For optimum reduction of Candida symptoms, it is advisable to avoid the following foods. Once laboratory tests give the all-clear certain foods from the restricted list can be incorporated back into daily eating.
Foods to Eliminate
1. All Types of Sugar
Brown, white, syrup, molasses, turbinado, demerrara, honey, corn syrup, maple syrup, maple sugar, date sugar, amisake, rice syrup, sorghum. This includes “hidden sugars” such as: sucrose, dextrose, maltose, lactose, glycogen, glucose, mannitol, sorbitol, galactose, monosaccharides, polysaccharides. Fruit sugars (fructose) also feed Candida, so avoid all frozen, canned, and dried fruit, and fruit juices. Alcoholic drinks like wine, beer, cider, whiskey, brandy, gin, scotch, any fermented liquor, vodka, rum, and all liqueurs.
2. All Yeast-Containing Foods
Baker’s yeast, Brewer’s yeast, Engevita, Torula, bakery products raised with yeast like breads, rolls, crackers, bagels, pastries, muffins, ready to eat cereals (excepting Shredded Wheat and Kashi), white flour or white flour foods like cakes, cookies, pasta. Vinegar is made using yeast culture. Vinegar-containing foods include: pickles, pickled foods, relishes, mayonnaise, salad dressing, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, mustard, horseradish, chili sauce, to name but a few.
3. Dairy Products
Dairy foods to be avoided typically include: cow’s milk, (whole, skim, 2% fat) and dry powdered milk. Dairy intake largely depends on the level of patient sensitivity to cow’s milk and cow’s milk products such as cheese, yogurt and butter.
4. Fungi and Mold-Containing Foods
Mushrooms, peanuts, peanut butter, pistachios, melons (eg. cantaloupe), mouldy and/or processed cheese like roquefort, stilton, blue cheeses, processed cheeses like cheese slices, Velveeta, cream cheese, cheese snacks.
5. Processed/Packaged Foods With Restricted Ingredients
Many processed, packaged, boxed, and bottled foods contain yeast, refined sugar, refined flour and/or other ingredients that encourage Candida. Examples include: sodas, potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, junk food.
