The Candida Diet: What Is It and Does It Work?

If you suffer from stubborn yeast infections, chances are you’ve come across the candida diet. 

If you haven’t come across it, advocates of the candida diet claim that cutting out certain foods (especially sugar and processed foods) will reverse any Candida overgrowth in your body and therefore treat/prevent yeast infections, along with myriad other benefits.

While yeast infections are indeed caused by a Candida overgrowth in your vagina, is your breakfast bagel really the culprit? Let’s explore the evidence behind the candida diet. 

What causes yeast infections?

One of the most important factors for vaginal health is a healthy microbiome. The microbial community that lives in the vaginal microbiome works to maintain a low vaginal pH, prevent dysbiosis (the medical term for an imbalanced microbiome) or overgrowth of potentially harmful microbes, and can decrease uncomfortable symptoms associated with vaginal infections.

Candida, a type of yeast (fungus), naturally lives in your vaginal microbiome as well as your digestive tract, mouth, and skin without causing any issues.  

You never notice it’s there because the microbes already living in your body (as well as your immune system) keep Candida in check. This leads to the question: if all the microbes in your body tend to get along with Candida or keep it in check, how do you end up with a yeast infection?

Vaginal yeast infections (clinically referred to as vulvovaginal candidiasis) are a type of fungal infection caused by a Candida overgrowth, typically a specific strain called Candida alibicans. Up to 75% of women will have a vaginal yeast infection at least once in their lifetime, making them one of the most common vaginal infections. The presence of vaginal yeasts like Candida albicans isn’t always a cause for concern and about 20% of women have Candida albicans in the vagina without having any symptoms. But it can turn problematic when conditions become just a bit too favorable for growth. 

We all know how frustrating a recurrent yeast infection is, and we understand the desire to try anything to make it go away permanently, including trying the candida diet. 

What is the candida diet?

The candida diet is a low-sugar diet that promises to reverse Candida overgrowth, reduce the recurrence of yeast infections, improve gut health, and “lower inflammation”. It’s based on the idea that the sugar in your diet may contribute to Candida overgrowth in the body. It's also known as the candida cleanse diet or anti-candida diet.

The diet excludes any foods that could “feed” Candida albicans and promote yeast growth. The foods to avoid include processed food, gluten, refined oils, added sugars, artificial sweeteners, dairy products, and alcohol. Some advocates for this diet even encourage avoiding high-sugar fruits or starchy veg. When you think about it, the list of things you can’t eat is long. It's also worth noting that unless you have a diagnosed gluten intolerance, there is no benefit to cutting out gluten from your diet!

Advocates for the diet suggest that you shouldn’t exceed more than 60g of carbs per day — well below the recommended daily intake — for at least six weeks. Foods to eat include sources of lean protein, non-starchy vegetables, gluten-free grains, whole foods, low-sugar fruits, and healthy fats (which, to be fair, is something most people would benefit from). Eggs, beans, grass-fed beef, nuts and seeds, fermented foods, and herbal teas are all encouraged. 

Where did this idea come from?

The idea behind candida diet is likely based on the fact that people with diabetes are more prone to yeast infections. Studies suggest that recurring yeast infections can be a common sign of diabetes mellitus, and can even help identify if someone is pre-diabetic.

There are two types of diabetes, type I and type II. Type I diabetes is caused by an insulin deficiency, while type II diabetes is caused by insulin resistance. People with type I don’t produce enough insulin, while people with type II make insulin but their body doesn't respond to it properly. 

Both types of diabetes can lead to many complications, including a weakened immune system. This can make diabetics more susceptible to infections in general, because high blood sugar levels can increase the amount of sugar throughout the body, leaving individuals vulnerable to infections. It is also possible that diabetics may have higher levels of sugar in their vagina, but research on this topic is still ongoing. 

So those who have diabetes have higher blood sugar and are more prone to yeast infections. While both these things are true, are they connected?

According to a 2002 study, people with type I diabetes tend to have higher levels of Candida overgrowth in their vagina as compared to those with type II diabetes, according to a 2002 study. This could be because type I diabetics generally have higher blood sugar levels.

A more recent study from 2014 aimed to determine how often Candida overgrowth, vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) occurred in people with type II diabetes compared to non-diabetics. Interestingly, the study found that Candida overgrowth was more common in the type II diabetic group, and these individuals were also more likely to experience VVC/RVVC symptoms.

It's worth noting that uncontrolled diabetes can cause high blood sugar levels, leading to various metabolic changes in the body and an overall increase in glycogen levels. This increase in glycogen levels can lower the vaginal pH, which may increase Candida's ability to colonize the vagina and cause an infection.

People with diabetes are more prone to yeast infections. The increased risk may be due to high blood sugar levels, although it's important to note that diabetes can cause various health complications and other factors may be involved. To determine whether high-sugar diets in non-diabetic individuals can have a similar effect and risk, we need to review studies that compare non-diabetics with high-sugar diets to those who have relatively healthy diets.

What evidence is there to support the candida diet?

The short answer is that there isn’t any. Fans of the candida diet swear by it, and future research might one day show that it has merit, but as of now, it’s completely unproven. 

Diets high in fat, sugar, and processed foods can cause changes in your gut and can cause dysbiosis in the gut microbiome, often leading to intestinal inflammation. Whether or not this is true for the vaginal microbiome hasn’t been researched enough. 

A study from 2013 found that high levels of Candida in the gut were linked with carb consumption, and negatively correlated with diets high in amino acids, fatty acids, and protein. However, it's important to note that this study only looked at the gut, and not the vagina.

To find any evidence that directly addresses carb consumption and vaginal health at hand we have to go back to 1984, to an article that’s often cited by proponents of the candida diet. The study looked at patients with RVVC and healthy controls. The results showed that 75% of patients with RVVC had one or more of the six sugars they tested for in their urine, compared to only 50% of healthy controls. It’s worth noting that this was a small study that looked at only 100 people. And it’s 40 years old.

Does the candida diet work?

There's no real evidence to suggest that limiting your sugar intake can help reduce the risk of Candida overgrowth or VVC/RVVC. However, there hasn't been much research done on the topic, so it's hard to say for sure whether the candida diet is effective. 

Nevertheless, cutting back on added sugar can still have health benefits, but it's important to be careful when making dietary changes. A strict diet like the candida diet can be particularly problematic for individuals with disordered eating, diabetes, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. 

You should consult your primary care provider before trying the candida diet, or any other drastic dietary plan that cuts out whole food groups. 

The most substantial evidence supporting the candida diet comes from anecdotal proof and word of mouth. Until more research is conducted to determine whether a high-sugar diet is linked to Candida overgrowth or VVC/RVVC, the effectiveness of this diet remains uncertain.