A comprehensive and printable list of foods to eat and avoid while following a candida diet.
I know first hand that there’s a whole LOT of conflicting information out there about what foods to eat and avoid while on a Candida Diet. On top of already feeling crappy and overwhelmed, it can be very confusing and frustrating. I was there too!
Not knowing where to turn
When I first suspected I had a candida overgrowth, I had now idea where to turn or who to trust and ended up trying just about everything. Oregano oil, drinking bentonite clay (yuck!), fasting, juice cleanses, papaya seed smoothies, colonics, coffee enemas…the list goes on and on. Meanwhile, my symptoms were not improving and food started to become the enemy. I remember seeing people out at restaurants, coffee shops and parties and wondering how they were able to just eat like a “normal person.” I felt so hopeless and it wasn’t until I met Naturopath Ann Boroch, that things started to shift.
Naturopath Ann Boroch
Ann Boroch was a naturopath who healed herself of Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) with a candida diet. After that she dedicated her life and career to helping others with auto immune diseases such as Candida, M.S., Lupus, and Crohn’s do the same for almost 20 years! As “luck” would have it, while in the thick of my health woes, I was hired by Ann as a personal chef to cook for her and her partner. We quickly became friends and she took me under her wing. Within the first month of starting her candida diet plan, I noticed improvements: less bloating, weight loss and more energy. After 90 days, I started feeling like myself again. And a year later, I was actually one of those people at restaurants, coffee shops and parties! With Ann’s guidance, I studied her dietary program inside and out. Ultimately, I wrote all of the recipes for her cookbook “The Candida Cure Cookbook.”
Over the past 7 years, I have used these principals to help my personal chef and coaching clients with Candida, Multiple Sclerosis, Hashimoto’s Disease, Chron’s Disease and more. I’ve created my own Cookbook Everyday Recipes for Your Candida Diet which is available in Digital and Paperback and recently launched an online candida diet cooking course, Cooking for Candida. I truly hope these contributions help make adopting a candida diet easy and delicious!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COURSE HERE
RELATED POSTS:
Candida Diet Cookbook
One Week Candida Diet Meal Plan
Candida Diet Cooking Course
What is Candida
Candida Diet Supplements
Candida Diet Pantry Items
Foods to Eat and Avoid
Foods to Eat + Avoid While on a Candida Diet
Foods to Eat
BEANS & LEGUMES TO EAT
(Enjoy only 1 – 2 times per week, or avoid until after 30 days)
Adzuki beans
Black beans
Fava Beans
Pinto Beans
Lentils
Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas)
Kidney Beans
Navy Beans
Mung Beans
White Beans
Lima Beans
CONDIMENTS TO EAT
Mustard
Brown rice vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
Umeboshi vinegar
Coconut aminos
Guacamole
Homemade salsa
Homemade Mayonnaise
DAIRY PRODUCTS TO EAT
Unsalted grass-fed butter
Unsweetened non-dairy milk (almond, coconut, hempseed)
Ghee
DRINKS AND MISCELLANEOUS TO EAT AND DRINK
Mineral Water
Teas (green and herbal)
Gum/mints (xylitol based)
FRUITS TO EAT
Green apples
Lemons/limes
Strawberries
Avocados
Coconut (fresh, or unsweetened shredded)
Strawberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Raspberries
Grapefruit
Cranberries (fresh, unsweetened)
GRAINS & FLOURS TO EAT
Amaranth
Arrowroot
Brown rice/flour
Buckwheat/flour
Cassava flour
Coconut flour
Kuzu or Kudzu root
Millet
Tapioca
Teff/flour
Tigernut/flour
Quinoa/flour
MEAT, POULTRY & FISH TO EAT
(free range, hormone free, antibiotic free, grass-fed)
Beef or bison
Chicken
Cod
Eggs
Lamb
Mahi Mahi
Salmon
Shellfish
Turkey
NUTS & SEEDS TO EAT
Almonds
Brazil nuts
Chestnuts
Chia seeds
Flax seeds
Hazelnuts
Hemp seeds
Macadamia nuts
Pecans
Pine nuts
Pumpkin seeds
Sesame seeds
Walnuts
OILS TO EAT
Almond
Avocado
Coconut
Flax seed (no heat)
Grapeseed
Hemp seed (no heat)
Olive
Safflower
Sesame (no heat)
Sunflower
ORGANIC VEGETABLES TO EAT
Artichoke
Asparagus
Bamboo shoot
Beets
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower Celery
Chives
Collard greens
Cucumbers
Dandelion
Daikon
Endive
Fennel
Garlic
Kale
Kelp
Leeks
Lettuces
Mustard greens
Ocean vegetables
Okra
Olives
Onion
Parsley
Parsnip
Pumpkin
Radish
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Jicama
Spinach
Squash (all)
Zucchini
Yams
Watercress
Water chestnuts
Turnips
Swiss chard
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes*
Eggplant*
Peppers*
*Eat in moderation or avoid completely if you have arthritis or experience achy joints.
