Is The Candida Diet Making You Hungry?
Many Candida sufferers find that they lose weight on the Candida diet. Cutting out so many unhealthy foods from your diet is undoubtedly good for your wellbeing, but it can also leave you feeling hungry.
This is a diet that is designed to beat your Candida overgrowth and restore your body to health. And most of the time, losing a little weight too is a good thing.
If you’re worried about getting too hungry or losing too much weight, there is a solution. Today I’m going to share with you three filling, tasty foods that you can integrate into your recipes and eat throughout your Candida treatment.
Table Of Contents
Avocado
The first food on this list is technically a fruit (and fruits are normally limited on the diet, right?). However, avocados have very few net carbohydrates, a low Glycemic Load, and they are guaranteed to not feed your Candida. Indeed, their sugar content is so low that most people assume that they are a vegetable.
So what’s the nutritional content of an avocado? The average California (Hass) avocado contains 12 grams of carbohydrates, but 9 of those grams are fiber. The fiber passes straight through your gut (and keeps your bowel movements regular in the process!).
That leaves only 3 grams of ‘net carbs’ that your body can use as energy. That’s certainly not enough to feed your Candida overgrowth.
A typical avocado also contains around 30 grams of fat. Almost all of these are heart-healthy unsaturated fats, a totally different kind from the saturated or ‘trans’ fats that you get in your French fries.
Lastly, here’s the reason why avocados are so good for hungry Candida dieters. A regular Hass avocado contains around 250 calories. Avocados are beneficial for gut health and are full of anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants. They are full nutritious calories (not like the empty calories in junk food) and they will really help to fill you up.
If you’re looking for some avocado-inspired recipe ideas, you have to start with a simple guacamole. Making your own guacamole at home is surprisingly easy, and it’s exactly the kind of nutritious, low-carb food that you should be eating during your Candida diet.
Avocado is also delicious sliced into a salad, or you can even eat it straight out the shell with a little sea salt sprinkled on top. You can make avocado pancakes for breakfast, and for dessert why not try a tasty avocado lime tart.
Coconut Flour
Next up is a flour with some unique properties that make it perfect for a Candida diet. Coconut flour contains very few net carbs (so it doesn’t feed your Candida) and it has antifungal properties too.
First, let’s compare coconut flour to regular white flour. A cup of the regular flour contains almost 100 grams of carbohydrates. Only 3 of these grams are fiber, so almost all the energy in that cup can be used by the Candida in your gut.
A cup of coconut flour contains almost the same number of carbohydrates (around 85 grams), but the composition is totally different. In fact, around two thirds of the carbs in coconut flour are fiber.
This fiber is not digested the same way in your gut, and does not provide a source of energy for your Candida overgrowth. And all that fiber is great for your digestive health too.
Coconut flour contains important vitamins such as contains selenium, maganese, and calcium. It also is high in protein and healthy fat which help to reduce hunger and cravings.
The best way to eat coconut flour while on the Candida Diet is by making coconut bread. This is really simple to make, but it gives you a filling snack that will really stop those hunger pangs. You can eat as much coconut bread as you like once you’ve finished the cleanse at the start of your diet. Check out our scrumptious coconut bread recipe.
Eggs
You’re probably wondering where you are going to get your protein during the first stages of the diet. While I wouldn’t recommend eating large amounts of meat, eggs are another excellent source of high quality protein to keep you satisfied. This is backed up by recent scientific research.
A 2012 study by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center found that those who ate eggs for breakfast were less hungry three hours later than those who had eaten a cereal breakfast. Another study found similar results when the eggs were eaten at lunchtime.
So if you want to avoid that hungry feeling, eggs are a proven solution. They are also a tremendous source of other micronutrients to keep you healthy and energized throughout the day.
There are lots of ways to eat eggs while you are on the Candida Diet. Chopping an egg into your salad will immediately make it a more satisfying meal. You can start your day with a tasty skillet of eggs with baked vegetables. And for snacks you can make some traditional deviled eggs.
If you want more ideas for healthy, filling meals that won’t make your Candida worse, check out our Ultimate Candida Diet treatment program. It contains more than 40 delicious recipes that are packed full of healthy, Candida-safe ingredients. And we also explain which foods you should be eating at each stage of the treatment plan.
3-Month Candida Elimination Kit Start Your 3-month Candida Cleanse
This Candida Kit contains all the supplements recommended on the Candida Diet:
- LIVER ONE to process and remove the toxins created by Candida.
