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Review of the Candida Diet also known as the Anti-Candida Diet and why it typically does not produce desired results long-term with only short-term alleviation of symptoms.
Thinking of going on the Candida Diet to heal your gut and stop sugar and carb cravings?
While this may seem like a logical idea at first, be warned that it likely won’t heal you over the long term.
The article below explains why as well as my personal experience with it.
What is Candida Anyway?
Candida is a term that refers to a large family of yeasts, or one-celled fungi. Under normal circumstances, these organisms harmlessly inhabit the tissues of humans. This is because a balanced intestinal tract from mouth to colon contains a preponderance of beneficial bacteria that keep Candida in check.
When not enough beneficial bacteria are present in given body tissue to keep pathogenic yeasts under control, it transforms from a harmless state into an invasive species. In this rapidly growing state, Candida puts out long stringy hyphae or “roots”.
They have the ability to embed and penetrate through the gut wall and eventually cause leaky gut.
Candida overgrowth can occur in many tissues of the body. Well-known examples are oral candidiasis known as thrush, the scalp as dandruff, and vaginal yeast infections.
What Causes Fungal Overgrowth?
Candida is an opportunistic pathogen that can rapidly take over when a person is under a course of antibiotics. Antibiotics decimate beneficial gut flora but have little effect on Candida. This gives this normally harmless yeast the chance to take over dominance of the gut environment very quickly.
Many women don’t realize it, but oral contraceptives imbalance the gut in the same way as antibiotics. Again, this gives pathogenic strains of yeast an open door to take control.
A diet of processed foods high in sugars and simple carbohydrates also encourages Candida overgrowth as yeasts thrive on sugars.
Babies born via C-Section or to mothers who were treated with IV antibiotics during labor are especially vulnerable.
The reason is that they are not exposed to Mom’s healthy flora in the birth canal prior to birth.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Candida overgrowth are many the most common being fogginess in the morning upon waking (brain fog), digestive complaints of all kinds and a myriad of skin issues.
Many women plagued by yeast infections don’t realize that the source of the problem is actually their diet.
Over time, this leads to a pathogenic state in the gut environment. Using drugs and creams to resolve the problem is only a temporary solution when the source of the problem – gut imbalance – is not addressed head-on.
The Candida Diet
My husband and I tried the Candida Diet to resolve gut imbalance many years ago that had been exacerbated by our stressful and overworked lifestyle at the time.
It failed miserably!
Why?
The Candida Diet only goes part of the way in doing what is necessary to resolve gut imbalance.
It also did not include foods and supplements that help repair the intestinal damage caused by the overgrowth of pathogenic yeast.
For example, the Candida Diet removes sugar from the diet in all forms…even maple syrup and honey. Fresh fruit, however, is commonly allowed.
Candida overgrowth can frequently trigger an allergy to molds and other types of fungi. Hence, beneficial fermented foods including cheese are also eliminated along with any bread and other foods containing yeast.
Other foods excluded from the Candida Diet include vinegar, mushrooms, tea, coffee, dried fruit, and any form of fruit juices.
Temporary Improvement But No Healing
The typical scenario for a person who goes on the Candida Diet goes something like this:
- They feel better almost immediately primarily because all the sugar has been removed from their diet.
- They continue on the diet for some time perhaps many months or even a year. Pleased to see that symptoms diminish considerably during that time, they are convinced that the diet has “worked”.
- After a period of time, they try to reintroduce some of the foods that were removed. Sadly, they usually discover that their symptoms come raging back with full force.
- They realize that it is going to be next to impossible to continue the Candida Diet indefinitely. It is simply too hard to give up cheese and any and all sweets forever.
- They get discouraged, give up and stop the Candida Diet for good.
3 Reasons Why the Candida Diet Fails
The paradox of the Candida Diet is that symptoms greatly diminish. However, the patient doesn’t actually heal from the root cause of the problem which is a breach in the integrity of the gut lining.
Long-term healing is prevented on the Anti-Candida Diet for the following key reasons:
Reason #1
The Candida Diet allows starchy vegetables and tubers like sweet potato, cassava, yams, and arrowroot.
Note that some anti-candida diet practitioners recommend caution with these foods, but others do not.
Reason #2
The Candida Diet doesn’t include a small cup of traditional bone broth with every single meal. This is an incredibly necessary food for proper healing/sealing of the gut wall caused by candida overgrowth.
