Special Diets Print Guidelines for the Candida Diet By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial policy Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on July 05, 2016 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 You should avoid drinking beer, and other fermented foods, if you're on the Candida diet. T-Pool/Stock4B/Getty Images More in Special Diets Gluten-Free Low-Carb Candida albicans is a yeast that normally resides in the body in the digestive tract and vagina. Candida levels are kept in check by the immune system and beneficial probiotic bacteria in the body. If probiotic bacteria are killed by antibiotics or if the immune system becomes weakened, Candida yeast may grow unchecked. Local infections, such as oral thrush, skin infections, and vaginal yeast infections in women may result. People with severely weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer or AIDS, may develop widespread Candida infection, a serious medical condition called systemic candidiasis. Some alternative practitioners believe that overgrowth of Candida albicans yeast in the intestines is responsible for a yeast syndrome that results in symptoms such as fatigue, headache, mood swings, sinus congestion, depression, poor memory and concentration, and cravings for sweets. The excess Candida yeast in the intestines is then thought to penetrate the intestinal wall, causing yeast and other unwanted particles to be absorbed into the body. The absorbed yeast particles are believed to activate the immune system, resulting in an allergic hypersensitivity to Candida. This yeast syndrome, popularized by William Crook, MD, in his 1983 book, The Yeast Connection, is considered highly controversial. Most conventional medical doctors believe this syndrome is overdiagnosed by holistic practitioners and disagree with the validity of the diagnosis. What Is Candida and Candidiasis? Contributing Factors Use of oral contraceptives, steroids, antacids, anti-ulcer medications, or frequent or long-term use of antibioticsHigh-sugar dietsPregnancySmokingFood allergies and intolerancesDiabetes The Candida Diet Some alternative practitioners use diet to address Candida overgrowth. For example, Dr. Crook recommends people with Candida overgrowth follow certain diet guidelines: Avoid sugar: According to Dr. Crook, sugar promotes the growth of yeast. The total carbohydrate intake per day is often limited. For example, during the initial two to three weeks on the diet, the carbohydrate intake may be restricted to less than 60 grams per day, depending on age, health, activity level, and the extent of food sensitivities. Low-carbohydrate foods such as meat, chicken, turkey, shellfish, non-starchy vegetables, and certain nuts are emphasized instead. As symptoms subside, the carbohydrate total of the diet is often gradually increased.Avoid foods containing any type of yeast: This includes fermented foods such as bread made with yeast, cheese, tomato paste, mushrooms, and beer. Although Dr. Crook believed that people with Candida overgrowth would also be allergic to other fungi, not all practitioners believe this restriction is necessary. The length of time on a Candida diet depends on the length of time one has had symptoms and the severity of the symptoms. The general level of health is another important factor to alternative practitioners when recommending a treatment plan. People who do respond to the diet often report that it takes a minimum of four weeks before any improvement is noticeable. For many, it may take months. Once there is sufficient improvement in symptoms, practitioners suggest slowly reintroducing foods from the restricted list back into the diet. Foods to Avoid on the Candida Diet Herbs and Supplements Another important component of Dr. Crook's plan is the use of herbs and supplements, or in certain cases, prescription drugs, to decrease the amount of Candida yeast in the body. Alternative practitioners usually recommend starting with smaller amounts of herbs and supplements and increasing gradually. Otherwise, a temporary worsening of symptoms called a Herxheimer reaction, or yeast die-off may occur. It is believed to result when Candida yeast is killed and they release protein fragments and toxins that trigger an antibody response from the immune system. Scientific Evidence There is very little scientific evidence showing that candida yeast overgrowth is common, or that diets, herbs, and supplements may help. One clinical trial looked at the use of the antifungal drug nystatin in 116 people who were thought to have candida yeast overgrowth. After four weeks, treatment with nystatin improved symptoms compared to placebo. Some people in the study also avoided dietary sugar and yeast and reported an even greater improvement in symptoms. Another study, involving 42 women, didn't find any benefit in symptoms with nystatin use. Candida overgrowth has not been well-supported by scientific evidence, though that doesn't mean that it isn't valid. There's a great amount of anecdotal evidence among integrative practitioners, and ultimately, many people generally feel better after cutting out sugar and yeast-based foods. A Word From Verywell If you are experiencing symptoms of Candida overgrowth, it's important to talk with your doctor. Keep in mind that alternative medicine should not be used as a substitute for standard care in the treatment of any health condition. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Crook, WG. The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough. Jackson, Tenn., Professional Books, 1983. Dismukes WE, Wade JS, Lee JY, et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of Nystatin Therapy for the Candidiasis Hypersensitivity Syndrome. N Engl J Med. (1990) 323:1717-1723. Martin, Jeanne Marie and Rona, Zoltan P. The Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook. Rocklin, California:Prima Books, 1996. Santelmann H, Laerum E, Roennevig J, et al. Effectiveness of Nystatin in Polysymptomatic Patients. A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial With Nystatin Versus Placebo in General Practice. Fam Pract. (2001) 18:258–265.