Candida overgrowth can feel like an unsolved health mystery — but it’s surprisingly common. If you suffer from autoimmune conditions, gut problems, fatigue, brain fog, or other health conditions, chances are, the root cause is Candida overgrowth. The good news is you have options. Learning which foods to avoid with Candida and which Candida foods to eat can go a long way toward relieving symptoms. 

Candida is a type of fungus that lives in your digestive tract. Things can spiral out of control when it starts to overpower the good bacteria that usually keep it in check. The result? A leaky gut and a cascade of symptoms like digestive discomfort, recurring fungal infections, skin troubles, allergies, mood swings, and more.

Many factors can play a role in Candida overgrowth such as stress, antibiotics, and even birth control. However, the biggest culprit — and the one you have most control over — is your diet. To heal your gut, you must eliminate foods that feed Candida and replace them with whole, nutrient-dense foods. 

This is completely doable! Read on to learn which foods to avoid with Candida and the Candida foods to eat. 

Foods To Avoid With Candida

Whether you have an active Candida overgrowth or are trying to prevent it, here are nine foods to avoid with Candida.

1. Sugar and Sweeteners

This one is a bit of a no-brainer. You see, sugar affects your entire body due to its inflammatory effect. Furthermore, inflammation is at the root of nearly every chronic illness. Sugar especially affects Candida overgrowth. This is because yeast feeds on sugar. 

That being said, you will want to cut out all sugar and sweeteners. The key here is avoiding not just the obvious sources such as sodas, candy, cakes, and cookies. You must be aware of the sugar lurking in unexpected places, including salad dressings, low-fat packaged foods, protein bars, and more. 

Make sure to carefully check all of your food labels for hidden sources of sugar while following an anti-Candida diet. Be on the lookout for it — it’s everywhere!

2. Wine and Beer

Hopefully, you’re limiting alcohol already, as it basically has no redeeming qualities. However, it’s particularly important to cut out beer and wine while getting your yeast in check. Wine ferments with yeast and contains a lot of sugar. 

Beer, which is also fermented, contains gluten. All of these factors contribute to Candida.

In addition, alcohol can worsen leaky gut. This is one of the most dangerous impacts of yeast overgrowth. It leads to so many other symptoms and health problems. This is because the Candida leaks into your bloodstream in addition to the inflammatory molecules from what you consume. 

Alcohol also suppresses your immune system. In fact, a strong immune system is needed to not only fight off invaders in your body, but also to keep your yeast population under control.

3. Dried Fruit and Fruit Juices

You might be surprised to learn that fruit is included in the foods to avoid with Candida. Fruits can be part of an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich diet. However, they’re high in sugar and still feed Candida. Dried fruit and fruit juice can be major culprits of yeast overgrowth, especially if you like to snack. 

They may seem like healthy options — but they’re not! In addition to natural fruit sugars (which is still sugar, even though it’s natural!), dried fruit and fruit juice are usually full of added sugars as well. If you have a problem with Candida overgrowth, try cutting out all dried fruit and fruit juice. 

Don’t worry. All is not lost. You can still enjoy up to one cup of delicious, whole fruits per day!

4. Gluten and Grains

As you know, gluten is highly inflammatory. It’s also a grain. The thing is, all grains are broken down into simple sugars during the digestive process. This can feed Candida.

That’s why I recommend avoiding them entirely (particularly if you have an autoimmune disease) or limiting your intake of them. I’ve included some specific tips on exactly how much to limit grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables below.

5. Beans and Other Legumes

Beans and legumes provide a great option for plant protein. However, they’re starchy and feed Candida. (2) For this reason, they’re on the list of foods to avoid with Candida. 

Like grains, legumes can also be difficult for your body to digest. Because of this, there’s more partially digested food in your gut. As a result, an overabundance of partially digested food in the intestinal tract feeds bacterial overgrowth. I recommend minimizing legumes or eliminating them altogether.

6. Starchy Vegetables

Like fruit, this one sneaks by people. Many consider certain starchy vegetables like acorn squash, butternut squash, and spaghetti squash to be good carbohydrate sources.

However, once eaten, they are broken down into the sugars that feed Candida. (3) Focus on eating plenty of leafy greens, and other tasty veggies like Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus.