- CANDASSIST to inhibit and weaken the Candida colonies in your gut.
- PROBIOTIC to replace the Candida yeast with probiotic bacteria.
Plus... the CANDIDA DIET RECIPE BOOK with 50+ low-sugar recipes
HI I enjoy your comments. I still seem to have a urinary tract infection after the Candida and the Dr. wants to put me on AntiBiotics. Help.
I seem to go on Antibiotc and I get back into the syndrome of Candida – yeast.
Hi Marden! You should try to avoid repeated courses of antibiotics if possible. Have you tried some natural remedies like cranberry, uva ursi or goldenseal?
Hi Lisa. I know you might have successfully gotten rid of candida by now. None of the antibiotics worked for me despite trying for years. But a cheap and effective solution suggested by a doctor worked wonders for me – Gentian violet solution.
It is messy to apply but helps to cure candida and I was able to get rid of it completely as I applied it carefully using an ear bud inside as well.
Hi Marden, Besides a cranberry supplement like cranmax (cranberry), Uva Ursi does work especially if you feel your getting a uti, it stops it in it’s tracks. I have found that taking at least 2000 mg (2grams) of vitamin C ascorbic acid taken am and pm will also help get rid of uti (tip from my doctor) it works, take until gone then 2000 mg on a daily bases. I used to suffer with these constantly. Hope this helps.
one more thing, take a good probiotic with at least 8 strains at 30 billion total daily
Hi Marden,
Have you heard about D- Mannose Powder?
It cleared my uti and I did not have to go on antibiotics.
Mine too
It is amazing. Worked for me after trying 4 different antibiotics.
.
Drink bicarbonate of soda mixed in water. Make sure it doesn’t have any other agents in it. That it’s only ingredient is bicarbonate of soda. It alkalizes your all system. I had immediate relief. Drink it for a couple of days. Amazing natural remedy. You can find out more about it if you go online and Google. Good luck 🙂
I read about D Mannose, and colostrum. I have tried colostrum and get enough benefit to justify the cost. Have not tried the D Mannose, but I read that is for exactly what you are dealing with!! Hope you find/or have found relief without antibiotics, if not coconut oil seems to have many benefits also.
I suffered from water infections. I took three courses of anti bionics in on year… which has led me to the place I’m in now: Candida, leaky gut, rheumatoid arthritis. I have however discovered the miracle of coconut oil for water infections. Use organic, cold pressed. Take a tablespoon and your symptoms should be relieved within an hour or so. Take a tablespoon twice a day for the first couple of days then take teaspoonfuls. I now take coconut oil everyday and have not had any infections since.
Hi my daughter thought she was getting uti’s aswell. But we discovered she was suffering from irritable bladder syndrome. It’s worth googling. By cutting out a lot of acidic things and eating a lot more alkaline foods which your supposed to do on a candida diet, has helped her. Also as more candida dies off the less sensitive her bladder is. She still cant tolerate even small amounts of red meat so only chicken at this stage.
ask for a prescription for diflucan – it will kill the candida internally.
Hi Lisa
I am very glad that I can freely eat avocado, as eat it daily. I do not want to lose any weight because I am underweight (0nly 49 kg, 1.68 m). I am on a strict candida diet for more than 3 years, still trying to overcome my 40 year candida overgrowth. What a struggle ! Can I eat tahini and humus ? I am most careful about my diet. Whenever I take antifungals I get hell with the candida die off symtoms so I stop halfway. I know it’s wrong, but cannot bear the awful symptoms. I am determined to take antifungals next week. I made several comments on your other blog articles but you haven’t responded.
Best regards
Yael
Hi Yael! If your Die-Off symptoms are too bad you should try a detoxing supplement like Candidate or Molybdenum. And try starting with a lower dose of antifungals, then building it up slowly.
You can definitely try eating hummus. The sesame seeds in the tahini are roasted so they should not cause a reaction. As always though, listen to what your body is telling you.
Hi Lisa
The sesame seeds are definitly not roasted. Also, they are whole and organic. Not long ago I received from the USA Candidate and Molybdenum, following your recommendations, and will include them on my next-week treatment.
Regarding your rutabaga article – Does turnip also have antifungal properties?
The candidadiet website is very helpful. The only thing that is missing is individual support.
