How Long To Stay On A Candida Diet

Nonstarchy vegetables can help you get your recommended intake of nutrients while on the candida diet.

Image Credit: Denira777/iStock/Getty Images People sometimes try the candida diet in the hope of limiting the symptoms of yeast infections or candidiasis. Although dietary changes have not been proved to reduce yeast, some may feel better after making these changes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. How long you stay on the candida diet will depend on the version you try and how you feel while you’re on it. Check with your doctor before following this diet to make sure it is safe for you.

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Version of Diet

Some versions of the candida diet have you eliminate alcohol, yeast, simple sugars and many processed foods while limiting dairy products. Other versions are more restrictive and eliminate all fruits, some or all grains, fermented foods, vinegar, peanuts, pistachios and mushrooms as well. Some candida diets start with a cleanse that only allows vegetables and supplements, a regimen that is too low in calories and nutrients to be healthy to follow in the long term.

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Effect of Diet

The Functional Medicine Research Center recommends assessing the effects of the candida diet after a period of two to four weeks, after which you may want to make changes. If your symptoms appear to be decreasing and you’re feeling better, you may want to continue on the diet for the suggested length, but if not, you may want to go back to a healthy, balanced diet.

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Suggested Length

Proponents of the candida diet recommend following it for at least three to nine months to achieve the optimal effect. After this time, you can gradually expand your diet to include other nutritious foods. Some changes, such as limiting sweets, refined grains and processed foods, are recommended even after your condition has improved.

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Other Potential Considerations

Your doctor can prescribe medications that are more likely to treat your yeast infection. Don’t follow this diet in place of the medical treatment recommended by your doctor, but you can follow it in conjunction with this treatment.

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 Some versions of this diet are very restrictive, eliminating entire food groups, so you may need to take supplements to get sufficient amounts of the essential vitamins and minerals.

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  references
  
      Mother Earth Living: Herbal Candida Cleanse
    
      Functional Medicine Research Center: Intestinal Candidiasis
    
      EveryDiet: Candida Diet
    
      Columbia University Health Services: A Fungus Among Us: Candida (Yeast)
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Candidiasis
       




  references
  
      Mother Earth Living: Herbal Candida Cleanse
    
      Functional Medicine Research Center: Intestinal Candidiasis
    
      EveryDiet: Candida Diet
    
      Columbia University Health Services: A Fungus Among Us: Candida (Yeast)
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Candidiasis
    




Nonstarchy vegetables can help you get your recommended intake of nutrients while on the candida diet.

Image Credit: Denira777/iStock/Getty Images

Image Credit: Denira777/iStock/Getty Images

      Mother Earth Living: Herbal Candida Cleanse
    
      Functional Medicine Research Center: Intestinal Candidiasis
    
      EveryDiet: Candida Diet
    
      Columbia University Health Services: A Fungus Among Us: Candida (Yeast)
    
      University of Maryland Medical Center: Candidiasis