Candida diet in a nutshell… what to eat, what not to eat

No doubt at some stage in your life, you have been exposed to candida, or you have personally experienced a case of candida, AKA – Thrush. It’s nasty and not something you want showing up regularly. It’s itchy, smelly, painful, and borderline embarrassing, and that’s just the genital type.

Candida infections can come in many forms: –

• Vaginal yeast infection – A yeast infection of the vagina and surrounding tissues.
• Cutaneous candidiasis – An infection of the skin and nails caused by the candida fungus
• Esophageal candidiasis – An infection in which the fungus Candida albicans accumulates in the mouth.
• Candidemia – a bloodstream infection with Candida, is a common infection in hospitalized patients. Unlike Candida infections in the mouth and vagina, Invasive candidiasis is a serious infection that can affect the blood, heart, brain, eyes, bones, and other parts of the body.

It’s another of natures many gifts, and yes like any other bacteria or parasite, it is contagious. Candida is a fungus, which means they are smart and cunning – they are both a virus and bacteria, and will multiply when left untreated.

Candida lives in the digestive tract and can spread to any orifice (an entry into the body system). The fungus multiplies, causing an infection if the environment changes in a way that encourages its growth. If your immune system has been compromised by antibiotics or illness for example, then you are at risk.

This is why it’s super important to listen to your bodies messages. Symptoms to be aware of are;

• Redness or soreness
• Itchiness
• White patches on the inner cheeks, tongue, roof of the mouth, and throat
• Cottony feeling in the mouth
• Loss of taste
• Pain while eating or swallowing
• Cracking and redness at the corners of the mouth
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain or discomfort when urinating
• Abnormal vaginal discharge
• Blotchy, red skin – like a rash
• Tiredness, Irritability, Stress
• Brain fog

I know all these symptoms seem a bit full on, but you can control your gut flora if you treat it right. There are over 100 million brain cells in your gut, as many as a cat’s brain, which is why we need to be smart about what we eat! We have to outsmart out gut!

The candida diet (what not to eat):

• No Carbohydrates – white bread, rice, pasta, cakes, refined sugars
• No Chocolate – or any refined sugars (lollies, ice cream, soft drinks, syrups)
• No Diary – milk, cheese. You can try coconut/almond milk and organic yoghurt (as this can be high is good bacteria, which is a
• probiotic and will rebalance your gut flora!)
• Minimal fruit (this is high in sugar and difficult to digest).

You can eat:

• Whole grains (quinoa, oats, bran, sourdough/ grain breads)
• Leafy green veg (kale, spinach, broccoli) and most other vegetables
• Coconut milk
• Legumes
• Organic Meat (No processed meats)
• Free range eggs
• Cold white potatoes, green banana or green banana flour, carrot, legumes – as these foods contain resistive starch, which is
• digested in the large intestine not in the stomach – in other words it is fermented by the bacteria in the large intestine and
• passed through the colon! One by one killing little suckers!!

If this feels too overwhelming and complicated, reach out to me! As an Exercise Physiologist, I am trained in nutrition, exercise rehabilitation, and implementing behavioural change.

I can provide you with a step by step meal plan to get the ball rolling.

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