Candida Cleanse Diets

Candida infections are distressing and they have a horrible tendency to keep coming back over and over again.

Anti-fungal medications can quickly clear an initial candida infection but up to 50% of people getting Candida will get another infection within the year!!

What on earth are you meant do if Candida just won't go for good?!!

Well, tackling the root causes of Candida can really help and in this guide I'll share everything I've learned about that and how different Candida cleanse diets help different people.

For those new to Candida I'll cover :

• Key Signs Of Candida
• Other Candida Symptoms
• What Else Symptoms Might Be

And then share info and tips on :

1. Root Causes Of Candida
2. Foods To Eat With Candida
3. Foods To Avoid With Candida
4. Food You May Be Able To Eat
5. Candida Cleanse Diets
6. Natural Candida Remedies

There's loads of info here, so do use the index to dive into areas relevant to you.

NB I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor.

Key Signs Of Candida

Candida is a fungus that lives naturally in our bodies e.g. in our gut, mouth and vagina. A little does no harm but build up causes yeast infections.

Candida overgrowth typically shows up as the vaginal or oral infections aka Thrush. Signs of vaginal infection are :

1. Thick White Discharge
2. Itching Or Burning
3. Redness & Irritation
4. Discomfort In Sex Or Peeing

Whilst signs of an oral infection are :

1. White Patches
2. Soreness Or Burning
3. Redness Or Cracking
4. Difficulty Swallowing

Thick White Discharge

Often described as looking like cottage cheese - clumpy, not smooth - and usually doesn’t have a strong odour.

Itching Or Burning

Persistent, intense itch or burning sensation around vulva or in vagina.

Redness & Irritation

The skin around your vaginal area might look red, swollen, or feel raw.

Discomfort During Sex or Peeing

You feel stinging or burning sensation when you pee or during intercourse.

White Patches

Creamy white or yellowish spots on tongue, inner cheeks, gums or throat that might look like cottage cheese.

Soreness Or Burning

Mouth feels sore, raw or like it's burning especially when eating or drinking.

Redness Or Cracking

Red, irritated areas inside mouth or cracking at corners of lips.

Difficulty Swallowing

If infection hits throat can feel like something’s stuck when you swallow.

Other Candida Symptoms

The key signs of Candida overgrowth often come hand in hand with other symptoms including :

1. Fungal Infections
2. Tummy Troubles
3. Sugar Cravings
4. Secondary Symptoms

Fungal Infections

When our body is vulnerable to Candida we are also prone to other fungal infections. Candida can show up with :

• Tinea Pedis : fungal infections on toes known as athlete’s foot.
• Onychomycosis: Fungal toe nail infections causing thickening, discolouration, or crumbling.
• Esophageal Candidiasis : a Candida infection of the throat.
• Intertrigo: infections in skin folds e.g. under breasts or round groin.
• Chronic Paronychia: cuticle infection Infection around the nails, often in people with frequent hand-washing or moisture exposure.

Tummy Troubles

Diarrhoea, bloating, gas, or constipation can be signs of intestinal candidiasis - Candida overgrowth in the gut.

Sugar Cravings

Many people with Candida report intense cravings for sugar which make sense as Candida loves sweets!

Secondary Symptoms

There's lots of anecdotal reports of a connection between Candida and these secondary symptoms but no clear evidence supporting this as yet :

1. Brain Fog
2. Fatigue
3. Mood Swings
4. Joint Pain
5. Headaches

These could be symptoms of nutritional deficiencies and other conditions that are risk factors for Candida rather than of Candida itself.

What Else Might Symptoms Be

Don't assume it is Candida if not sure. See a doctor and get tested as these symptoms can be something else :

1. Vaginal Discharge
2. White Oral Patches
3. Itching
4. Redness
5. Cracking Skin
6. Rash Around Mouth

Vaginal Discharge

The thick, white discharge of vaginal candidiasis can be confused with:

• Bacterial vaginosis
• Ovulation & hormonal shifts
• Cytolytic vaginosis.

