So you’ve recently learned that candida can cause all sorts of health problems. After conducting a little research you decide to try a candida cleanse detox. A few days later, you decide to quit. You didn’t see the results you had hoped for, and the protocol was too complex.
Cleansing is all the rage right now. The more we learn about the newest toxin in our food or water, the more we look for a cleanse that removes the offender. Candida is a naturally growing yeast that lives in your mouth and intestines. It usually helps with digestion and nutrient absorption. When there’s an imbalance, however, systems can go awry. A common question people may ask, “Is Candida a sexually transmitted disease?” While Candida itself is not classified as an STI, it can spread through intimate contact, especially in cases of yeast infections.
In this article, I want to break down how to do a candida cleanse effectively. That way, you can feel confident knowing your microbiome is finally restored. My physician-formulated guidelines also reduce your risk for recurrence. Let’s begin with the approach.
How to Approach a Candida Cleanse
The best way to look at a candida cleanse detox is through a multi-step approach. This eliminates the guesswork and allows for a less stressful experience.
Step 1: Identify the Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth
The first step is to understand whether you have candida or something else. Candida can affect every aspect of your health. The most common signs of candida overgrowth include:
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Brain fog
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Difficulty concentrating or remembering
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Irritability
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ADHD/ADD
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Mood swings
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Chronic fatigue
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Fibromyalgia
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Skin issues such as psoriasis, eczema, rashes, or dandruff
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Nail bed infections such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, and toenail fungus
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Intense sugar or carb cravings
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Autoimmune conditions due to inflammation
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Leaky gut
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Bloating
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Constipation
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Diarrhea
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Vaginal yeast infections
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UTIs
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Severe seasonal allergy symptoms
Candida is one of the biggest culprits behind chronic conditions. It can even influence your risk for autoimmune diseases. That said, it’s important to make sure you have an accurate diagnosis. This prevents you from wasting time doing a candida cleanse detox instead of focusing on another issue.
Once you’re certain you’re dealing with candida, it’s time to learn how to do a candida cleanse. The next step is to take inventory of your diet.
Step 2: Remove Foods That Feed Candida
Your diet plays such an important role in your health. It’s not just what you eat, but what you digest and absorb. Candida feeds off sugar and can stick to the intestinal walls. This prevents your body from getting the nutrients it needs. In fact, those deficient in key micronutrients such as selenium are at higher risk for candida overgrowth (1). Over time, all the symptoms of candida begin to emerge.
If you’re looking for how to get rid of Candida naturally, focusing on a diet that promotes a healthy inflammatory response is key. To successfully do a candida cleanse detox, you have to stave the candida. Get rid of all sugary foods. This includes refined carbohydrates and alcohol. Alcohols such as beer and wine undergo a fermentation process and usually contain a lot of sugars. Stay away from dairy and gluten as well. Both of these contain proteins that trigger gut and immune irritation. Lastly, stay away from starchy vegetables such as peas, corn, potatoes, and squash.
This might take some getting used to, so don’t be too surprised if you have a few rough days at the beginning. Many people experience candida die-off symptoms during this phase. These symptoms can include nausea, headaches, and fatigue.
This is where adding a binder can help. Charcoal Binder Complete uses a potent blend of activated charcoal with other botanicals to grab toxins and safely get them out. In addition to charcoal, this formula features zeolite and shilajit. These two minerals use their cage-like structures to trap and escort toxins from the body. It also contains cracked cell chlorella, a powerful detoxifying algae (2).
Step 3: Support Detox Pathways
The third step of a candida cleanse detox is to support your detox pathways. Your gut is one pathway, which we covered in step two. The other pathways include your skin, lungs, and liver.
When you sweat, your pores open up to release heat. This helps your body cool down. In addition to this, sweating also helps your body flush out toxins. Exercising is one way to get a good sweat in. I also enjoy sitting in my infrared sauna to sweat the day’s worries away. Be sure to stay well-hydrated when you sweat. Electrolytes or herbal teas can replenish nutrients and prevent dehydration.
Another way to support your detox pathways is to get enough sleep. Your body does so much repairing during the night hours. It’s when your brain processes and stores information, It also flushes out toxins via the glymphatic system (3). Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
Keeping stress levels in check can also help lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is your “fight or flight” stress hormone. We live in a stressful world, which has us in survival mode more often than we realize. Journaling, nature walks, prayer, and spending time with loved ones can help ease feelings of stress. Taking time for self care can also help tremendously. I like to soak in a bath with Epsom salts while listening to soothing music. For more ways on how to reduce stress, tune in to this podcast episode. In it, Frank Lipman and I discuss ways to enjoy longevity and a more vibrant life.
Lifestyle Changes to Maximize the Benefits of Your Candida Cleanse
Once you begin implementing the candida cleanse detox, it’s time to broaden our horizons. What I mean is that it’s not enough to just change the menu board in your kitchen. Along with diet and lifestyle changes, it’s crucial to add herbs and supplements designed to kick candida to the curb.
Gut-Healing Diet
Focus on nutrient-dense whole foods that promote a healthy inflammatory response
Include non-starchy vegetables, healthy fats, and high-quality proteins.
During the second step of the candida cleanse detox, you learned about all the candida foods to avoid. This makes sense, since sugary fermented foods can make chronic candida worse.
As you remove triggering foods, be sure to opt for foods that won’t fuel the candida fire. These foods are going to be very nutrient dense. Did I mention they’re also delicious? There are also so many fun ways to prepare these foods, as you’ll learn about in my Candida Support Protocol.
