The Yeast Diet (also known as the Candida Diet) has been used for years by naturalists as a way to detox the body of overstocks of yeast that can come from certain medications, processed foods or from exposure to others with yeast overgrowth.

The food we eat plays a major role in our body’s delicate balance between maintaining healthy levels of Candida yeast and prevention of harmful yeast overgrowth.

Eating plenty of yeast free foods in conjunction with a good anti-fungal supplement is vital to the success of a yeast diet cleanse. Below is a general Candida Diet food list to use as a guideline for yeast free eating.

What You Need To Know

Individuals with specific sensitivities or those with chronic conditions may need to avoid a larger range of yeast free foods in order to see results.

Substitutions can be used effectively to avoid items based on your own individual sensitivities (substitute cauliflower or broccoli for potatoes etc.).

For recipes specifically designed to follow the rules of the yeast free Candida Diet visit the yeast free recipes page.

Foods To Avoid – Candida Diet Food List

The food items listed below are the most common food avoidances for the general Candida Diet.

1. Sweeteners – in all forms (white and brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, barley malt, stevia, dextrose, sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, rice syrup Sweet ‘n’ Low, etc.)
2. Fruit (due to high natural sugar content) – includes whole and dried fruit, fruit juices and concentrates.
3. Yeast – in any form.
4. Vinegar and Vinegar Products (mayonnaise, mustard, salsa, dressings, etc.).
5. All Dairy – including milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, powdered milk, milk solids, milk protein, butter, lactic acid, lactose, casein, etc. (Eggs are not dairy).
6. Alcohol – in any form (including extracts and wine).
7. Fermented Products – such as miso, soy sauce, tempeh, sauerkraut and pickles.
8. Mushrooms – these are a fungi and should be avoided.
9. Hydrogenated or Partially Hydrogenated Oils – including margarine and shortening.
10. Spicy Seasonings – to be used sparingly (chili, cumin, curry, cinnamon, pepper, etc).
11. Peanuts and Pistachios – these are subject to mold growth and should be avoided on the Candida Diet.

Foods To Eat – Candida Diet Food List

There is a great variety of healthy, yeast free foods that do meet the Candida Diet criteria and these are listed below:

1. *Vegetables – especially dark green leafy ones.
2. Hormone Free Meat (whenever possible).
3. Seeds and Nuts – including nut butters like sun butter or almond butter. (Excludes peanuts and pistachios).
4. *Whole Grains – like brown rice, barley, millet, and buckwheat.
5. Eggs.
6. Herbs – garlic (acts as an anti-fungal agent), basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, etc.
7. Olive Oil (Light olive oil is recommended because it is better for use at high cooking temperatures).
8. Almond Milk – unsweetened.

* Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, corn, beans, etc. should be used in moderation (3-4 times per week) as part of a balanced diet.  These items contain many essential vitamins and nutrients that the body needs and should not be excluded completely unless there is a particular sensitivity or if the Candida infection is particularly severe.