SWEETENERS TO EAT
Pure stevia (liquid/powder form)
Xylitol (birch source)
Luo han (fruit extract)
Chicory root
ENJOY AFTER 60 DAYS
cacao nibs and cacao paste (unsweetened)
Cacao and Cacao powder (unsweetened)
Gluten free oats and flour
ENJOY AFTER 90 DAYS
Goat’s milk and cheese (raw)*
Sheep’s milk and cheese (raw)*
*Pregnant or nursing women should not eat raw dairy products
Apricots
Bananas
Cherries
Guava
Tangerines
Mango
Oranges
Papayas
Peaches
Pears
Persimmon
Pineapple
Plum
Pomegranate
Prunes
Kiwi
Melons
Pistachios
Cashews
Peas/Green beans
Fermented foods:
(Kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, yogurt, nutritional yeast, cultured vegetables)
Foods to Avoid
BEANS TO AVOID
Tempeh
Tofu
Soybeans/soy products
CONDIMENTS TO AVOID
Gravy
Relish
Mayonnaise (store bought)
Ketchup (store bought)
Salad dressing (store bought)
Pickles
Jams/jellies
Balsamic vinegar
Red wine vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Vinegars (except raw apple cider vinegar and brown rice vinegar)
Soy sauce, ponzu and tamari
Sauces and vinegars with sugar
Spices that contain yeast, sugar or additives
Mustard (unless made with apple cider vinegar)
DAIRY TO AVOID
Keifer
Ice cream
Margarine
Yogurt
Buttermilk
Cheese
Sour cream
Cow’s milk
FRUITS TO AVOID
Dates
Dried fruit
Raisins
Fruit juice
GRAINS TO AVOID
Barley
White flours
White rice
Whole wheat/flour
Rye
Farro
Kamut
Spelt
Corn
Pasta (except gluten and corn free)
Pastries
Breads (except gluten, dairy, yeast and sugar free)
Cereals (except gluten, dairy and sugar free)
Crackers (except gluten, dairy, yeast and sugar free)
MEAT, POULTRY & FISH TO AVOID
Tuna
Hotdogs
Pork
Sausages
Bacon (except turkey)
Processed and packaged meats
NUTS TO AVOID
Peanuts/peanut butter
OILS TO AVOID
Canola
Corn
Cottonseed
Peanut
Soybean
Processed oils and partially hydrogenated and hydrogenated
SWEETENERS TO AVOID
Agave nectar
Aspartame (Nutra sweet)
Barley malt
Brown sugar
Brown rice syrup
Cane sugar/juice (all)
Coconut sugar/nectar
Corn syrup
Erythritol (Truvia, Nectresse, Swerve)
Fructose
Honey
Saccharin
Maple syrup
White sugar
Yacon syrup
VEGETABLES TO AVOID
Corn
Mushrooms
Potatoes
MISCELLANEOUS TO AVOID
Alcohol
Candy/chocolates
Fast food
Fried food
Gelatin/Jell-O
Gluten
Soda
Want a printable version of this? Click the Picture below:
How come Barley is on both the grains to eat and to avoid?
