On TikTok, women change their diet to solve candida overgrowth, all with different strictness and habits, with three nutritionists explaining Newsweek how to effectively tackle candida with a change in your diet.
Hundreds of videos circulate on TikTok of women undergoing candida treatment, which usually involves eating only whole foods, cutting out sugar, gluten and alcohol and adding so-called healthy foods like apple cider vinegar, bone broth and herbal teas.
“Candida overgrowth occurs when the fungus Candida albicansnormally present in the body, grows excessively,” said nutritionist Layla Gordon of Layla Gordon Nutrition Newsweek. “This can lead to symptoms such as vaginal yeast infections, thrush, rashes and digestive problems.”
Candida overgrowth can occur as a result of certain medications – especially antibiotics – that disrupt gut flora, a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates, high alcohol intake, a weakened immune system or stress, nutritionist Kirstie Lawton of You Nutrition told me. Newsweek.
Nutritionist Rakhi Lad from Healthology Hub also explained that “frequent use of antibiotics can destroy beneficial bacteria, allowing candida to take over.”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t take antibiotics, but it’s important to consider their impact on gut health,” Lad told me. Newsweekwho added that oral contraception could also promote candida overgrowth. “Research suggests that estrogen appears to enhance Candida’s ability to attach to cells and thrive.”
Candida is perhaps best known for being the yeast that causes thrush, and Gordon said it is most likely to affect women “due to hormonal changes, such as fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels, especially during pregnancy, the menopause and the menstrual cycle, which can create a favorable environment for candida growth.”
Lawton said symptoms of candida overgrowth often include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, cramps and itching.
For some, 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 pain.
The women on TikTok who follow a special multi-week diet to combat candida overgrowth all do slightly different things, but they all tend to focus on eating whole foods, cutting out ultra-processed foods, cutting out alcohol and minimizing sugars and carbohydrates. The nutritionists Newsweek spoke to largely agreed with this advice.
happy_lark/Getty Images
“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,” Lad said. “Refined sugars from foods such as cakes, pastries, sweets and soft drinks are quickly broken down 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 quickly convert to sugar .”
So, she said, it’s “essential” to focus on whole, unprocessed foods, non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats to support a healthy gut environment and starve candida of sugar.
Lawton said some people may want to consider supplementing with pre- and probiotics to stimulate the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and ‘push’ candida, suggesting that Bifidobacterium And Saccharomyces boulardii could be the trick.
“In more extreme cases, we can use antifungals such as caprylic acid and monolaurin from coconut, and other antimicrobials such as grapefruit extract, oregano oil, black walnut and allicin from garlic,” Lawton said.
However, Lad warned that this type of diet “is not a standalone solution for everyone”, adding: “there may be other factors to take into account” and “any specific dietary change should ideally be 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 nutritionist, and should only be done for a certain period of time, as the diet can lead to weight loss and weight loss. food exclusion.”
There was also a danger that some TikTok creators were going too far with their candida diets, the nutritionists said, especially those who claimed to cut out all sugar, carbs, dairy, gluten and caffeine.
“While it is true that refined sugars, simple carbohydrates and processed foods can stimulate candida growth, such extreme restrictions around all carbohydrates, gluten and dairy products may not be necessary or sustainable for everyone,” Lad said.
She said she preferred “a more moderate, balanced approach” that could still be effective. For example, complex carbohydrates found in whole grains and vegetables, and dairy products such as yogurt and kefir, can 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 “restricting food for too long can also cause food anxiety and weight loss,” so a sense of balance was necessary.
She recommended focusing on the beneficial, anti-candida foods a person might enjoy, such as eggs, red meat, beans, onions, garlic, coconut, olive oil, fish, lemons, limes, almonds, sunflowers, sesame and pumpkin seeds, and ginger.
“Everyone’s body is different, even if they have similar health problems or symptoms,” La said. “There is an art and science to understanding what drives someone’s health problems. Rarely is it just one thing, because we are such complex creatures. Working with a qualified professional, such as a registered nutritional therapist, can ensure that the diet is both effective and safe is.”
Do you have a tip about a food story that Newsweek should cover? Is there a nutritional problem you are concerned about? Let us know via science@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice and your story may be included Newsweek.