Good and Bad Foods for a Diet to Combat Candida
Candida albicans is a type of yeast that naturally lives in the mouth, digestive tract, skin, and other moist areas of the body.
It’s harmless when kept in check by the immune system, but when it grows excessively, it can cause a condition known as candidiasis.
Proponents of an anti-candida diet say it can stem the growth of this type of yeast, but there’s limited high-quality research that supports its effectiveness in preventing or treating candida infections.
Here’s what we do know about the connection between this type of yeast and the foods you eat.
1. Myth: Candidiasis Can Be Cured Through Diet Alone
For most people, altering diet won’t treat candida overgrowth, especially when it’s causing an active infection.
“Medical treatment, such as antifungal medication, is typically necessary,” says Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, director of nutrition programs and an associate professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health in Tampa. “Diet may play a supportive role in overall gut health, but it’s not a stand-alone cure.”
Candida is a normal part of our microbiome, but overgrowth requires medical attention. Dr. Wright says that healthy eating patterns that include fiber-rich plants and support a balanced gut microbiome may help reduce the risk of future overgrowth.
Part of the solution to preventing candida overgrowth is to improve the state of your diet, says Amy Bragagnini, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“Improve your diet by cutting back on too much red meat, added sugar, too much fried or convenience foods, and choosing whole grains, colorful vegetables, tofu/chickpeas and other beans, and a variety of nuts,” she says. “Balance is the key to a healthy microbiome.”
2. Myth: Following the Candida Diet Will Cure My Yeast Infection
“The premise is to ‘starve’ candida,” says Wright. “While many people say they feel better on it, the scientific evidence supporting it is limited and low quality.”
Much of the benefit people notice from eating this way may come from eating fewer processed foods, more vegetables, and more balanced meals.
Bragagnini agrees that diet is an ineffective way to address vaginal yeast infections: “I would not recommend dietary interventions alone to treat a yeast infection. I advise you to speak with your healthcare adviser about how to treat an active yeast infection.”
3. Myth: Eliminating Sugar Will Help Me Treat Candidiasis
“In lab studies, yeast can use sugar to grow, but your body’s internal sugar levels are tightly regulated by your metabolism,” says Wright. “Simply avoiding sugar in the diet won’t ‘starve’ any candida already in your body.”
Bragagnini’s take? “I do not recommend eliminating anything from your diet, unless you’ve found you are allergic or intolerant to certain foods. I advise you to begin checking the nutritional labels on foods you normally consume and aim to reduce your intake of added sugar and increase your intake of foods that are complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain bread, quinoa, barley, brown rice, lentils, and beans.”
4. Myth: Dairy Causes Candida Overgrowth
Does dairy feed candida? For most people, this isn’t the case, says Wright.
“Some versions of the candida diet eliminate dairy based on the idea that lactose (milk sugar) could promote yeast growth, but this hasn’t been proven in quality studies,” she says. “If someone has a milk allergy, lactose intolerance, or notices that dairy worsens symptoms, it may make sense to limit it; but for others, dairy can be part of a balanced diet, even when managing candida with medical treatment.”
Bragagnini advises her patients to speak with a registered dietitian if they feel their diet may be contributing to growth of candida.
“The dietitian can do a full diet history and investigate if you are consuming too much of any one food that may contribute to candida overgrowth,” she says.
5. Myth: You Shouldn’t Eat Fermented Foods if You Have Candida Overgrowth
Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi contain probiotics that may help restore a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut.
“Some fermented foods contain small amounts of yeast, but these are different strains from Candida albicans and generally don’t cause problems in healthy people,” says Wright.
“However, conflicting perspectives between the consumption of fermented foods and candida exist, and more scientific research is needed,” says Bragagnini.
The Takeaway
- Candida albicans is a type of yeast that’s harmless when kept in check by the immune system. But when it grows excessively, it can cause yeast infections throughout the body.
- Popular candida diet restrictions — like eliminating sugar, dairy, or fermented foods — have limited scientific support and won’t help treat active yeast infections.
- A varied, fiber-rich diet with whole grains, vegetables, beans, and nuts can support gut health. Avoiding added sugars and ultra-processed foods may lower the risk for developing yeast infections.
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