by On TikTok, women are changing their diets to solve candida overgrowth, all with varying severity and habits, and three nutritionists explain to News Week how to effectively combat candida with a dietary change.
Hundreds of videos of women beating candida are circulating on TikTok, usually just about eating whole foods, cutting out sugar, gluten and alcohol, and subbing in so-called health foods like cider vinegar apple, bone broth and herbal teas.
“Candida overgrowth occurs when the fungus Candida albicansthat are normally present in the body, growing too much,” said nutritionist Layla Gordon, of Layla Gordon Nutrition, News Week. “This can lead to symptoms like vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, skin rashes, and digestive problems.”
Candida overgrowth can be caused by certain medications – especially antibiotics – that affect gut flora, a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, high alcohol intake, a weak immune system or stress, said nutritionist Kirstie Lawton, of You Nutrition. News Week.
Nutritional therapist Rakhi Lad, from the Health Hub, also explained that “frequent use of antibiotics can wipe out beneficial bacteria, allowing candida to take over.”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t take antibiotics, but it’s important to be aware of their impact on gut health,” Lad said. News Weekwho added that oral birth control may also encourage candida overgrowth. “Research suggests that estrogen appears to enhance candida’s ability to adhere to cells and thrive.”
Candida is likely the yeast that causes thrush, and Gordon said it’s more likely to affect women “because of hormonal changes, like fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels, especially during pregnancy, menopause, and cycles menstruation, can create a favorable environment for the growth of candida.”
Lawton said symptoms of candida overgrowth commonly include feeling bloated, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, cramps, and itchiness.
For some people, other symptoms may also be present, such as brain fog, difficulty concentrating, fungal infections elsewhere in the body, skin changes such as acne, inability to lose weight, fatigue, migraines and joint pains.
The women on TikTok who go on special diets for several weeks to combat candida overgrowth do things a little differently, but they all tend to focus on eating whole foods, cutting out ultra-processed foods, cutting out alcohol, and sugars and minimize carbohydrates. The nutritionists News Week Talk to most agree with this advice.
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“A candida-fighting diet involves cutting out foods that feed the yeast, such as refined sugars, simple carbohydrates, and alcohol, as these all provide the perfect environment for candida to thrive,” a Lad said. “Refined sugars from foods such as cakes, pastries, sweets, and soft drinks break down quickly into glucose, which feeds candida and encourages its growth. Simple carbohydrates such as white bread, white pasta, and white rice have a similar effect, as they are. quickly converted to sugar.”
So, she said, it’s “essential” to focus on whole, unprocessed foods, non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats to foster a healthy gut environment and starve candida of sugar.
Lawton said some people might want to consider supplementing with pre- and probiotics to encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and “nudge” candida out, suggesting that Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces boulardii could do the trick.
“In more extreme cases we may use antifungals such as caprylic acid and monolaurin from coconut, and other antimicrobials such as grapefruit extract, oil of oregano, black walnut, and allicin from garlic,” said Lawton.
However, Lad cautioned that this type of diet “wasn’t a stand-alone solution for everyone,” adding that “there may be other factors to consider” and that “ideally any specific changes to the diet should tailored to your individual needs.”
Gordon agreed, saying: “An anti-candida diet can be very effective, but it should only be used in conjunction with advice from a registered dietitian, and should only be done for a period of time particular, because the diet can lead to weight loss and diet.”
Also, there was a risk that some TikTok creators could take their candida diets too far, the nutritionists said, especially those who purport to exclude all sugar, carbs, dairy, gluten and caffeine.
“While it is true that refined sugars, simple carbs, and processed foods can encourage the growth of candida, such drastic restrictions across all carbohydrates, gluten, and dairy may not be necessary or sustainable for everyone,” a Lad said.
She said she would prefer a “more moderate and fair approach” that could still be effective. For example, complex carbohydrates in whole grains and vegetables, and in dairy products such as yogurt and kefir, may be beneficial for gut health.
“Additionally, strict elimination diets can be challenging to maintain and can lead to nutritional imbalances or even disordered eating patterns,” Lad said.
Gordon added that “we have to be realistic” and that “restriction for too long can also lead to food anxiety and weight loss” so a balance was needed.
She suggested focusing on the beneficial, anti-candida foods that one might enjoy, such as eggs, red meat, beans, onions, garlic, coconut, olive oil, fish, lemons, limes, almonds, sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds, and ginger.
“Everyone’s body is different, even if they have similar health issues or symptoms,” said La. “There’s an art and a science to understanding what’s causing a person’s health issues. It’s rarely just one thing, because we’re such complex beings. Working with a qualified professional, like a registered nutritional therapist, can ensure that the diet is effective and safe.”
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