN foods) because they will worsen your Candida infection. Some allergenic foods only a few patients respond to, and these are considered as ALLOWED foods (nuts, nutbutters, lemon etc). If you do not tolerate them, just take them out of your diet.
Another very important feature that some foods have is that they have antifungal properties. There are some foods that the fungus does not like (like onions, oils etc), so these foods will help killing the fungi. These foods should be an essential part of your Candidadiet.
Finally, its important to compose your diet of foods that will stimulate good bowl function and boost your immune system. Fortunately ALLOWED foods contain some of the healthiest foods there is, and many vegetables are high in fibers, which is important for your digestion. But remember to eat varied within the limits of the Candidadiet to avoid nutrient deficiency.
Vegetables
Vegetables are the main ingredient in the Candidadiet. All vegetables contain carbohydrates, but some are more carb-rich than others. Vegetables like potatoes, carrots and peas have a high glycemic index, signifying that they are high in carbohydrates (starch) and they must be avoided in the Candidadiet. Check out our Foodlist for a full list of vegetables that can feed your Candida. Especially vegetables from the cabbage-family are ideal in the Candidadiet, because they are heavy, fiberrich, rich in vitamins/minerals and low in sugar. Vegetables of the onion-family such onions, garlic and leeks contain antifungal substances and must be included in the fungal diet, preferably raw. Vegetables should make up 50-70% of your total diet. Many vegetables contain high levels of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and are essential in getting a strong immune system and preventing nutrient deficiency. If the vegetables are not eaten raw, frie them in the pan or use the microwave. Its fast and retains more nutrients than cooked vegetables.
Fruit
You might start reintroducing some fruit when significant improvement in the disease has occurred. However you should only eat the whole fruit, drinking fruit juice is almost always a bad idea if you suffer from Candida overgrowth. This is because juicing removes much of the fiber and nutrients from the fruit, and it allows your body to absorb the sugars much faster. Fruit juice can quickly spike your blood sugar and feed the Candida. When you start to reintroduce fruits you need to choose low GI fruits that will release sugar into your bloodstream very slowly. Fruit in small amounts, can help with taste, which can increase appetite and if fruit is mixed with other foods with low sugar / starch content the respons to the fruitsugar will be limited. Some Candidapatients react allergenic to citrus fruits.
Spices and herbs
Herbs are rich in antioxidants and anti-fungal properties. Several of them also improves digestion and relieves inflammation and gives the Candidadiet good taste. Go for organic, fresh herbs or freeze-dried. At dried spices, go for those who are less than 6 months old. Limit your salt consumption, some react allergenic to salt, a good herbal salt without yeast is the best or use rough sea salt. Do not use it the herbal salt every day because it can cause allergy to one of the ingredients. Be aware of allergies to vegetables of the nightshade family (tomato, black pepper, chili, etc). In our netshop we have a variety of fresh dried spices, herbal teas and herbal salt, all of which can be used as tasteboosters in your diet.
Fish
Be careful with fish. Fish is a source of mercury and toxinpoisoning, two or fewer servings per week. Especially predatory fish such as salmon, tuna and eel are problematic because they accumulate harmful substances in their fattissue. Smaller fish mainly anchovies, herring and sardines have a lower content of heavy metals. When buying canned fish, pay attention to the liquid they are packed in, go for those who are packet in olive oil or water. Purchase of fish from freshwater fish farms may contain drug residues, including antibiotics, but generally have a lower content of heavy metals. Oily fish are also a good source of calories, which is important for Candidapatients who often struggle to keep the weight up. In addition to iodine, fish contain some very healthy and immuneboosting substances including Vitamin A, vitamin D, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids. These are all important nutrients in your fight against the Candida. In our netshop we also offer a complete hair mineral analysis made by a Scandinavian Laboratory. The analysis gives a precise picture of the content of minerals in the body, including heavy metals such as mercury and lead. If you have too much heavy metal in the body, it may be necessary to eliminate fish from the diet. A dietary supplement with the essential substances found in fish will often be necessary. We have some very gentle supplements in our netshop that most Candidapatients tolerate. The series include Vitamin D, selenium and iodine, which are nutrients that may be difficult to get enough of.