That was an error on our part. Barley should be avoided since it is a grain that contains gluten. Thank you for the heads up! We have corrected the error! 🙂
Hi there! Barley is still listed as a grain to eat both on the page and the printable.
Updated! Thank you 🙂 Those first few months of motherhood really had me in a fog, lol.
What about eggs? They are not on either list…
Eggs are a definite YES, and are more easily absorbed when softly cooked. Meaning a runny yolk!
Thank you so much I’ve successfully over come with this diet systemic candida (2 years)
Eggs are listed under Meat/ Poultry
Eggs give me a lot of problems.
Thank you for sharing. It’s always interesting to see how what works for some, doesn’t work for others. If you do try incorporating eggs again in the future, be sure to get organic, pasture raised, soy-free diet eggs, that might help!
Just wondering why keifer should be avoided? I have read on other sites that it contains good probiotics that help fight candida.
Although keifer contains probiotics, it’s best to avoid all dairy at first since it breaks down as a sugar. Instead, you can find good quality probiotics in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods, Sprouts or another specialty grocery store. That being said, what works for one person can be different for someone else. You may find that dairy (or keifer) doesn’t bother you. I’d still suggest avoiding for at least 30 days so you have more of a clean slate! Does that make sense?
What about water keifer????
Plain water keifer (not coconut water) with no added sugar should be fine.
So late to this but I’m currently on the week 2. I did find a sugar free coconut water kefir – but you said not coconut water? Other pages have said it helps. Can you explain? Thanks!
Hi Kristin, congrats on making it to week 2! I’ll answer your question in two parts. Although there may be no added sugar to coconut water, if you take a look at the total sugar content you’ll see that coconut water is high in natural sugar. Now in a kefir that may be a lot lower, but it is also recommended to avoid fermented foods while starting a candida diet as it can further irritate your gut. Once you have the bad bacteria under control, then you can start to reintroduce fermented foods back in. That being said, you could… Read more »
You can get probiotics from almond / coconut yogurt too
Fermented foods are high in histamine aka inflammation. My GI Doc recommended to stay away from
Not everyone reacts to histamines
Hi thanks for this great list. I’m always reading fermented foods are really great for the gut like kimche, miso soup, kombucha and sauerkraut. You have listed all these as being bad for candida though. Why are these foods good for the gut and the brain/gut link which has been proven to affect mental health but not good for candida?
I totally understand your question and why this is confusing. Many people will tell you to add in lots of fermented foods to help with a Candida problem. And if the gut is already in a healthy, balanced place then fermented foods are indeed good. But when there is a candida overgrowth, the bad bacteria have outnumbered the good and the yeast and sugars in things like kombucha can actually fuel the problem. So in the beginning months it’s best to stay away from them and wait until your get is more balanced before adding them back in (slowly) and… Read more »
What about a vegan/vegetarian. What do we eat? I dont do not eat meat, eggs or fish. We get our protein from lentils, legumes, beans, tempeh, tofu – ancient history with lentils, legumes, mung beans that give us our protein. So I am curious as to what I can eat since everything is crossed off the list.
Thanks
Sunita Patel
Hi Sunita,
I ran into the same exact issue when i was struggling with Candida. I had been a strict vegan for almost 8 years. Unfortunately, I ended up having to incorporate animal protein to finally feel better. Beens and legumes are just too starchy at first and soy should be avoided. I’ve yet to meet someone who has successfully corrected a candida overgrowth on a vegan/vegetarian diet. How bad are your symptoms? If not too bad, perhaps you could incorporate small amounts of lentils a couple times per week in combination with nuts and seeds?
Water lentils! Just discovered them!
I’ve been making my own ‘hefu’, tofu made with hemp seeds. Blend hemp seeds to make a thick milk, strain to remove pulp then heat milk till it curdles. Let it cool then strain/squeeze the liquid out through muslin/cheese cloth or a new stocking sock.
Wow, very cool. What a creative idea!!
Mushrooms! Shiitake, lions mane and maitake from organic sources.