White Oral Patches

Creamy white spots on tongue, cheeks or throat of oral thrush resemble other conditions e.g. oral lichen planus.

Itching

Intense itching around mouth or vagina can be viruses like herpes simplex in cold sores, parasites like pinworms and bacterial urinary infections or just reactions to soaps or dental products.

Redness

Red, inflamed vaginal tissue can be a sign of lowering estrogen in menopause and a conditions that should be seen by a doctor.

Cracking Skin

Candida related skin cracking around nails and skin folds can be confused with or occur at the same time as eczema, psoriasis and bacterial infections. Again check with a doctor.

Rash Around Mouth

A rash around mouth can be herpes, seborrheic dermatitis or an allergic reaction to lip & dental products or food. If in doubt see a doctor.

Root Causes Of Candida

It is important to spot the root causes of candida infections so we can target the right diet at our personal issues. One size Candida diets do NOT fit all!

The big triggers for Candida are :

1. Excess Sugar
2. Excess Fructose
3. Diabetes / High Blood Sugar
4. Insulin Resistance
5. Estrogen Imbalance
6. Pregnancy
7. PCOS
8. Oral Contraception
9. Menopause Supplements
10. Antibiotics
11. Medication
12. SIBO & IBS
13. Nutritional Deficiencies

Excess Sugar

Diets crammed full of sugar are a big culprit behind Candida which fees on sugar and refined carbs e.g. cookies, candies, soda, poor quality white bread.

Excess Fructose

Candida can also feed off a high fructose diet i.e. fruit - especially if you drink lots of juice or smoothies.

Diabetes / High Blood Sugar

High blood sugar and diabetes is a big trigger for Candida. Controlling blood sugar levels putting diabetes into remission with diet can be critical for cutting repeat Candida infections.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is NOT just about diabetes. You can have insulin resistance without diabetes or any obvious weight issues - skinny people can have a sugar problem! - and it is a big risk factor for Candida infections.

Estrogen Imbalance

High estrogen levels alter the vagina's microbiome making it more prone to Candida. High estrogen is desirable in pregnancy but an issue at other times.

High estrogen levels are tied to insulin resistance but alcohol, excess soya and poor digestion also play a role.

Pregnancy

Candida risk shoots up in pregnancy - up to 40% of pregnant women are estimated to get vaginal candidiasis and it is common in the 3rd trimester.

PCOS

Teenage girls and women with PCOS may be at higher risk of Candida.

PCOS can be triggered by insulin resistance and estrogen dominance and the irregular periods PCOS causes further undermine the balance of estrogen and progesterone.

So PCOS can be a triple-whammy risk factor for repeat Candida infections.

Oral Contraception

High-estrogen contraceptive pills may increase women's vulnerability to repeat vaginal Candida infections.

Artificially raised estrogen levels alter the vaginal microbiome which in turn raises the risk of Candida overgrowth.

Menopause Supplements

Estrogen supplements for menopause have been tied to increased Candida infections. There's not definitive data on the connection but it is important to be aware of the risk when trying to boost menopausal health.

Antibiotics

Candida can flourish more easily after antibiotics kill off healthy gut bacteria.

Always talk to your doctor about how best to restore gut bacteria with probiotics after a course of antibiotics.

Medication

There's a strong connection between repeat Candida infections and some medication especially corticosteroids and acid reflux treatments.

Talk to a doctor to understand risks.

SIBO & IBS

Digestive problems such as SIBO and IBS can disrupt gut flora and immunity, allowing an overgrowth of Candida.

However, the connection works both ways and Candida can trigger SIBO.

Any Candida cleanse diet you follow must balance conflicting dietary needs to suppress SIBO/IBS and Candida.

Nutritional Deficiencies

These key nutrient deficiencies can disrupt our gut and weaken immunity levels and so may raise our risk of repeat Candida infections :

1. Zinc
2. Magnesium
3. Vitamin D
4. B Vitamins

A causal link has not yet been proved but it is worth testing for deficiencies if you have repeat Candida infections.