Best regards
Yael
Hi Yael. I just copied this from Wikipedia – “Tahini is made from sesame seeds that are soaked in water and then crushed to separate the bran from the kernels. The crushed seeds are soaked in salt water, causing the bran to sink. The floating kernels are skimmed off the surface, toasted, and ground to produce an oily paste.” S it looks like the sesame kernels are toasted. If this is the case then the tahini should be fine to eat. If they are not toasted, they may cause a reaction. I answered your rutabaga question earlier on the other post, please take a look
Hi Lisa
Thanks ! On the list “What to Eat During Your Cleanse – Stage 1” tomatoes are not on the list. Is that a mistake or on purpose ?
Best regards
Yael
That’s correct, tomatoes have quite a few net carbs so they’re off the menu during the cleanse
I use unsweetened cranberry juice and D-Mannose powder from the healhtfood store and it really has helped to stop my chronic bladder infections. Susan
Do you have a recipe for the Italian Omelette with Zucchini?
Hello Lisa
If I skip stage 1 and go straight to stage 2, do I still have a good chance to beat my candida ?
Best regards
Yael
As far as I understand, you don’t 100% need to do stage 1, but it will help speed up your recovery from Candida if you do
Thanks, Dana.
I’ve been vegan because giving up animal protein improved my kidney function, so I already don’t eat eggs, meat or dairy. I’ve also been gluten-free since July due to gut reactions. I’m allergic to avocado. I’m also having difficulty trying to figure out exactly what to do about Stage 1. I just received my diagnosis this past Friday, but suspect this has been breeding for at least 2-3 years. I’ve lost track. Any ideas on what I should be eating, especially in Stage 1, with all these complications in my current diet? Or could you please direct me to something clearer to figure out? I’ve searched and searched so many websites.
Thank you for the great bread recipe! Is there something you might recommend as an egg substitute? I seem to be allergic to eggs and avocados since finding out I have a gluten intolerance. My doctor said it may go away after I heal my intestines.
Good question. I have the exact same query.
Elderberry is even better than cranberry for a UTI. We have a winery nearby that makes an elderberry extract, no sugar added. I have personally cured full blown UTIs 3 times in the past 10 years within hours of taking it.
Hi Lisa
I saw that turnips have a very low (1) glycemic load so I believe they can be added to the Stage1
diet. The same with eggs. Eggs have 0 glycemic index so why not add them, as well. With eggs added we can make many more recipes. What do you say about that ? Also, I checked how to make Kim Chi and found that it need sugar. Nevertheless, it is on the stage 1 diet.
I, personally, started with stage 3, then moved to stage 2, and now I am in stage 1. I can explain the logic of this, if someone ones to know the reason.
Hi Yael. Yes if you are feeling really hungry you can add 1-2 eggs per day to stage 1. As for kimchi, it needs the sugar otherwise it won’t be able to ferment. By the time it’s ready to be eaten the sugar content is usually quite low.
Hi Lisa
Thanks for your reply. What about turnips? Can I eat them on Stage 1? What about red peppers ? I couldn’t find what their glycemic load is.
Best regards
Yael
Hi,
Thanks for all the info on the site, it’s really great! I heard that any fermented food/liquid i.e. even AC vinegar and yogurt feed the fungus b/c it’s fermented. Yet many sites recommend these foods. Can you explain the reason please?
thankx so much
Hi Lisa,
My problem is keeping my weight up. I am 5.9 and right now I weigh 125 pounds. Loosing too much weight since I have been on this diet. Just read somewhere that coconut oil speeds up your metabolism….. Should I not be eating that? What can I do in order not to loose anymore weight? Eat avo’s nuts, hemp protein…
I’d live to know this too, Lisa?
Hi I asked about 2 weeks again,why I was feeling sick after eating any proteins-red or white meats,can anyone answer that please.If this has been answered please where can I find the reply. The longer I am on this candida eating ,the more food reaction I’m having,not happy.Cheers Vicki G
Hi Vicki, red meat can cause a reaction in some Candida sufferers because it gets broken down into ammonia, among other things. The ammonia can raise the pH of your gut, which is just what the fungal form of Candida needs. Try cutting your red meat intake down as much as you can and eating more vegetables instead.
Hi Lisa,
I have been searching for plain yogurt that does not contain sugar. All of them including the yogurt made from goats milk contains a little sugar. Is this ok?
Chelsea
Hi Chelsea. All yogurt has some amount of sugars in it. In plain yogurt, most of the lactose disappears during the fermentation process, but some is always left. This is OK. As long as there are no added sugars, sweeteners or fruit, you’re good!
