Candidiasis is caused by rapid population growth of Candida albicans, a type of yeast. Although candida yeast naturally exists in the gut, an imbalance of microorganisms in the intestines may cause a variety of symptoms. People with candidiasis report feeling fatigued, bloated, gassy and depressed. Altering your diet may alleviate symptoms of candidiasis.
Significance
Candida yeast thrive on sugars in the digestive system. An anti-candida diet significantly reduces sugar consumption, eliminating this food source. As a result, candida yeast die rapidly without reproducing. Restoring balance to candida populations by cutting back on sugar intake may improve symptoms of candidiasis.
Diet Stages
A typical candida diet consists of three major phases. The first, most restrictive phase, requires dieters to eliminate all processed foods, fruits, starches, aged cheeses and alcoholic beverages for three weeks. In the second phase, beans and high-carbohydrate vegetables can be reintroduced into your meals. Anti-fungal treatments in this phase promote candida population control. In the third phase, dieters repopulate the gut with beneficial bacteria. Many dieters stay in this phase long-term to prevent recurrence of candidiasis symptoms.
Meal Planning
Anti-candida meals consist primarily of fresh or cooked vegetables. Avoid starchy veggies such as potatoes, carrots, beets, yams and peas, as these can cause sugar levels to spike. Incorporate whole grains such as whole-wheat pasta, quinoa, buckwheat or brown rice into your diet to maintain high energy. All processed foods, aged cheeses and sugary fruits must be strictly avoided. Balance your meals to contain healthy fats, lean protein and complex carbohydrates. Beef, turkey, chicken and soy products are acceptable protein sources.
Coffee Use
Some candidiasis sufferers claim that all caffeinated products should be eliminated on an anti-candida diet, while others maintain that small amounts of caffeine are acceptable. The Candida Diet website claims that caffeine boosts candida growth by suppressing immune functioning and recommends avoiding caffeinated beverages such as coffee. However, a single cup of coffee does not likely contain enough caffeine to significantly affect candida growth. Drink unsweetened coffee in moderation and monitor your body's reaction. If symptoms of candidiasis flare up, eliminate coffee and other caffeinated beverages from your diet.
Expert Insight
Few medical doctors acknowledge candidiasis as a legitimate condition. While switching from processed, unhealthy foods to fresher alternatives may alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms, this may simply be because the diet improves overall health. MayoClinic.com reports that no clinical trials demonstrate the efficacy of a candida diet for eliminating any medical symptoms.
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