Do NOT pop supplements without testing - too much can be worse!

Foods to Eat With Candida

Nourishing our body, gut and immune system with nutrient rich food while starving Candida of the sugary stuff it craves, can help stop repeat infections.

Many people do control Candida by avoiding key foods and loading up on :

1. Non-Starchy Veggies
2. High Quality Proteins
3. Healthy Fats
4. Low-Glycemic Whole Grains

However, this won't help everyone.

It is unlikely to reverse insulin resistance or estrogen dominance or the impact of antibiotics and medication. These foods can also make SIBO and IBS worse.

So talk to your doctor about root causes of your repeat infections before using this food list. You may need a different Candida diet as discussed below.

Non-Starchy Veggies

Non-starchy vegetables - low sugar but high fibre - can help with Candida by supporting gut motility and microbiome balance without raising blood sugar.

Non-starchy vegetables include :

• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Zucchini
• Brussels sprouts
• Asparagus
• Green beans
• Cabbage
• Bell peppers

However, you can eat too much fibre!!

If you already eat a high fibre diet, do NOT double down. You may be eating too many FODMAPS and your Candida may be tied to SIBO or IBS.

Some of these veg are also high in antinutrients so do prepare properly.

High Quality Proteins

Lots of high quality protein daily give us plenty of energy without feeding yeast.

Protein also supports immune function and tissue repair and amino acids like glutamine may help gut lining integrity.

High quality proteins include :

1. Shrimp
2. Eggs
3. Salmon
4. Chicken breast
5. Turkey
6. Cod
7. Sardines
8. Beef (lean cuts)
9. Pork tenderloin
10. Tofu (if plant-based)

Healthy Fats

Good quality plant and animal fats give sugar free energy that won't feed Candida plus anti-inflammatory gut benefits. Healthy fats include :

1. Olive oil
2. Avocado
3. Butter
4. Ghee
5. Coconut oil
6. Salmon (fatty fish)
7. Mackerel
8. Walnuts
9. Flaxseeds
10. Chia seeds

Low-Glycemic Whole Grains

A moderate amount of low glycemic whole grains can provide fibre and nutrients without spiking blood sugar. Good examples are :

1. Quinoa
2. Buckwheat
3. Bulgur
4. Farro
5. Barley
6. Millet
7. Steel-cut oats
8. Wild rice

However, if you have insulin resistance - diabetes or other - some of these grains may still be problematic.

They may also cause issues for anyone with broad gluten intolerance.

Foods to Avoid With Candida

Candida does appear to thrive on sugary foods so people with Candida are usually advised to steer clear of these to starve it out:

1. Sugars & Sweets
2. Refined Carbs
3. Fruit Juice & Smoothies
4. High-Sugar Fruit
5. Alcohol

Sugars & Sweets

Candy, cookies and sodas or anything else with added sugar are a NO NO!!

Foods high in natural sugar, e.g. honey, maple syrup, should also be avoided.

Refined Carbs

All the refined carbs - white bread, pasta, pastries, rice - break down into sugar too quickly and so feed Candida.

Fruit Juice & Smoothies

The sugar in all fruit juice and smoothies is effectively free sugar separated from the fibre of the whole fruit so can feed Candida.

High-Sugar Fruits

Sadly lots of whole fruit spikes blood sugar so is best avoided with Candida :

1. Grapes
2. Mango
3. Pineapple
4. Banana
5. Watermelon
6. Dates
7. Figs
8. Raisins
9. Cherries
10. Papaya
11. Pomegranate
12. Lychee
13. Persimmon
14. Apples
15. Pears
16. Apricots (fresh or dried)
17. Plums & Prunes
18. Peaches
19. Nectarines
20. Passionfruit

Remember if you cut back on fruit to make up vitamins with both green and brightly coloured vegetables.

Alcohol

Alcohol can disrupt gut flora and contains sugars or ferments into acetaldehyde, which might stress the system. Some studies link heavy alcohol use to mucosal candidiasis.