I can see that she have listed them on “bad” food, but the is no scientific source for this..
I’m just curious why cassava flour and other starchy flours are on the list of acceptable foods? I’ve done the candida diet a few times, and was never allowed to eat anything high in starches or carbohydrates, whereas many of the “allowed” foods on this list are high in both. Just curious as to the reasoning or science behind this. I’d love to be able to use cassava, tapioca, and arrowroot in my baking again – but have been avoiding it for these reasons!! Thanks
Hi Rejan, I follow Ann Boroch’s protocol for healing Candida, which allows for small amounts of starchy vegetables and gluten free grains. I used this myself with success, and have facilitated candida cleanses for many clients over the years. I know Ann’s guidelines are not as strict as some others, she liked the idea of a little more flexibility so that people can stick to the “diet” as long as possible. However, everyone is different and it’s always best to keep checking in as to how you’re feeling as you go! Hope this helps 🙂
2 years ago, I did a 6 month cleanse with eating organic meat, eggs, broccoli, spinach. Very little variety but since I work keeping it simple was way to go. I added yeast cleanse + Pau d’Arco tea. Within 6 weeks the turnaround was amazing and dropped 26 pounds which was not my goal but felt better than I had in over a decade. Continued with staying kinda on this food program & recently had a life change. Now I’m gaining 4-6 oz per day for 2 weeks. Is it possible the stress of the 2 month crisis could have… Read more »
Yes, stress kills good bacteria in the gut and weakens the body in general. I think it is totally possible that the stress of a big life change could disrupt the balance in your gut. The good thing is you know what to do to get yourself back on track!
What about coffee and teas
It’s recommended to avoid caffeine during the first 90 days. But herbal teas are just fine.
Thank you so much for compiling this list! Can you tell me why erythritol should be avoided in your opinion? I’ve seen a lot of Candida lists that include erythritol as an acceptable sweetener. Thank you for your time in advance!
Hi! Erythritol is typically made from corn, which is why it’s on the avoid list. Xylitol (specifically Xyla Brand) is derived from Birch Wood. Hope this helps! 🙂
Can sweet Apricot kernels/seeds be eaten before 90 days?
That’s a good question. I have actually never heard of sweet apricot kernels/seeds before. If they truly are a seed though, they should be fine.
I recently did the whole 30 pretty lazily, but long enough to realize my IBS was an issue on the protocol and had to research low FODMAP diet which is very complicating in itself due to all of the different variations people have left information about it. Needless to say I’m confused about a lot of the things I am able to tolerate being IBS-C along with candida overgrowth. any suggestions?
It can get really overwhelming, especially when you start trying to overlap diets. If it was me, I’d start with a candida diet since that will deal with healing the gut and usually all other symptoms start to improve once gut health improves. Does that make sense?
Hi can i eat papaya
Papaya should be avoided for the first 90 days. After that I’d start incorporating it in small amounts and see how you feel. Hope this helps!
Can you eat tapioca starch in products during the cleanse?
Yes, tapioca should be fine 🙂
Thank you for all of the helpful information. I really appreciate it!
How long should I do the Candida diet for?
It’s recommended to give it at least 3 solid months, but depending on how severe your symptoms are it could take longer to see improvement. For me, I started to feel better after the first month of strict diet with specific supplements recommended by my naturopath, but didn’t feel back to myself for about 1 year. After that you’ll want to monitor your sugar/alcohol/processed food intake for life, otherwise you’re likely to find yourself back in the same place. Hope this helps!
What supplements were recommended for you?
Hi Stephanie,
Below is a link to some supplements and detoxing supplies that we suggest:
https://naturaltastychef.com/candida/candida-supplements/
Hope this helps!
what is the best to get off candida diet? I have followed strict diet of non-starchy vegetables for 8 months now and would like to get back to eating more variety. What is the best way?
Hi Maria,
It sounds like you can totally start opening up your diet. You could start by incorporating more starchy veggies into your diet several times a week (sweet potatoes, butternut squash, yams etc.) You could also add things in like cashews, pistachios and even bananas and see how you feel. Have you been eating gluten free grains? If not, try some good gluten-free grains like quinoa, brown rice or gluten-free oats and see how you feel. Hope this helps!
