What Are Some Candida Cleansing Diets?

If you suspect your body is overloaded with yeast, a good candida cleanse may be just right for you. Since candida thrives on sugar, the No. 1 rule of candida cleanses is to avoid sugar-laden, overly processed foods. However, the addition of certain foods to the diet will go a long ways toward knocking out that fungus. Read on to learn more about candida cleansing foods and diets.

Colonic Cleanse

Clean out the GI tract. One of the first dietary steps to ridding your body of candida involves removing any built-up waste material from your colon. Heath food stores offer many different colonic cleansing aids, from capsules to powders and shakes. Something as simple as psyllium husk, a dietary fiber found in products such as Metamucil, added to your water one to two times a day can help.

Vegetables

Go green. One of the main culprits of candida build-up within the body is processed foods, so sticking to raw or steamed organic vegetables can help. Some vegetables even help inhibit the growth of yeast, such as: garlic, kale, cabbage, broccoli, peppers, radish, eggplant, zucchini, cauliflower, cucumber, asparagus, brussels sprouts and turnips. These vegetables starve the candida due to their low sugar content and also help remove fungal toxins from the body. However, it's best to avoid starchy vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, squash and corn, because they contain sugars that feed the yeast.

Proteins

Eat protein. Protein-rich beef, pork, chicken and fish contain almost no sugar and can be eaten as much as you like while trying to combat candida. The best sources are organically produced meats. Stay away from lunch meats and other processed meats, such as hot dogs and bacon, because these contain both sugars and chemicals. Nuts are a good choice for proteins but can grow mold, so always wash them before consumption. This rule applies especially to any nuts that are shelled before purchase. Peanuts and pistachios tend to have a higher mold content, though, so avoiding them during a candida cleanse may be best.

Other Foods

Eat plenty of yogurt with live cultures. The "friendly" bacteria in yogurt fights off the bad bacteria and fungus in your gut, thus helping your body rid itself of candida. If you don't eat yogurt, pick up a bottle of probiotics from your health-food store and take them daily. Also, green algae like spirulina is known for helping cleanse the body of candida and supporting the immune system. Avoid wheat and rye as much as possible, instead switching to grains such as millet and brown rice. Also, eliminate all alcohol from the diet.