Some of the best anti-candida foods include garlic, onion, and cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are some of my favorites. Also, eat lots of leafy greens, asparagus, beets, and mushrooms. Mushrooms provide excellent immune support, as we discuss in this podcast episode with Dr. Robert Rountree.
Last but certainly not least, it’s important to fuel cellular regeneration with quality protein. My Paleo Protein powders feature the cleanest source of collagen peptides for optimal cellular function.
Incorporate Natural Antifungals
Eating the right foods is foundational. Another part of a successful candida cleanse detox is adding natural antifungals to the mix. These herbs and botanicals contain powerful compounds that destroy candida in its tracks.
Coconut oil contains caprylic acid and is one of the strongest candida killers out there. These medium chain fatty acids actively bust up candida cells, preventing them from spreading (4). Garlic contains a compound called allicin. This sulfur-containing compound protects your gut lining from candida biofilms (5).
Ginger and apple cider vinegar are also potent antifungals. Ginger contains gingerol, a compound studied for its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Although apple cider vinegar is a fermented liquid, it has impressive candida-fighting qualities.
It’s also important to add enzymes when doing a candida cleanse detox. I formulated Candifense® with six vegetarian-based enzymes that help break down candida cell walls without harming beneficial bacteria.
Restore Beneficial Gut Bacteria
As your body purges the candida cells, it’s crucial to replenish your gut flora with beneficial microbes. This helps bring everything back into balance and prevents candida overgrowth from coming back. While many people recommend eating probiotic rich foods, I prefer to stay away from them. Many times, the strain of bacteria used in fermentation makes gut infections worse.
That said, I stick to probiotic supplements to help keep my microbiome in check. Probiotic 100 Billion offers high level colony forming units for optimal digestive support. It prevents candida regrowth while also supporting health, mood and immunity. Learn more about how the gut affects mood and mental health on my podcast episode with Dr. Vincent Pedre.
As you can see, this is a very holistic approach to treating candida. To wrap up a candida cleanse detox, let’s now talk about supporting your detoxification organs.
Support Liver Function for Detoxification
Your liver works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep you healthy. It filters out waste or harmful substances in your food. It metabolizes alcohol and other toxins and does its best to eliminate them from the body. Sometimes, though, your liver could use a helping hand.
Eating sulfur-rich foods helps your liver produce enzymes needed to safely detox your liver. Drinking warm water with lemon also boosts the production of bile. Your liver produces bile to help break down nutrients. Your liver also produces glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that aids in healthy detoxification.
To support your liver during your candida cleanse detox, I recommend adding Charcoal Binder Complete. This upgrade from my original charcoal binder contains shilajit and zeolite to trap toxins and escort them out safely. It also features a unique blend of chlorella, konjac, and spirulina for enhanced detoxification. Taking this will help ease candida die-off symptoms and encourage a more positive experience.
Monitoring Progress and Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Now that you know how to do a candida cleanse, what now? Let’s go over some of the common pitfalls people face. This may help you avoid common pitfalls and have a more positive experience.
What can you expect during a candida cleanse detox? First, remember that everyone responds differently. You may not have the same experience as someone else. That said, most people feel mild fatigue, headaches, or bloating during their candida cleanse detox. Some people experience flu-like symptoms. Thankfully, they don’t last forever. You can ease many of these symptoms by using binders and promoting optimal detoxification. Soaking in Epsom salts helps draw toxins out. Drink plenty of fluids while taking Charcoal Binder Complete.
Next, think about how you’re going to plan meals. While it’s tempting to run to the grocery store several times per week, try to limit your trips to once per week. Plan all your meals in advance and write down what ingredients you’ll need. This will help keep you on track. Another word of advice, don’t go shopping on an empty stomach! You may end up eating something that feeds candida.
Once you finish your candida cleanse detox, you may be wondering if you can tolerate any of your favorite old foods again. I always advise staying away from sugar, gluten, dairy, and alcohol. That said, you can slowly reintroduce some of your other foods back into your diet. Start with one food at a time. Give it a few days and see how you feel.
Many people fall back into their same eating habits after a candida cleanse detox. This is a mistake! Your microbiome needs a delicate balance of microbes. If you still feel like you’re not making much progress, consider adding a Biofilm Disruptor to your regimen. These help dissolve the sticky biofilm that surrounds candida yeast. Once the biofilm is gone, it’s easier for everything else to work.
The Power of a Candida Cleanse for Lasting Health
There are so many benefits to doing a candida cleanse detox. It can help improve digestion and promote clear, radiant skin. It can also bring back that energy you thought you’d never have again. Eliminating candida also reduces sugar cravings, which may help with your weight loss goals. Taking binders such as Charcoal Binder Complete makes this process a whole lot smoother.
I want to encourage you today. If you’ve tried a cleanse before and it didn’t work, don’t give up. Sometimes, all you need is the right plan.
Candida triggers inflammation, which contributes to chronic diseases. Over the years, I’ve helped thousands of my patients reverse their chronic conditions, including candida overgrowth. I’ve even helped those with autoimmune diseases and cancer improve their health. Learn more about how nutrition and metabolic health impact cancer research in my podcast episode with Dr. Nasha Winters.
Now you know how to do a candida cleanse that’s effective and long-lasting. If you’re ready to kick candida to the curb, take back your health with my Candida Support Protocol. Packed with science-backed supplements, this effective detox supports optimal gut and immune health for a more youthful, vibrant you!
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