For more severe cases, short-cooked meat stock needs to be used and NOT bone broth. Some people cannot tolerate the glutamate in long-cooked broths.
Long-term gut healing is quite simply NOT going to occur without using the correct form of stock or broth.
Thus, any candida diet benefits will usually be temporary.
Reason #3
More important than the allowance of starch in the Candida Diet is the inclusion of grain-based foods. Some practitioners recommending the Candida Diet misguidedly include gluten-free grains.
Others recommend none at all (in an apparent scramble to mimic diets that actually work to fix the gut like GAPS and to a lesser extent the bone broth diet).
The bottom line is that there is no uniformity to what is recommended, hence, the protocol’s unreliability in providing relief over the long-term.
Anti-Candida Diet Shortfall
Even if the Candida Diet is used in conjunction with a gluten-free, casein-free diet, it fails in the majority of instances.
The reason is that disaccharides, or double sugars, are present in many carbohydrates including ALL grains – not just gluten-containing ones.
An inflamed, imbalanced gut overridden with Candida is unable to digest double sugar molecules completely. This occurs because the lack of beneficial gut flora has compromised the function of the enterocytes.
According to Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD, author of Gut and Psychology Syndrome and one of the key scientists at the forefront of gut restoration research today, the enterocytes are the cells that reside on the villi of the gut wall and produce the enzyme disaccharidase.
This enzyme breaks down the disaccharide molecule into easily absorbed monosaccharide molecules.
When the enterocytes are not nourished and strengthened properly by adequate beneficial flora, they become weak and diseased and may even turn cancerous. They do not perform their duties of digesting and absorbing food properly.
Undigested Food Nourishes Pathogenic Yeast
Weak and diseased enterocytes also have trouble digesting starch molecules. They are very large with hundreds of mono sugars connected in long branchlike strands.
People with weak digestion due to Candida overgrowth and messed up enterocytes have a terrible time digesting these complex molecules.
The result is a large amount of undigested starch in the gut. The putrefying matter is the perfect food for pathogenic yeasts, bacteria, and fungi like Candida to thrive upon.
Even the starch that manages to get digested results in molecules of maltose, which is — you guessed it — a disaccharide! This maltose also goes undigested due to a lack of the enzyme disaccharidase and becomes additional food for Candida.
Biggest Candida Diet Benefit
We’ve established that the Candida Diet usually fails miserably in resolving gut imbalance problems over the long haul.
However, it does include and recommend one fantastic herb that is very helpful for keeping Candida under control if only temporarily…Pau d’Arco tea.
I’ve found this herb is especially helpful during traveling (when the diet is less than optimal) or for a few days after you get home to get back on the wagon.
What is the Best Diet for Candida?
In conclusion, it is best not to waste your time with the Candida Diet. It doesn’t work in the majority of cases and you will ultimately feel frustrated in your efforts to heal over the long term.
The best diets for healing and sealing the gut wall and permanently rebalancing the gut environment are the GAPS Diet or the very similar SCD (Specific Carbohydrate) Diet.
To read more about the GAPS Diet and what the food list includes, check out this introductory post on using GAPS to heal autoimmune disease.
Also, this post The Five Most Common GAPS Diet Mistakes is a review of the most common pitfalls of this approach to gut healing.
Reference
Gut and Psychology Syndrome, Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD
More Information
Macrobiotic Diet and Extreme Vitamin D Deficiency
Biofilms: Overlooked Step in Treating Candida
Can Candida Sufferers Drink Kombucha?
How to Take Probiotics
I have heard that Aloe Vera juice actually kills candida bacteria. If this is true why is it not recommended?
As someone who has benefitted greatly from the candida diet, I find this to be a pretty irresponsible article. It has worked for many, many people. Just because it didn’t work for you doesn’t justify trying to trump up your disappointment with questionable facts. And by the way, on the Candida diet I’m on, and all the versions I’ve ever heard of, Fruit is absolutely NOT on the menu, nor are many grains, and the grains that are accepted are to be eaten very moderately at most. Anyway.
With all due respect, what a bunch of paranoid nonsense.