Hi Lisa. Is homemade water kefir OK to drink for Candida sufferers?
Yes it is!
Hi Lisa. Is Manuka Honey (the stronger version) OK for Candida sufferers?
Sorry no honey is allowed…
A terrific topping for your coconut bread recipe is to use a portion of the remaining organic coconut cream milk and melt it with organic unsweetened carob. Spread it on a slice of the coconut bread and those of us missing that rich chocolate flavor will soon be satisfied. It’s delicious!
Carob shouldn’t be reintroduced until Phase 5
Which brand of probiotic do you recommend bc I’ve tried many and it gives me a raging headache and joint pain on my right side
I like the Healthy Origins 30 Billion – http://www.candidastore.com/healthy-origins-probiotic-150.html
hi lisa I just started my candida diet and Ive finally found this doc whos willing to help with my candida problem. Ive been to many doctors because of some white patches on my tongue but they dont believe in candida overgrowth. The doctor has prescribed 14 diflucan for 14 days and told me to go on a low carbs and sugar diet. Like everyone else its hard for me to find things to eat, and I just had a mIscarriage and I’m thinking maybe this infection has some to do with it, and I’m really enjoying readIng all the comments in here. I really believe that Candida is something that doctors really need to start acknowledging!
Hi Lisa,
I’m on stage 2 and have been strictly following the diet but feel hungry so much of the time. I have been eating the coconut bread (love this recipe btw) but fear i may be eating too much. Any suggestions? I also get a lot of bloating.. what could be causing this?
Thanks so much
hi lisa,
thanks for all the info. i am just wondering if the list for veggies allowed during the detox phase is complete?? Is there any reason why courgette is not allowed?? I am asking because i’ve got really into courgette omlette for breakfast, and wonder if i can continue this if i to do a strict detox phase.
I didnt do the detox at the beginning because i have low adrenal function and struggle to maintain my blood sugar, but i have found that with quinoa, buckwheat and rice the digestive symptoms kick off like crazy so i’m thinking i need to do a period with no carbs at all. Do you have any advice for beating candida whilst supporting adrenal fatigue?? Most of the adrenal advice is to make sure you have complex carbs to balance blood sugar so im a bit unsure how to balance this with actually beating the candida!!
many thanks,
becca
Hi Rebecca. Courgette and zucchini are the same thing – I think you’re using the British version! The list on the website is abbreviated and does not contain everything, but zucchini is on there.
As for eating complex carbs, you definitely need to eat some during the Candida diet. Going completely carb-free is almost as bad as eating too many. You can get all the carbs you need from a variety of vegetables and foods like coconut bread.
I have been on the diet for 3 1/2 months and I got a bladder infection and another yeast infection. I thought I was so faithful to what I had been eating. The doctor gave me an antibiotic & when I refused, he said I will only give it to you for 3 days. So I took it. Does this mean I have to start all over. I really love the diet, losing over 30 pounds, but I was planning to start adding other foods, thinking I was cured. Guess not!
Please advise.
No you don’t need to start over. Just stick to the diet and take lots of probiotics (you should take these during a course of antibiotics too).
I recently started this diet and im very excited. Im jus wondering if i should eat 3 meals a day or more? Im training in the gym and am hoping this diet will not only help with my yeast problem but also help me lose weight. What do you reccommend?
It’s generally better to eat more meals, but less at each sitting. And lots of people do lose weight on the program, once they cut out all the added sugars etc 🙂
Hi Lisa,
I’m in my first week of stage 1. It has been quite an adjustment cutting out sugar, caffeine and bad carbs. How soon can I expect the headaches to stop?
Hi Michele, that’s why I usually recommend slowly tapering off the sugar and carbs before starting the first stages of the diet. The headaches are almost certainly related to withdrawal, and will usually last for something like 3-5 days (although everyone is different).
Does anyone know if you can have red roasted peppers on the candida diet?
My doctor actually said no veges from the nightshade family i.e. tomatoes, peppers, brinjal. Also no fermented stuff and that includes yogurt.
