How does Candida Diet Work? Here’s Research and List of Foods
Researched & Written by: Lacey Batch
Candida yeast infection can be prevented if you are going to avoid specific types of food and concentrate on eating the right ones. This is the claim that most people are applying in their lives as they continue to eat healthy. This is of course in consideration with the notion that your diet can be part of the treatment plan for candida infection prevention.
What is Candida?
Candida is a genus that involves more than a hundred species of yeast that can survive in the mouth, gut, vagina or the throat.
The overgrowth of candida may result in candidiasis, which is a fungal infection. If the candida yeast is in its normal concentration, this can possibly aid in digestion and it can also help in the absorption of nutrients. On the other hand, having too much of this in the body may result in infection.
What is Candida Diet and How does it Work?
Candida diet is one of the parts of the treatment plans in avoiding candida infection. In this specific diet, The individual is asked to avoid drinking beverages and eating foods that may cause candida overgrowth. Alcohol products, sugar, gluten and some specific types of dairy are included in the foods that should be lessened. And to ensure health, the individual should focus on healthier options such as non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, probiotics, and healthy fats.
These are the foods that will help lessen the risk for the infection. Candida cleanse is one of the options that are being recommended.
Is Candida Diet Effective?
Studies were conducted in the effectiveness of candida diet using cells of animals. However, it has not come to the point where large-scale research involving humans was included. This is the current answer as to the effectiveness of candida diet. It is good to consider, however, that if you have a weakened immune system or if you have any medical condition, there might be a risk of candida overgrowth.
What Does Research Say About the Candida Diet?
Overall, it is proven that the candida diet promotes better health. Eliminating sugar and considering other sweetening alternatives is something that is effective in lessening the candida growth in the mouth. If you are going to consider xylitol, you can benefit from the antimicrobial properties that it possesses.
This product makes it hard for yeast to bind to the cells. This is why it is preferable as compared to sugar. For the other claims, it is still difficult to identify if they really are effective in lessening the risk of candida infection. But one thing is sure, the candida diet is healthful and it can be good for individuals.
Foods to Eat:
Here is a list of the foods that you must eat as part of the candida diet:
- Probiotic Foods
If you want to achieve good gut health, you have to eat probiotic foods. You can get different benefits from this type of food. Aside from being an aid for digestion, it can also help in boosting your immunity and in maintaining health PH.
- Non-starchy Vegetables
Examples of non-starchy vegetables include tomatoes, onions, broccoli, kale and Brussel sprouts. These are all good for your candida diet.
- Non-glutenous Grains
Having some gluten free grains as part of your meals is something that is encouraged. You can add quinoa, buckwheat, oat bran and rice in your diet.
- Proteins
Pasture-raised chicken and eggs, wild fish, and grass-fed beef are all healthy options. These can be your source of protein when you are on a candida diet.
- Spices and Herbs
Spices such as turmeric and cumin can help in lessening candida infection. Aside from that, you can also expect the same from herbs such as cilantro, oregano, and basil.
- Seeds
Chia seeds have already proven their effectiveness in maintaining good health. Flaxseed and hemp seeds are also perfect for the candida diet.
Foods to Avoid:
To be able to maintain a candida diet and a healthy lifestyle, here are the foods that are recommended for you to avoid:
- Glutenous Grains
This is one of the foods that should be avoided especially for people who have gluten intolerance or those who are experiencing celiac disease. This is because it can cause intestinal damage.
- Processed Meats
Not all types of meat should be avoided. If you want to maintain a candida diet, you have to avoid processed meats and even farm-raised fish.
- Alcoholic Drinks
The main point here is that your diet should be able to support your healthy lifestyle. This is why it is discouraged to drink alcoholic beverages.
- Sweetened Foods
For people who have a weak immune system, it is recommended that they should avoid sweetened foods. This is because this may worsen the candida infection or it may increase the risk of having it. Sugary beverages such as those that contain cane sugar, syrup, molasses and table sugar should be scrapped from your list.
- Flour-based Foods
Wheat, rye, and barley are the types of grains that you should be avoiding.
- Mushrooms
The main reason why mushrooms are included in the foods that must not be eaten is because it is a member of the fungi family. This is why it can increase the risk of candida yeast growth.
The secret in being able to maintain a candida diet lies in the way you are going to strategize your meals. First, you have to make sure that you are getting the advice of an expert in terms of your body needs. If you have a weak immune system, it would be good to get the advice of your doctor about your meals.
After that, you can now consider creating meal plans that will include the recommended food in your diet. There are different ways on how you can enjoy all these healthy foods. One of the best ways on how you can do this is by identifying the food groups that should be part of the meal. From there, you can choose from the varied classification and types of food.