Food You May Be Able To Eat

One size rarely fits all with diets!!

Some people with Candida respond well to a little of these foods :

1. No Sugar Fermented Foods
2. Lower Lactose Dairy
3. Mouldy Food

Whilst others - even without co-morbidities like IBS - find that they make Candida symptoms worse. Try cautiously in moderation and listen to your body not the latest Instagram fad!

No Sugar Fermented Foods

Probiotics may help restore gut flora that can out-compete Candida and there is some evidence Lactobacillus might reduce Candida growth.

Examples of fermented foods include:

1. Plain yogurt (with live cultures)
2. Kefir
3. Sauerkraut (unpasteurized)
4. Kimchi
5. Miso
6. Tempeh
7. Pickles (no added sugar)
8. Kombucha (no sugar versions)

Do read labels - anything with added sugar is again a NO-NO!!

Lower Lactose Dairy

There's no strong evidence that lactose feeds Candida but anecdotally plenty of people feel it does and avoid all lactose or only eat lower lactose dairy like :

• Matured hard cheese e.g. cheddar, parmesan
• Butter
• Ghee
• Greek yoghurt.

Mouldy Food

Some people claim that mouldy food e.g. blue cheese can exacerbate Candida whilst others claim it can help balance the gut microbiome. There's no strong evidence either way.

Again, we have to listen to our bodies and test with small amounts.

Candida Cleanse Diets

We have now looked at lists of food to eat, avoid and test cautiously to control Candida but as mentioned those lists will only help some people.

Other people will need a more targeted Candida diet that tackles :

1. Insulin resistance
2. Estrogen dominance
3. Co-morbidities like SIBO & IBS
4. Broad ranging plant sensitivity e.g. FODMAPS, antinutrients, sugar.

In this section I will cover the 5 most popular diets for Candida flagging pros and cons for different people and any science that backs them up :

1. Candida Diet
2. Low Carb - Keto Diet
3. Estrogen Balancing Diet
4. Low FODMAP Diet
5. Carnivore Diet

Candida Diets, Pregnancy & Medication

Remember, if you are pregnant or on any treatments that increase the risk of Candida e.g. steroids, Acid Reflux, birth control, antibiotics, estrogen supplements you must talk to your doctor before changing your diet.

Candida Diet

The classic Candida diet - all over social media - is based on eating :

1. Non-starchy vegetables
2. Lean proteins e.g. poultry, eggs, wild fish with very limited lean red meat & shellfish
3. Plant fats e.g. avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, nut butter
4. Low sugar fruits e.g. berries, citrus
5. Low glycemic, low gluten whole grains e.g. quinoa, buckwheat, millet, steel cut oats, wild rice
6. Tiny amounts of some legumes e.g. lentils, black beans.

And avoiding as much as possible :

• Sugars
• Processed carbs
• High sugar fruit & vegetables
• Processed legumes e.g. tofu, soy
• Dairy.

Pros & Cons

The classic Candida diet cuts sugar which may be enough for some people to control repeat Candida infections.

However there's NO good quality evidence the diet can tackle the two biggest risk factors for Candida :

1. Insulin resistance
2. Estrogen imbalance.

Many fans of the diet claim Candida is the root cause of everything from IBS, allergies, and eczema to anxiety. No good evidence currently supports this.

It would be wise before starting this diet, to test insulin and estrogen levels and if either an issue to talk to your doctor about a better evidenced approach.

Candida Diet Books

If you are still interested in the classic Candida diet these books cover it :

1. The Candida Cure by Ann Boroch - A 90-day program focusing on gut balance and Candida elimination.
2. The Everything Candida Diet Book by Jeffrey McCombs - a detailed diet guide with recipes to restore microbial balance.
3. The Ultimate Candida Diet Program by Lisa Richards - A 60-day plan with nutritionist-backed strategies to beat Candida.
4. The 30-Day Candida Cleanse by Rockridge Press - A recipe-rich program for a month-long cleanse.
5. Candida Cleanse by Sondra Forsyth - A 21-day detox plan to starve Candida and improve health.