Thank you Alison! I have basically eaten eggs, soups, seafood or chicken with quinoa, buckwheat or millet. what about potatoes? Can they be added? Can some cheese/yogurt/bread/bakery be added sometimes at some point? What about alcohol?
Hi Maria, How are your symptoms? If you’re feeling significantly better you could totally add in potatoes, I’d start slow, and see how you feel. As far as cheese goes, it’s suggested to stick to small amounts of goat cheese and sheep cheese. Yogurts are usually high in sugar, but you could try some goats or sheep’s milk yogurt as well. For bread products, I always like to homemade, that way you can control the quality. If you are going to start incorporating sweeteners outside of xylitol and stevia, I’d still stick to more natural sweeteners like coconut or maple… Read more »
Thank you so much, so very helpful! I intend on buying your cookbook 🙂 Just 1 more question – what about pasta or rice? I heard gin and tonic are good options as well, do you agree?
Trader joes sells really good brown rice and quinoa pasta. And I’d suggest starting with brown rice, wild rice or forbidden rice. And yes, gin and tonic is also a good option too!! 🙂
Where can I buy your book?
Currently it’s a digital download that can be saved to your cell phone, computer, ipad, etc. Here’s the link:
https://naturaltastychef.mykajabi.com/store/5eYUShiu
Hi
Is Lobster allowed ? Also what is best to use for salad dressing? Thank you
Hi! Yes, Lobster is allowed. For salad dressing I like using a combination of olive or avocado oil and apple cider vinegar with a pinch of sea salt. Here are some links to other salad dressing ideas that fit the diet. Hope this helps 🙂
https://naturaltastychef.com/dairy-free-caesar-salad/
https://naturaltastychef.com/vegan-hemp-seed-ranch-dressing/
https://naturaltastychef.com/5-healthy-homemade-salad-dressings/
Hi there! Thanks so much for the list! I was wondering if cream of tarter is okay? And also do you have any certain supplements you’d recommend taking during this diet? Thanks!
-Amber
Hi Amber,
That’s a good question, I’d suggest staying away from Cream of Tartar for at least the first 30 days. Depending on what you are using it for, you could probably substitute it with fresh lemon juice, 2 teaspoons lemon juice for every 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar called for.
Below is a link to some supplements and detoxing supplies that we suggest:
https://naturaltastychef.com/candida/candida-supplements/
Hope this helps!
Is it possible to get amounts of the different food groups that are ok to eat per day?
Hi Melodie, Here are some general rules of thumb. Stick to no more than 1/2 cup berries per day. Beans and grains should enjoyed only a couple of times per week. And xylitol should also be limited to about 2 – 3 Tablespoons per day. Other than that, eat so that you are satisfied. It really depends on how active you are, your gender, height and weight. Usually people who follow a strict candida diet tend to lose weight. So if you are loosing too much weight, focus on healthy fats, nuts and seeds and protein. If you’re still trying… Read more »
4 weeks in, BUT Ive been using unsweetened cocoa/cacao powder quite a bit. Do I need to start over?
Hi Danae,
How are you feeling 4 weeks in? If you feel like symptoms are improving there is no need to start over. The reason it’s suggested to avoid cacao initially is because it is thought to be irritating to the gut, but if you are seeing improvement then keep doing what you’re doing!
Also, is almond flour okay? Is bacon on the avoid list bc pigs are fed corn? What about grass fed?
Almond flour and almond meal are both ok on a candida diet. It’s suggested to avoid pork because it contains a retrovirus which can withstand extreme heat and cooking. This can get in the way of the cleansing process.
What about oats?
It’s wonderful to hear that you’ve had success with the diet! 🙂 As far as oats, it’s suggested to wait about 2 months (or 60 days) before introducing oats. Hope this helps!