Meat
Light, fresh, easydigestible meats such as lamb, turkey, chicken, veal and game are most suitable. Beef is also fine. Some kinds of meat can be troublesome for Candidapatients. Many Candidapatients do not tolerate porkmeat. Only uncured, Unsmoked and unsweetened meat is allowed. Meat provides essential proteins, vitamins and minerals that can be difficult to get from a diet without meat. In particular, iron, zinc and B vitamins are essential for the intestinal function and immune system. These nutrients are hard to get enough of from plant foods. Especially organmeat, like veal or chicken liver, can be valuable for Candidapatients, because they are extremely rich in B-vitamins and minerals (zinc and iron). As Candidapatient, there is a significant risk that you get too few calories, and here meat can be a great help, to ensure that you get enough. Go for the high fat percentages (10-20%) in minced meat, and compared to vegetable sources of fat, larger amounts of animal fat, does not lead to the same gastrointestinal problems. There is more saturated fat in animal products and saturated fat is considered to be more unhealthy than other kinds of fat, but its far outweighed by the many other healthy substances and products that you find in the Candidadiet. Buying antibiotic-free, organic meat will help.
Dairy products
Virtually all dairy products contain sugar in the form of lactose or in the form of added sugar (eg yogurt). Some dairy products such as cheese have allergenic effects to Candidasuffers. They are therefore FORBIDDEN foods in the Candidadiet. Dairy products also contain several healthy substances such as highly digestible protein, calcium, probiotic bacteria and some fatty acids, found mainly in dairyproducts.
Ghee and small amounts of butter can be included in the Candidadiet and they are suitable for cooking. Raw cream is ok in small quantities (1-2 teaspoons daily). Some can tolerate kefir and yogurt. Kefir and yogurt is fermented with lactic acid, where lactose is converted into lactic acid, but some lactose will always remain. If you are making your own yogurt or kefir, you can reduce the sugar content by allowing it to ferment for longer. The more time you allow the bacteria to ferment the lactose, the lower the eventual sugar content of the yogurt or kefir will be. In particular, products from sheep and goats are ideal because they do not have so many allergenic properties as products from cows. In our store we have products you can use to make your own yogurt and kefir.
Nuts, seeds and grains
Nuts, seeds and grains are very calorie- and nutrientrich and are therefore a central part of the Candidadiet. Most of them are therefore ALLOWED foods. They are rich in healthy fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fibers, all something that will benefit you in your fight against systemic Candida. Some nuts and seeds, however have allergenic properties and these are therefore excluded from the diet and are FORBIDDEN foods. Some of them contain toxins or mold on the surface that can inflame your Candida infection. Finally, nuts are generally hard on your digestive system and they can cause problems like diarrhea. If you react to any nuts or have digestive problems with them just exclude them from your diet.
Grain
Be cautious with grain-containing products due to the high sugar and especially starch content, because it’s easy accessible energy for fungi in the gut. In addition, many Candidapatients respond to gluten, which is found in many cereal products. The glutinous are rye, barley, wheat and oats. Maize, rice, quinoa, amaranth and teff are gluten-free. Wheat products are the most problematic and are not surprising FORBIDDEN foods in the Candidadiet. But grain products also contain a number of highly beneficial substances that will strengthen your digestion and immune system. They have a high content of soluble fibers, that are important for your digestion and are hard to get from other foods. They also contain B vitamins, iron and zinc, which are difficult to get enough of as Candidapatient. Stick to the low-glucemic, gluten-free whole grain products with high fiber and especially black wilde rice and amaranth are excellent grainproducts for candidapatients.
Fats and oils
Fats and oils are an important part of your Candidadiet. You get calories from them, which is important because many Candida sufferers lose weight while being on the Candidadiet, because of the changes in their eating routine. Fatty acids contains immunestimulating substances such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. If you take too much oil your body will soon let you know (stomach cramps and diarrhea are the usual symptoms). Just lower your intake for a period, 1-2 tablespoons per meal is adequate. Use cold-pressed oils of high quality. Oils with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids are destroyed by heating. Finally, certain fatty acids have strong antifungal properties, making them important antifungals, and especially olive oil, saffloweroil (high in oleic acid) and coconut oil. Olive oil and safflower have the highest, natural content of oleic acid, and oleic acid has antifungal properties. Coconut Oil is an incredibly healthy supplement that should be your first choice as an antifungal. It contains 3 different fatty acids (caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid), that are effective against Candida. Coconut oil can generally be eaten and digested in higher amounts than many other vegetable oils. We offer in our webshop caprylic acid as capsules, with a high content of caprylic acid.
The best fats and oils for candidapatients are olive oil, coconut oil, linseed oil, sesame oil and butter without salt. With these oils you can cover every need of essential fatty acids and prepare delicious meals. Olive oil, coconut oil and butter can be used for hot dishes, while linseed oil and sesame oil are ideal for cold dishes such as salad and vegetables. In addition, the body's (autoimmune response as a consequence of Leaky Gut Syndrom) tolerance to these oils and fatty acids are normalle highest, compared to other fat sources.