Low Carb - Keto Diet

A low carb or Keto diet is best known as a weight loss diet but there is good quality evidence that Keto can put insulin resistance into remission in :

1. Diabetes
2. PCOS
3. Fatty Liver Disease.

There's also some small-scale but reasonable quality research showing a Keto diet can help to rebalance estrogen in the menstrual cycle.

The diet is based on a daily balance of :

• Carbs : 5-10%
• Protein : 15-20%
• Fats : 70-80% (plant & animal)
• PLUS a good range of very low carb vegetables, nuts & seeds.

There's obviously loads of Keto diet resources out there but quality varies greatly and most are just about weight loss NOT clinical control of insulin!!

More and more family doctors in the USA and GPs in the UK do offer structured support for using a Keto diet to put insulin resistance into remission so they are the best place to start.

Pros & Cons

As mentioned the Keto diet is based on good evidence and supported by growing numbers of doctors.

The downsides of Keto are that it can be challenging for anyone with :

1. Sugar Addiction : the first 3 weeks of withdrawal can be very difficult.
2. SIBO / IBS Sufferers : many low carb veg are high in FODMAPS.
3. Vegan & Vegetarian Diets : the legume and grain proteins relied on in these diets are not low carb.

Estrogen Balancing Diet

An estrogen balancing diet may help prevent repeated Candida infections if you have raised estrogen levels.

The focus of the diet is basically better "waste management" and improving liver function. Key changes are :

1. Slash sugar & processed carbs.
2. Detox from alcohol for 6 weeks then <1 drink a day.
3. Tackle constipation e.g. by eating more gentle fibre.
4. Boost magnesium if low.
5. Boost choline if low.
6. Boost B vitamins if low especially B6, B9 & B12.
7. Eat 2-3 helpings of cruciferous vegetables weekly e.g. broccoli, kale, cauliflower.
8. Avoid possible estrogen triggers :
   • Soya
   • Seed oils & margarine
   • Non-organic dairy and possibly all dairy but recognise it is a good source of magnesium
   • Meat with growth hormones.

Pros & Cons

There is good evidence that a healthy liver is essential for estrogen balance and good or reasonable evidence that the changes above can:

1. Boost liver function
2. Improve estrogen balance.

The two best known books for managing estrogen with diet are :

• Estrogen Dominance : 21st Century Hormone Imbalance by Michael Lam
• The Hormone Diet : Lose Fat. Gain Strength. Live Younger Longer by Natasha Turner

However, their diet plans are NOT supported by good quality evidence. Sticking to the basic changes with support of your doctor will probably be a better approach for tackling the root cause of your Candida.

Your doctor may find your estrogen levels are caused by Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) - basically insulin resistance in the liver. In this case your doctor may recommend a Keto diet to control insulin resistance.

Low FODMAP Diet

Some food good for tackling Candida makes SIBO and IBS worse. The big culprits are fermentable sugars - FODMAPS - in high fibre vegetables, grains and legumes plus dairy.

Sadly, lots of Candida starving low carb veg are high fibre e.g. cauliflower and feed bacteria behind SIBO and IBS.

So to control Candida and SIBO/IBS you may need to mix the Candida food lists with a low FODMAP diet.

Low FODMAP Food List

A low carb - low FODMAP food list will typically include the following :

1. Good quality protein.
2. Good quality fats.
3. Avoiding dairy.
4. No fruit except small helpings of raspberries & strawberries.
5. Small amounts of quinoa, buckwheat, millet & wild rice.
6. Small helpings of nuts & seeds :
7. Any of these vegetables :
   • Arugula (Rocket)
   • Bok choy
   • Cabbage (not Savoy)
   • Collard greens
   • Courgette (Zucchini)
   • Cucumber
   • Eggplant (Aubergine)
   • Endive
   • Green beans
   • Green pepper
   • Kale
   • Lettuce of all sorts
   • Radicchio
   • Spinach
   • Swiss chard

Pros & Cons

The low FODMAP diet can help you tackle Candida without aggravating SIBO & IBS and there is good quality evidence to support this.