Since I’m healing systemic candida (blood candida) should I avoid using too much xylitol ?(how much ) It’s been helping curb my need for sugar since I can’t eat any of the fruits suggested without breaking out into a candida rash
Yes, this is a great question. Ann would recommend limiting xylitol to no more than 1 – 2 Tablespoons (3 – 6 teaspoons) per day. I’d play around with it and see what your personal limit is. I hope this helps. 🙂
Ok thank you. Can I drink zevia? ( how much )
And do I need to limit stevia intake ?
Zevia looks totally fine! I’d make sure you aren’t replacing it for filtered drinking water though. In other words, make sure you’re still drinking enough water 🙂 And you shouldn’t have to worry about stevia, just make sure it’s a good quality, pure brand that isn’t cut with corn.
I just ADORE you !!!!!!! Thank you for healing all these people!!! you beautiful soul ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Aww, I really appreciate that! Thank you. xo
https://www.herballegacy.com/Candida.html
I’m having much success with this healing plan created by doctor Christopher for leaky gut & candida. Thought you may like to spread the word for those who have systemic! I got my body back in 3 days
That’s wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
What about locust bean gum ? Is it an actual sugar or what is it
That’s a good question. I’m not very familiar with locust bean gum, but it looks like it is extracted from seeds of the carob tree (it’s also referred to as carob bean gum) and carob on it’s own does not contain sugar. So to answer your question, it should be sugar free. 🙂
Hi Melhoven,
Did you make the concoctions yourself? Or did you purchase supplements from Doctor Christopher?
Can we use cashew milk in the beginning stages?
Hi Sam,
It’s recommended to hold off on cashews for the first 90 days. I’d stick with unsweetened almond, hemp, coconut or flaxseed milk at first. Hope this helps!
Is almond flour ok ?
Yes!!
What about tigernut milk?
Yes, Tigernuts, Tigernut flour and Tigernut milk is all great!!
Hello , when can you reintroduce rice, potatoes, or Alcohol into your system ? After 90 days or longer
Hi, if after 90 days you are starting to feel better, you could try slowly introducing white rice, white potatoes and alcohol back in and see how you feel. I’d stick to one thing at a time and in moderation. As far as alcohol, a good place to start would be a good quality vodka that is made from potatoes (instead of grain based which may contain gluten) with sparkling water and lime juice. Hope this helps!
Can I eat cheap sardines or does it have to be expensive?
That’s a good question. Sardines are great for this diet, but make sure that they are in either water or olive oil and not stored in canola oil. Hope this helps!
Thank you
Ann has said that fresh carrot juice is not allowed on the candida diet due to the high sugar content. However I’ve read that it’s very beneficial as an antifungal and many are healing cancer with it. . What are your thoughts on this? Thank you!
Hi Patricia,
I also remember Ann recommending avoiding carrot juice due to sugar, which does make sense. I think that it makes sense in the first 90 days of the cleanse to steer clear. But once the gut has had time to heal and candida is more manageable introducing carrot juice in moderation for its health benefits should be okay. I’d say the key word is moderation. At that point you should be able to tell pretty clearly how your body is reacting to it. Hope this helps!
Thanks for your response. I’m not sure I agree since it is not used in moderation when curing cancer, but, of course, each of us has to figure out our own journey. I appreciate your thoughts and your work!
Is pumpkin, casava flour and erythritol, Candida approved? And is there a Candida Recipe Group on Facebook?
And pumpkin and cassava are both approved in moderation. I do not have a facebook recipe group yet, but am working on it 🙂
Oops, I just saw that erythritol is to be avoided ~ Why is that, please? tnx
Hi Lori, Great question. Erythritol is generally made from corn, which should be avoided on a candida diet. Good quality xylitol is sourced from birch, which is what you should look for. Some, cheaper, brands are made from corn. I highly recommend Xyla, but it should say where it is sourced from on the package. Hope this helps!
Thank you for this guide! Why avoid fried foods?
That’s a great question. Avoid fried foods that you get at fast food places or restaurants. Homemade fried foods, with good quality oils like coconut or avocado, are ok.
Alison, thanks again! What about sunflower seeds? Can I eat them? Usually, I sprout them but sometimes eat raw.