Im struggling in between trying to gain my weight back that i loss due to stress, in the same breath im just now finding out i have a candida overgrowth and would like to do something about it, Im 5’7 at 114lb my regular weight was 135lbs. I experience almost ALL syptoms that comes with a candida overgrowth and its not pleasant. I dont know what I should do, in the same breathe i don’t need to lose anymore weight but im always tired and depressed
I’m concerned about this factor all the time, as I also have Sibo as well. I’m 5’4 and weigh 93.6 lbs. I lost 30 lbs at the beginning of my journey in 2010, and have never been able to gain my weight back… So it’s a bit scary. But I know the bacteria and yeast are creating the malnutrition! So it’s a Cadnundrum! And just being gluten free causes me to not gain weight! Not sure what a Sibo/ Candida diet will do..
Because there’s not much fat!
Can i eat ryebread with no added yeast?
hi lisa! i am getting mixed reviews about if unsweetened carob is allowed on the candida diet. also- unsweetened cocoa? i know the cocoa has caffeine, but carob doesn’t. any help is appreciated! need somethin chocolatelyish!
Hi there! I was wondering if you ever got a reply about cocoa? I know it has caffeine but I don’t think that’d be a big issue? I don’t drink coffee or tea so I am not too worried about the effects of caffeine in cocoa–as long as it doesn’t feed the yeast of course! I am 100 pounds now (think I got the yeast infection due to being underweight) and simply cannot afford to lose any more weight so I try to eat every time I feel like eating. I am doing eggs, coconut oil, avocado and all of that and plan on cooking some of the dessert recipes this weekend, but today I would kill for a chocolate almond milk (with stevia of course ;))! Thanks!
Never mind… I just read that the problem with caffeine is that it boosts your sugar levels! Guess it’s a no-no until I am 100% yeast-free ;(
What a great website Lisa!! 🙂 Look forward to exploring more. many thanks xxx
Is hemp seed protein allowed in the phase 2 diet? Also I did not do the phase one cleanse (didn’t buy your book until a week into the diet) On what day numbers should I add the probiotic and the anti fungal? Thanks :):)
I saw that quinoa and buckwheat are allowed, but is it still restricted? Like can I eat it freely or is it more of a “one serving a day” kind of thing?
I read somewhere that you should really limit quinoa and buckwheat to one serving per day on a strict candida diet!
Hi Lisa,
I just bought the Ultimate Candida Plan and look forward to getting started. I have a question. On Foods not allowed, under Glutinous Grains, Oats are listed. Trader Joe’s makes Rolled Oats that are gluten free. Would GF rolled oats still not be allowed on the diet?
Thanks!
– Jody
Oats can be a difficult food because they can cause an aggravation of symptoms in some people with gluten intolerance. Others are fine though, so it comes down to the individual.
I have an ear infection and I would like to know how I can clear this up without antibiotics as it will aggravate the candida. Do you have any suggestions?
You’re right to avoid antibiotics if you can! Many ear infections are caused by viruses anyway. Time, rest and lots of hydration will likely cure it over time. To reduce the discomfort, you can also try gargling with salt water, using a few drops of olive oil to loosen any buildup of wax in the ear, and warm compresses to reduce any pain. If it lasts more than a couple of weeks though, you may need to resort to antibiotics as you don’t want to risk hearing loss or other complications.
Hi Katherine
I had an ear infection a few years back – and understandably wanted to avoid antibiotics. I learned that they hardly ever work on ear infections anyway.
Desperate … I reached for my favourite, garlic, knowing that it had many healing properties for infection. I skinned it – poked tiny slices in it – left it 15 mins to allow the allicin and allinin to coat it (the sticky stuff) and then popped it into my ear. Fresh clove and night – and fresh again in the morning.
Before I receive lots of comments about not putting anything in your ears … It’s not the size of a grain of rice, so chances of it being lost in the ear canal are virtually none.
It looked like a kind of hearing aid, and after 4 days my infection had cleared completely.
All the best
Catherine
Is there any chance that coconut flour may actually aggravate candida? I made the coconut bread, with organic coconut flour (no buckwheat), and each time i eat it i get an itchy scalp afterwards. Not sure what to make of it?
Thanks,
Don’t quote me on this but I believe itchy scalp is a candida die off symptom, a good sign. It should get better if you stick with it. Give it a shot and let people know here if it’s working for you and the itching is lessening
Why so many mixed reviews on fermented products? Half the information I’ve read said that yogurt, sauerkraut, ect should be avoided and the other half says that it is alright to have. Does it just depend on the person or is there a different reason for the contradicting information? I’d like to use a Greek yogurt, or a plain probiotic brand if Greek isn’t alright, to make tzatziki (yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, cucumber, pink Himalayan salt) Also are peppers ok to eat or should they be avoided?