Legumes
Pulses are a central part of your Candidadiet. They have a high protein content, high in fibers and contain important minerals like iron, zinc and calcium. Some legumes however contain too much starch and these few are not ALLOWED foods in the Candidadiet. In addition, some legumes are difficult to digest for Candidapatients, which can be problematic for because every calorie is important. It is useful to boil large amounts of legumes at a time and then store in the freezer. Next time you just take a portion out of the freezer and put it in the microwave.
Sweeteners
Sugar alcohols are a class of carbohydrates that are regularly used as substitutes for sugar and other high calorie sweeteners. They are also frequently found in other household items such as toothpaste and chewing gum.
They tend to be absorbed into the bloodstream less completely than regular sugars like sucrose or fructose, which makes them popular ingredients in low-sugar or diabetic foods. However, although this property might sound appealing to sufferers of Candida, most sugar alcohols will still feed your Candida overgrowth or cause allergenic reactions.
Although you would be smart to avoid most sugar alcohols during your Candida treatment, there are some few exceptions. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that can be a part your Candida diet and only few patients react allergenic to it. Additionally, xylitol is absorbed slowly into your bloodstream and does not cause the spikes in blood sugar that you typically see after consumption of sucrose or other sweeteners (netshop). Another option is Stevia, a natural supplement that has a negligible effect on your blood sugar levels. If you react allergenic to any of them just exclude them from your diet.
Additives and preservatives
In general, foods with additives or preservatives are excluded from the diet. The substances are in no way natural to the body and they will usually inflame your Candida problem or weaken your immune system. Chemicals can also disrupt your good bacteria and allow the Candida yeast two flourish. The manufactured, additive form of citric acid (preservative) is derived from yeasts. But the natural form, as found in lemons and limes, is tolerated by most. In our netshop we have very gentle C-vitamin derived from the natural form.
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous covers a wide range of finished products as dressings, sauces, vinegar, yeast, ketchup, mayonnaise, bread and cake. These are not surprising FORBIDDEN foods. They are usually loaded with sugar, yeast, additives, preservatives, wheat flour and other allergenic substances and thus worsen your Candida infection. These foods can not be part of your diet again before you are 100% cured. Other foods to avoid are mushrooms and fungi, as these can cause inflammatory reactions, if you are a Candidapatient.
Beverage
All stimulants and drugs should be avoided for the sake of the immune system and allergenic reactions. This applies to black tea, coffee, cola, soft drinks, alcohol, tobacco and narcotic drugs. Few imagine how much importance stimuli will have a dietary context. An ordinary consumption of coffee and tea can cause great damage in relation to Candida.
Firstly, caffeine drains your immune system by stressing your adrenal glands. Every time you drink coffee you are stimulating your adrenals to produce adrenaline. If you do this several times a day for a few years, your adrenals will get worn out and fatigued. When this happens, the adrenal glands fail to do their regular job properly, which is to regulate hormone levels in your body. This leads to symptoms like weight gain, mood disorders and disrupted sleep. Importantly, it also weakens your immune system response, which drops your defenses against Candida overgrowth.
Secondly, caffeine also causes spikes in your blood sugar that feed the Candida overgrowth. Sugar is the one thing that you really need to avoid on the Candida Diet - it feeds the yeast in your gut and body and contributes to Candida overgrowth.
Although decaffeinated (‘decaf’) coffee is certainly better than normal coffee, it still contains small amounts of caffeine. When you’re trying to find a substitute for your morning beverage, you need to look a little further away. Happily, there are also several very good alternatives that you can use to replace your caffeine fix:
Chicory coffee
One alternative is the chicory coffee from the Chicory plant. When the root is dried, roasted and ground, this makes for a tasty bitter drink that is not so different from coffee. By a happy coincidence, the chicory root is also a great prebiotic (nutrients for “good bacteria”), because it contains 20% Inulin, so it may contribute to your digestion and help the healthy bacteria. And lastly, the bitter taste stimulates the production of enzymes that help regulate your digestive system (netshop).
Herbal teas
Herbal teas are another alternative, but you need to be careful which one you choose. Be careful to get one that doesn’t contain mold, as this will just feed your Candida. Many teas contain important beneficial nutrients like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. One of the best options is nettle leaf tea, which contains flavanoids (antioxidants), Vitamin C and iron. It also helps with your blood circulation, which will get the toxic byproducts of Candida out of your body faster. Alternatively, try cinnamon tea, camomile tea, peppermint tea, ginger tea or licorice tea. All these have antifungal properties that will help against your Candida overgrowth. Of course we have a fine selection of high quality, fresh teas and chicory coffee in our netshop.