Candida Overgrowth and How to Fix
- Sarah Hotchkiss
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Candida over growth is a common problem that many adults struggle with. It may present in a series of ways including:
Digestive issues
Gas
Bloating
constipation/diarrhea
Fatingue/Brain Fog
Oral Thrush
Skin/Nail issues
Sugar/Carb Cravings
I recommend following an anti-Candida diet for anyone with Candida overgrowth. In addition to removing toxic and inflammatory foods, an anti-Candida diet focuses on increasing your intake of foods known to be strong Candida killers.
Candida Foods to Avoid:
Sugar and Sweeteners
Sugar especially affects Candida overgrowth as yeast feeds on sugar. You will want to cut out all sugar and sweeteners. This includes artificial sweeteners. The key here is avoiding not just the obvious sources such as sodas, candy, cakes, and cookies, but also the sugar lurking in unexpected places, including several salad dressings, low fat packaged foods and protein bars.
Alcohol
It is particularly important to cut out beer and wine while getting your yeast in check. Wine is not only fermented (meaning it is made from yeast), it is also high in sugar. Beer, which is also fermented, contains gluten. All of these factors contribute to Candida.
Dried Fruit and Fruit Juices
Although some fruits such as berries can be part of an antioxidant-rich diet, they are high in sugar and still feed Candida. Dried fruit and fruit juice can be major culprits of yeast overgrowth. Dried fruit and fruit juice are usually full of added sugars as well.
Gluten and Grains
It is highly inflammatory. It is also a grain, and your body breaks all grains down into simple sugars during digestion, which feeds Candida overgrowth. The anti-Candida diet eliminates grains of any kind, while some grains are allowed on the Candida diet.
Beans and Other Legumes
Even though beans and legumes provide a great plant protein, they are starchy and feed Candida. Legumes can also be inflammatory for many people because they contain agglutinins. Like grains, legumes are difficult to digest, meaning there is more partially digested food in your gut. An overabundance of partially digested food in the intestinal tract feeds bacterial overgrowth. The traditional Candida diet allows for some legumes, however since they are inflammatory, they are not a part of the anti-candida diet.
Fermented Foods.
Anyone with Candida overgrowth should avoid fermented foods like yogurt until your yeast population is under control. The traditional Candida diet does allow for fermented foods. However, the prebiotics produced during the fermentation process feed bad bacteria and yeast. Some fermented foods contain high levels of bad bacteria and yeast, so I recommend removing these foods as part of the anti-Candida diet and killing Candida first before using fermented foods to help restore the good bacteria.
Dairy
It is a highly inflammatory food that I recommend everyone eliminate from their diet, along with gluten. Inflammation damages your gut lining, which Candida overgrowth has likely already compromised. This allows the yeast to continue escaping into your bloodstream, along with toxins, microbes, and other particles.
As your body eliminates Candida overgrowth, you may temporarily feel symptoms known as die-off effects. These can include headaches, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and skin breakouts. While uncomfortable, these are signs that your body actively eliminates toxins. Stay hydrated, support your detox pathways with liver-supporting foods, and get plenty of rest to ease the process.
How to transition off the Anti-Candida diet without triggering Candida overgrowth again.
Reintroduce foods gradually
Prioritize low-sugar options
Monitor your symptoms
Avoid returning to old habits
The 4 Best Herbal Treatments for Candida Overgrowth
Conventional antifungal medications are sometimes the best choice for treating fungal infections, so always consult a doctor. Combining antifungal medications with herbal treatments can also be effective against Candida.
Oregano oil - oregano oil is an herbal antifungal often used to treat Candida overgrowth. Two phases of supplements containing oregano oil:
biota-Clear 1a (oregano oil is the sole ingredient in this product):
Biota-Clear 2b (oregano oil combined with caprylic acid and other useful herbs for a broader antimicrobial effect): if a second phase of treatment is necessary for persistent intestinal Candida, I like this one.
Garlic Tablets - garlic contains allicin, a compound with strong anti-Candida properties. A typical start dose for Candida infections is 1,500 mg of garlic extract per day for a week
Herbal Essential Oils - In addition to oregano and garlic oil, cinnamon oil and lemongrass oil also have strong antifungal activity in the laboratory. In a study of how herbal oils affected Candida albicans grown in a lab, cinnamon and lemongrass oils were more than 99% effective at inhibiting the yeast.
Other Candida Fighters
Caprylic Acid - Caprylic acid is part of the medium-chain triglyceride family of healthy fats. It can help to break down the cell walls of Candida, making it a great supplement for helping with Candida overgrowth. At higher doses, caprylic acid can cause diarrhea, so 1,600-2,400 mg per day is the usual recommended amount.
Enzymes - Certain enzymes may help break down Candida and their biofilms (the shields they build around themselves) to make other treatments more effective. We often use Biota Dissolve for stubborn intestinal Candida. This product contains anti-biofilm enzymes, including chitinase and cellulase.
Undecylenic Acid - Undecylenic (uhn-des-uh-LEN-ik) acid is a naturally antifungal fatty acid that comes from castor oil. 900-1,500 mg per day.
Probiotics
Preventing the formation of hyphae (long threads that branch off Candida, helping them colonize and cause infections)
Crowding out Candida
Keeping Candida from building biofilms
Preventing Candida from sticking to the gut lining
A meta-analysis (highest quality study of studies) found that a combination of probiotics and various Saccharomyces species reduced oral Candida counts in people with oral thrush
Triple Therapy
A Lactobacillus/Bifidobacterium blend
Saccharomyces boulardii (a beneficial yeast)
A soil-based probiotic (a Bacillus species)
A clinical trial found that combining an anti-Candida diet with antifungal medication (nystatin) resulted in better outcomes than using medication alone
After 10 days of medication:
Most (85%) of the intestinal Candida patients who had also followed the diet for 3 months were symptom free
In contrast, fewer than half (43%) of those who took the medication without following the diet had their symptoms resolved.
Eat More of These Foods
Low-glycemic fruits (like avocados and berries)
Lower carb vegetables (such as leafy greens, cucumbers, and carrots)
Legumes (peas, beans, and lentils) in moderation
Whole grains (like oats, quinoa, brown rice) in modest quantities
High-quality proteins (such as lean meats, fish, eggs, and plain whey, pea, or hemp protein powders)
Low-mold nuts and seeds (almonds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds)
Beverages included caffeinated (or decaf) coffee and tea, herbal tea, and broth with safe ingredients
Healthy fats (olive oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, MCT oil, and coconut oil may have anti-Candida activity)
Herbs and spices (those with stronger anti-Candida activity include oregano, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, and bay leaf)
Condiments (such as vinegar, mayonnaise, and coconut aminos) in moderation
Lifestyle Improvements to Make
The body and the mind are connect, so when you're struggling with something in your gut, it can effect other parts of your body as well as your mind. Lifestyle changes can help improve your overall health as well as fight cadida. Here are a few changes to start with:
Manage Stress
Get Active
Brush and Floss
Please consult your practitioner on treatment, above are only general suggestions for educational purposes only.
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