But the diet is very restrictive and potentially a sticking plaster for bigger underlying problems.

SIBO like Candida can be tied to a sluggish liver. This could be insulin resistance but might just be nutrient shortfalls in the liver and gallbladder :

• Magnesium
• Retinol
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B6, B9, B12
• Vitamin K
• Zinc

If you keep suffering SIBO and Candida talk to your doctor about deficiencies and ways to tackle them rather than struggling long term on a limited diet.

Carnivore Diet

The Carnivore Diet is an extreme diet and should not be undertaken lightly.

However, there is some growing clinician supported evidence that it may help people struggling with a whole combination of :

1. Recurrent Candida
2. Recurrent SIBO
3. Insulin resistance
4. Intolerance of antinutrients
5. Intolerance of gluten
6. Nightshade & allium sensitivity
7. Plus potentially anxiety and depression.

The basic diet is :

• Zero plant food
• Zero carbs
• Just meat, fish, eggs & dairy

Pros & Cons

There is as yet no good quality research on the ability of a Carnivore diet to help any of the conditions listed. Some people argue it is low in fibre and vitamin C and can strain digestion and raise cholesterol.

However some doctors with strong clinical records using Keto diets for insulin resistance e.g. David Unwin in the UK, believe it may help some patients.

To read more - cautiously and critically - check out 2 key advocates of the diet :

• Paul Saladino
• Shawn Baker

Natural Candida Remedies

We must get to the root causes of repeat Candida to get rid of it but some natural Candida remedies may support your personal Candida diet.

The natural Candida remedies with the best reputation for helping are :

1. Probiotics
2. Coconut Oil
3. Garlic
4. Oregano Oil
5. Apple Cider Vinegar

I'll take you through them and whether the science behind them stacks up.

Always talk to your doctor before taking natural Candida remedies.

Probiotics

There's some reasonable evidence that good bacteria - e.g. Lactobacillus - can help reduce Candida overgrowth by crowding it out and boosting immunity.

Some people can boost Lactobacillus through fermented foods e.g. :

• Yogurt
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Miso

If lactose sensitive a Lactobacillus probiotic may help but be careful as the quality of probiotics varies greatly.

SIBO & Lactobacillus

SIBO can be Lactobacillus overgrowth but basic SIBO tests don't identify the strains of overgrown bacteria. If SIBO symptoms worsen with dairy or fermented foods, Lactobacillus might be a culprit - consider avoiding it.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil contains the natural anti-fungal Caprylic Acid and some small-scale research suggests it can inhibit Candida growth. Cooking with coconut oil, taking a spoonful neat or with low carb berries and nuts could help.

Garlic

Garlic contains the natural anti-fungal allicin. Lab research shows it can kill Candida but there is no significant research to show how effective garlic is in humans. Adding garlic to food or drinking garlic tea may help.

SIBO, IBS & Garlic

Garlic like all alliums is high in FODMAPS so aggravates SIBO & IBS.

Oregano Oil

Oregano contains anti-fungal carvacrol and thymol and some limited research shows oregano oil can fight Candida. Oregano oil is potent and should only be taken diluted or in capsule form after talking to your doctor.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is often hyped as a cure for everything under the sun but evidence is thin. It may help balance gut pH but there’s no solid proof it kills Candida in humans. If you try it, dilute it (1-2 tablespoon in water) to protect your teeth.

Summary

And there we go, a whole load of information which can hopefully help you work with your doctor to understand the root causes of your Candida and how you can use nutrition, diet and simple natural remedies to stop it coming back.

NB this is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing diets or taking natural remedies especially if pregnant or on medication.

For more simple health tips do check out my other natural remedies and follow me on Pinterest. If you found the post helpful please do share on Pinterest.