While following an anti-Candida diet, I advise keeping your combined consumption of grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables to one cup daily.

7. GMO Foods

Glyphosate, a chemical found in herbicides used on GMO crops, can harm the good bacteria in your gut. These helpful bacteria support digestion and keep harmful bacteria in check, but they’re especially vulnerable to glyphosate. 

Meanwhile, bad bacteria, like those linked to salmonella and botulism, resist it. (4) Of course! GMO foods can upset this balance, reducing healthy bacteria and increasing harmful ones. This not only encourages Candida overgrowth but also contributes to leaky gut and inflammation. Stay away from GMO foods when possible!

8. Fermented Foods

This is a hotly debated topic, but I believe that anyone with Candida overgrowth should avoid fermented foods until their yeast population is under control. The prebiotics produced during the fermentation process also feed bad bacteria and yeast. 

Fermented foods themselves may be high in bad bacteria and yeast! I recommend killing Candida first and then using fermented foods to help restore the good bacteria.

9. Dairy

Dairy does not directly feed Candida, yet it is a highly inflammatory food. Inflammation damages your gut lining, which is already leaky due to an overgrowth of Candida. This allows the yeast to continue escaping into your bloodstream, along with toxins, microbes, and other particles. That’s why dairy isn’t one of the Candida foods to eat. 

Once all of these foreign particles enter your bloodstream, they trigger a fresh wave of inflammation as your immune system tries to neutralize the threats. Until your leaky gut heals, the particles just keep coming! As a result, this constant level of inflammation can eventually lead to an autoimmune disease. 

Candida Foods To Eat

Ditching the nine foods above is a great start, but you also should be aware of the Candida foods to eat. These foods can help starve the yeast so that good bacteria can restore your gut’s healthy balance. (5) You can also stock up on the foods that kill Candida to help your body combat the yeast overgrowth. Here is a list of Candida foods to eat: 

• coconut oil
• garlic
• apple cider vinegar
• cruciferous vegetables
• ginger
• olive oil
• cloves
• cinnamon
• wild salmon
• lemon juice

How To Eliminate Candida Overgrowth

Adopting a low-carb diet to promote a healthy inflammatory response is key to beating Candida overgrowth. Including Candida foods to eat in your diet will also go a long way toward healing your gut. 

However, diet alone can take up to six months to restore your gut’s natural balance. That’s why I recommend adding yeast-fighting supplements while following an anti-Candida diet.

The supplements I use in my clinic are Caprylic Acid and Candifense®. Caprylic acid is a naturally occurring fatty acid that comes from coconut oil. It’s known for its antiviral and antifungal activity. 

Candifense® also contains a combination of plant-based enzymes that break down the cell walls of Candida. In addition, the enzymes in it discourage yeast overgrowth in the gut. Candifense® is a safe, effective, and gentle approach to maintaining a healthy microflora balance throughout the digestive tract.

I also recommend taking a high-quality probiotic to restore your population of good bacteria. These friendly bacteria strains will prevent a future Candida problem. They’re essential for supporting a healthy gut and immune system.

The Final Word on Foods To Avoid With Candida Overgrowth

Candida overgrowth is often the root cause of many of our modern health problems. However, this condition doesn’t have to rule your life.

In the functional medicine approach, knowledge is power! You can take steps to address Candida overgrowth. The key is in your diet. 

Be aware of the foods to avoid with Candida, such as sugar, gluten, alcohol, and GMO foods. Try to eliminate them completely. Don’t forget — it’s not all about removing things from your diet. Include the Candida foods to eat , such as coconut oil, cruciferous veggies, and wild salmon, to help your body fight the yeast overgrowth. 

While diet is important, adding the right supplements can fast-track your results. I recommend Caprylic Acid, a powerful antifungal from coconut oil, and Candifense®a plant-based enzyme blend designed to break down Candida’s cell walls and discourage its growth.  Together, they can help restore balance to your gut and speed up your healing journey.

Pair these with a high-quality probiotic to restore good bacteria, and you’re in business! You’ll be setting yourself up for long-term success. Ready to get started? Check out Caprylic Acid and Candifense® today, and take the next step toward a healthier, Candida-free life!