All about the Candida diet

Candida diet is a very special diet, which has been created to alleviate symptoms of the common fungal infection known as candida. Read on to know about the effectiveness of this diet in improving our health status.

There are various species of the fungus candida living in many areas of the human body like skin, toenails, mouth, digestive tract, vagina, and rectum. While in controlled numbers these species assist in digestion and absorption of nutrients but it’s over growth can lead to many complications.

There are 15 species of candida that can lead to an infection, symptoms of which include nausea, diarrhea, bloating, skin rash or eczema, urinary tract infection, mood swings, joint pain, and anxiety. These symptoms are also associated with many risk factors such as consuming too much alcohol and a diet high in sugars, increased stress, use of antibiotics or birth control pills, diabetes mellitus, weak immunity, and not using catheters properly. The candida diet claims to have found the treatment of all possible problems associated with this microorganism.

This diet encourages the consumption of low-sugar fruits, non-starchy vegetables, high-quality proteins, healthy fats, herbs and spices, certain dairy foods, nuts and seed that are low in the mold, non-caffeinated beverages, and other food products that are gluten-free.

It discourages the consumption of gluten, caffeine, sugar, alcohol, refined oils and fats, artificial sweeteners, sugary beverages, nuts and seeds high in mold, certain meats and dairy items, and use of harmful additives.

In short, this diet promotes consumption of wholesome foods that can reduce inflammation, benefit the gut, and reduces the risk of candida.

However, there are no studies to support its effectiveness. In fact, before even starting this diet you will have to follow a candida cleanse for just a few days that is believed to alleviate stress on gut and release toxins but without any backing from scientific data.

Possible benefits of this diet may include weight loss, reduced inflammation, and slightly improved gut and heart health, but all without any support from scientific evidence.

The possible downsides of the candida diet are also limited due to lack of evidence. However, the biggest negative of this diet is that it is a highly restrictive and strict diet. It is also difficult to plan a meal or eat out when following a candida diet.