Hi Alex,
Sunflower seeds are great. In fact, all seeds are ok to incorporate. Sprouting is wonderful if you have the time, but raw is good too!
Hi,
How do you think about herbs? Are there Herbs on the list to avoid?
Thanks
Great question, I don’t know of any herbs that should be avoided, but including herbs in your everyday cooking such as oregano, rosemary, sage, mint and clove (to name a few) will be beneficial. 🙂
Antigeen question, what About guar gum?
Hi, guar gum should be okay. And recipes that generally call for it, so so in very small amounts. More recently, I’ve read studies showing that it’s actually thought to contain pre-biotic properties as well as anti-inflammatory properties in the gut.
Alison, I have another question. I noticed some of the drugs I take “contains soy ingredients”. Does this mean I need to stop taking them and start over the candida diet (I’m 21 days in at the moment and I don’t see any improvements yet)?
Hi Alex, that’s a tough question. I’m not sure how many medications you are taking that contain soy. I wouldn’t think it would be enough soy that you’d have to start over per say, but it could be possible that what you’re taking is interfering with your candida cleanse. Are you working with a naturopath or physician that could give you more guidance on this? Hang in there.
Is it okay to eat chickpeas or hummus during the candida diet?
Thanks.
Hi Chanell, Yes, chickpeas and hummus are ok during a candida diet. They are on the starchy side so it’s recommended to limit beans to 1 – 2 times per week, or avoid them completely for the first 30 days. Hope this helps!
Thanks Alison.
Also how often can I eat buckwheat or brown rice? Since carbs are quite restricted I find myself hungry sometimes.
Hi! A couple times per week should be fine, and you may even be able to tolerate more. If you’re still finding yourself very hungry, pay attention to healthy fats and protein. And also chew your food very well. 🙂
Hello, I’m grateful for this post. Can you tell me if Monkfruit sweetener is ok to eat on this diet? Also, is Yuca ok to eat on this diet?
Hi Jessica,
Thanks so much 🙂 Yes, pure Monk fruit (aka luohan) sweetener is ok on the candida diet, just make sure it’s pure and not cut with anything. Certain brands like to cut it with erythritol which is made from corn and should be avoided. Here is an example of a brand which is pure: Julian Bakery Pure Monk.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s very overwhelming researching how to do the Candida diet properly. My first time I did the Body ecology diet that I found extremely restrictive especially adding in the food combining principles.
Hi Celia,
I also started with the Body Ecology Diet and found it overwhelming as well. That and my body didn’t do well with all the fermented foods at first.
Thanks Alison, yes it was very overwhelming, although I avoided the fermented foods as my dietician had recommended to as my gut wasn’t ready for them, and it still is not as yet.
This time I want to be less restrictive so I can succeed. I have been spending hours and hours researching in a hope to get it right. I have 3 queries regarding your recommendations.
This was a big part of Ann Boroch’s philosophy…make it so that people will be able to stick to it! I think it is a great approach 🙂
1. Starchy veggies: pumpkin, sweet potato, all squashes… would you recommend these in moderation? Could you please provide an example of how much per serve and per week? As most people recommend avoiding these all together..
Yes, pumpkin, sweet potato and squash in moderation. I can give you a starting point and then you can do a little detective work to see how you feel and how your body responds. You could try starting with 1 cup total 2 – 3 times per week and see how that feels. That could look something like 1/2 cup butternut squash soup and 1/2 cup sweet potato fries one day. A baked sweet potato another day. And 2 pumpkin cookies and roasted squash on a different day. Does that make sense? Everyone’s body is so different (size, weight, activity… Read more »
Awesome, thanks so much.. I’ll pick some up this week to experiment with 🙂
2. Gelatin: I have recently been experimenting with some recipes with beef gelatin with the belief it is great for gut healing. Why do you recommend avoiding it?
I agree with you and think that what Ann really meant was poor quality gelatin/Jello type desserts.