Going extremely low carb ENCOURAGES the candida to LEAVE THE GUT and go elsewhere in one’s body looking for ‘fuel’. Dr. McCoombs has a great article on the “10 Myths About Candida”, and that one is number three. Brown rice is not only tolerated, it’s encouraged on his plan (and no, I don’t work for him or have ever met the guy.)
Ayurvedic medicine also says that while it may be good to eliminate certain sugars and carbs for the first 2-3 weeks, to do it longer than that actually makes one sicker.
And finally, if one thinks that carbs are so terrible, then do a quick google scholar search, and you’ll find that honey is an ANTIFUNGAL. Yes, honey.
Kelly,
Believe what you want but this is what worked for me personally so do not call me paranoid. I was 16 and sick for 3 years until I perfected every aspect of my diet including watching my carbohydrate intake. That doesn’t mean I counted carbs it means I watched how much I would eat in a sitting bc sugar really effects me and will affect people suffering from candida. You are not me. Have you even tried the diet? Do you even have candida? Is it really bad like mine was? Honestly I do not care to read your dispute and disapproval of the diet. I just wanted to help a few people out. Don’t reply to me you obviously do not know what you are talking about but you are entitled to your own opinion..
I’m sorry Mika if I came off as rude…it wasn’t my intention. I didn’t call you paranoid, I was calling the idea of severely restricting carbs/sugars/to an extreme degree — the idea as being somewhat paranoid. Didn’t mean to suggest that YOU were. 🙂
I agree that different diets/approaches work for different people. I just wanted to point out that there are other approaches that also work, that aren’t so restrictive.
If you want to survive candida and get better physically and mentally do yourself a favor and stop reading this website and never look back. I became very sick at 16. I was out of school and on home instructio for a year and a half. and went from doctor to doctor. No one could help me. But my mother found this website that changed my whole life around. Now you have to stick with the diet and remember to not try everything all at once. Take your time. I started with getting off gluten then yeast. Follow by taking coconut oil (which does wonders) then I moved to Keifer. I saw results in a few months, this took a while because I was so sick. I would recommend visiting this website: .. This women is a saint, she saved my life and I never even met her. If you want to get better follow her diet, she knows what she’s talking about. Good luck and stick to it because your health is the most important thing, without it you have nothing.
Mika, can u post what ur diet was exactly like(breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks) bc from my uunderstanding, her diet is extremely high in animal proteins. And that raw egg and oil drink? Ick
The egg drink is so good for you and very important. If you don’t want to drink it make eggs with butter or coconut oil. You need your good fats its very important for your health they can help build up your body after all the damage. Read the articles she has on there they are filled with such good information.
I started taking coconut oil which is an anti fungal try and build up to at least 4 tbs a day. I took 4 tablespoons of keifer with meals through out the day (start with one) and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with my meals (again start with one and do not do all of these in one day at first. Eventually you will be able to handle it but as for right now you cannot because the die-off will be very tough. Try and stick to a low-glycemic diet with a gluten free twist. Gluten free products are very deceiving. You need to read the ingredients carefully because a lot are made with yeast. Also a lot are very high in carbs and sugars. People always say that going gluten-free can make you skinner but most all of the products are made from brown rice! Stay completely away from mushrooms of any type. Also even natural sugars can set you off, stay away from fruits that are high in sugars such as oranges bananas ect. Stick with any kind of berry.
I generally would eat eggs in the morning.
For lunch I would eat some type of meat and a green. Remember to buy organic (expensive I know but we are really effected by hormones and pesticides; they can impede the healing process. Kale is great. don’t for get to steam veggies as opposed to frying them. Stay away from fake oils like veggie or canola oil and use extra Virginia olive oil or coconut oil. I had high cholesterol when I got sick and this helped me to lower it naturally. It’s also great for your intestines and others things such as your skin.
For dinner again I would do a veggie sometimes pasta (but it is high in carbs you can replace pasta with spaghetti squash). I would have the lemon drink too.
This diet it tough but if you stick with her plan you will get better I promise. Also look into her detoxes. I had tons of back pain and kidney problems. You need to detoxify your body. Caster oil packs are great. Also the more oxygen you put into your body the better. I would and still do oxygen foot baths which she has on her website. Try and eat garlic and cinnamon because those are anti fungals which will help fight the candida.