3. Erythritol: two of my resources have said that yes this is made from non gmo corn, but that it is safe to use on the Candida diet as your body does not digest this particular sugar alcohol.. that it excretes about 90%
Okay, so Ann recommending staying away because of the corn source (even though you are right most of it just passes through). For me, I stayed away from it for the first 3 months. Now I also use Lakanto brand occasionally and really like it. I don’t notice any adverse affects for me. I think again it goes back to moderation and how your body is responding. I hope this helps! 🙂
of it and the remaining 10% that remains in your system turns into harmless gases and short chain fatty acids in your large intestine.
I only ask because I have purchased lakanto and stevia that both have erythritol in them and I’ve been experimenting with different recipes to give myself more variety
Sorry for the long post, and thank you for this site.
I hope these answers helped!?
Yes they did ? thank you so much for your time and help Alison, I really appreciate it
Hello Alison,
I have candida but I also have leaky gut. I heard that L-glutamine helps with leaky gut so I would like to ask you if it’s okay to be taking L-glutamine at the same time I’m doing the candida diet?
Thanks!
Yes, often times the two go hand-in-hand. Taking L-glutamine in addition to following a candida diet is great!
Thanks, I will do that.
I read that cacao is okay after 90 days. I love chocolate and wondering if it would be okay to have sugar free cocoa powder after the 90 days? I know there is a difference between cacao and cocoa but cacao is harder to find.
Ann would suggest waiting 60 days and then you can incorporate cocoa/cacao. She used to say that cacao could be irritating to the gut, which is why she suggested holding off. So after the first couple of months, yes, unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder should be fine. As well as cacao nibs and my personal favorite cacao paste. I love shaving cacao paste and adding it to cookies and scones for a crunchy, chocolate texture.
Hi Alison,
I bought some xilitol and on the package it says that it comes from North American hardwood trees. In the notes it says it should be birch source. I’m wondering if this is the same or not and if it’s okay to consume.
Thanks.
Yes, that’s exactly what you want. Birch sourced xylitol. Other, cheaper sources are corn sourced, which you should try to avoid.
Thanks for the reply!
Is it okay to eat popcorn?
Corn and popcorn should be avoided while on the candida diet.
Can you have unsweetened oat milk on Candida cleanse?
Hi Aggie,
The protocol that I followed recommending waiting 60 before incorporating gluten free oats. After that, unsweetened oat milk should be fine.
been 4 weeks since this diet & I constantly check this blog to make sure I’m avoiding/eating the foods. I am so glad to find this helpful blog. Lost 5 lbs. that wasn’t my goal, but my symptoms are going away & I feel so much better already
Hi Ana, I’m so happy you are finding the information helpful and more importantly that you are starting to feel better! Yay 🙂
Hi Alison, This list is extremely helpful and one of the only list that I’ve seen says that you can incorporate strawberries as well as other berries and fruits. I’m wondering why this is? I am read that these are high in sugar which candida feeds of
Hi Ella, I’m glad you are finding the list helpful. When starting a candida diet, fresh berries should be fine in moderation (about 1/2 cup per day). Berries are low in sugar compared to other fruits and also provide other health benefits like being high in fiber and antioxidants while also thought to have benefits to the gut. Another reason it can be helpful to add fresh berries in moderation is it can help you to stick to the diet if that makes sense. Being too restrictive can cause people to binge on less ideal food or abandon the diet… Read more »
I’m about to embark on a candida diet and I’m sifting through loads of info (some conflicting). This site seems to make a lot of sense. One book I have uses psyllium seed husks, as well as carob pwd (also says no cocoa pwd like you). Thoughts?
Hi Nancy, There is definitely conflicting info out there, I’d suggest sticking to what feels intuitively right for you and your body. I believe that I also used psyllium husk seeds in the beginning phases of the candida diet as well. They can be helpful if you have a parasite problem (which also tends to go hand and hand with candida). As far as carob, if you decide to include it make sure it is unsweetened and think of it as a legume. So only include it 1 – 2 times per week to start, or avoid for the first… Read more »
Thank you for your quick reply!! I think this website will be my go to place. 😉
You are very welcome! I hope you start feeling better soon.😊