Remember that detoxifying your body should be a slow process. Also that you will feel really crappy. Headaches, irritability, tiredness but it will get better and you will start to feel normal again, more like yourself. Once you get used to this diet you will see the changes and how much better you feel, it will be worth sticking with. Dedication dedication dedication. Once you get better though you will be able to cheat with sugars but not all the time.
Thanks mika
what were ur cals and far/pro/carb amounts? How long did u stay on the diet?
Also how did u deal with constipation? I find that if I don’t eat lots of medical dates, I can’t go to the bathroom. 🙁
What meats did u stick to? Did u take any supplements?
I find it hard to comprehend that a high meat and fat diet is healing… Usually high veg and fruit is seen as detoxifying lol
Tha ks for thehelp o
I’m still on the diet today. Like i said earlier I did not religiously count carbs because I was a 16 year old getting used to a NEW diet and couldn’t handle complete change. But I just tried to minimize my carbohyrates. For example if I had potatoes for lunch I would not have them again for dinner or something else that is high is carbs. I still do all the detoxifications now and take multiple supplements daily except I give my body a rest on the weekends and don’t take the vitamins. I went from constipation to the extreme opposite almost daily, that it one of the symptons I had recogonixing that there was something wrong with me. I stayed away from dairy for a few months and use organic almond milk which I still replace milk with today. I took tablespoons of extra virgina olive oil and put it on any meal that it would add flavor to. Remember do not fry it as it will lose all of its good prooperties. I also took tablespoons of organic unrefinded coconut oil which helped me get my intestines back on track. You can find it cheaper at trader joes than at whole foods. I’m at school right now so I do not have my vitamin list but if you write me another comment to remind me, when I get home I can write up a list of what I take. I had veal and turkey meat. No hot dogs, steaks chick liver. I do not know about the whole “red meat is bad for you thing” but that is something you can research. The meats helped me a lot and gave me strengh and engery. Well you can do what works for you I just loved the diet and bee helped me greatly. I know if you try the diet it will work wonders for you but you just have to be comfortable, ready, and dedicated. I’m 20 now and haven’t looked back since, you can do it. You are very welcome.
Chlorella most be a good supplement, right ? I mean it’s one of the most effective supplements for dealing with heavy metals. Ã have been on a “candida diet” LChF but I have cheated latley, and the symptons showed up instantly. My stomach turns into a ballon if I eat any carbohydrates.
I will buy some supplements like oregano oil, probiotics, garlic, and more.
I question: I’am eating ginger daily, is there any danger in eating ginger ? I mean this root is so freaking awsome and help with so much, its a “universal medecin”. But I heard it can have mold in it because it’s a root.
Chlorella is one of the most dangerous supplements for “chelating” heavy metals, because in fact it ISN’T a proper chelator. Google “Andrew Cutler” and “mercury” for more information.
The candida diet dot com talks about full exclusion of grains gluten fruit and other such things
Pau D’arco should be used very sparingly. It is seriously stressful to the liver.
The Candida Diet is not a waste of time and will benefit you, however, it is true that it will not cut back your Candida albicans enough for your body to fully heal itself. It effects millions of people each year and can possibly lead to even more serious health conditions if left unchecked. People need to further educate themselves in order to fully understand how both your body and Candida work. I recommend starting with candidyeastinfection.com and then researching the best and worst foods to eat whilst dealing with it.
We are doing a fantastic candida program thru Mlis. There are great candida programs. Ours has success for me my husband and two small children. It is strict and comes with supplements for internal support as well add two detox fasts. Gaps is not suitable for everyone. Its not geared toward candida either.
The candida diet works perfect. It depends on which one you use. There are a lot of different versions out there. But the one I use eliminates ALL grain, ALL fruits except lemons and limes, ALL starches, and ALL mushrooms.
Want sweets? Make Almond butter cookies thickened with eggs, and sweetened with Stevia. Want cheese then have a piece after you have cleansed for at least 2 months. If you feel sick then you make a choice between do I want to feel sick or do I want to swear off dairy.
I don’t think that BA in Economics gives you insight into elimination diets, would you recommend people with Celiac’s go off a gluten-free diet because their Celiac’s doesn’t go away?
People who do the candida diet most often have chronic diseases. And they are not naive enough to believe they will magically disappear because they ate right. But if you feel better and you aren’t making your self deficient in something you need with your elimination diet, then why go off it.