The Best 7-Day Candida Diet Meal Plan
Hey there! If you’re reading this, chances are you’re dealing with some pesky candida overgrowth issues.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many people struggle with candida, and the good news is that a well-planned candida diet meal plan can make a world of difference.
Today, we will explore a 7-day Candida diet meal plan, including what to eat, what to avoid, and how to whip up some delicious, Candida-friendly meals that will help you kick those yeast problems to the curb.
What is Candida?
Candida is a type of yeast that lives naturally in your body, mostly in your mouth, gut, and skin.
Normally, it doesn’t cause any trouble, but when the balance of bacteria in your gut gets disrupted thanks to factors like a diet high in sugar and refined carbs, stress, or antibiotics. Candida can multiply out of control.
This overgrowth can lead to various symptoms like digestive issues, fatigue, brain fog, and even skin problems.
That’s where the Candida diet comes in, helping to restore balance and kick that pesky yeast to the curb.
What is the Candida Diet?
The Candida diet is an anti-candida diet that focuses on eliminating foods that feed Candida and replenishing your body with healthy, gut-friendly foods.
It’s a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory eating plan designed to starve the yeast and rebalance your gut microbiome.
The food we eat plays a crucial role in either feeding or fighting candida. That’s where the anti candida diet comes in.
The candida diet usually includes non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fermented foods while cutting out sugar, alcohol, and refined carbs.
The Candida Diet Food List: What to Eat
The Candida Diet is designed to reduce the overgrowth of Candida yeast in the body by limiting certain foods and promoting others.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of a list of foods to eat when on the Candida diet:
Proteins
- Wild-caught fish
- Grass-fed beef
- Pasture-raised poultry, including chicken
- Eggs
- Sardines (organic, wild-caught)
Vegetables
- Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts)
- Leafy greens (kale, spinach, dandelion, lettuces)
- Non-starchy vegetables (asparagus, zucchini, onions, shallots, eggplant, celery, cucumber, tomatoes, rutabaga)
Low-Sugar Fruits (in limited quantities)
- Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
- Lemons
- Limes
- Olives
- Green apples
Nuts and Seeds (low in mold)
- Almonds
- Sunflower seeds
- Coconut
- Flaxseed
- Chia seeds
- Hemp seeds
Healthy Fats
- Avocado
- Olive oil and olives
- Coconut oil
- Flax oil
- Sesame oil
Gluten-Free Grains
- Quinoa
- Millet
- Oat bran
- Buckwheat
Herbs and Spices
- Turmeric
- Cumin
- Cinnamon
- Dill
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Paprika
- Thyme
Beverages
- Water
- Herbal teas
- Chicory coffee
- Rooibos tea
- Green tea
Fermented Foods (in moderation)
- Probiotic yogurt
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
Other foods
- Bone broth
- Dark chocolate (in moderation)
- Apple cider vinegar
Candida Diet Foods to Avoid
Sugar and Sugar Alternatives
- All forms of sugar, including natural sweeteners
High Sugar Fruits and Fruit Juices
- Banana
- Mangoes
- Grapes
Alcohol
- Beer
- Champagne
- Hard ciders
Grains containing Gluten
- Wheat
- Barley
- Rye
Most Vinegars
- Except for apple cider vinegar
Peanuts
- Due to potential mold content
Most Dairy Products
- Except for probiotic yogurt and kefir
Processed Foods
- Any food with added sugars or artificial ingredients
Starchy Vegetables
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Yams
- Beets
- Peas
- Parsnips
Mushrooms
- Due to their fungal nature
7-Day Candida Diet Meal Plan (Candida Diet Recipes)
This 7-day Candida diet meal plan is designed to starve the Candida yeast of its primary food source (sugar) while promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
This meal plan includes delicious Candida diet recipes and Candida diet meal ideas which will help you make informed choices to restore your gut health and support your journey on the Candida diet.
Day 1
Breakfast:
- Eggs with Spinach: Sauté spinach in coconut oil and serve with scrambled eggs. (2 eggs, 1 cup spinach, 1 tsp coconut oil)
Lunch:
- Turkey and Greens Salad: Shredded turkey breast on a bed of mixed greens with lemon olive oil vinaigrette. (4 oz turkey, 2 cups mixed greens, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp lemon juice)
Dinner:
- Baked Salmon with Roasted Vegetables: Bake salmon and serve with roasted cauliflower and zucchini. (6 oz salmon, 1 cup cauliflower, 1 cup zucchini)
Snacks:
- Cucumber Slices with Almond Butter: Spread almond butter on cucumber slices. (1 cucumber, 2 tbsp almond butter)
- Cucumber Slices with Guacamole: Fresh cucumber slices with homemade guacamole. (1/2 cucumber, 1/4 cup guacamole)
Day 2
Breakfast:
- Asparagus Frittata: Make a frittata with eggs, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes, topped with sliced avocado. (3 eggs, 1/2 cup asparagus, 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/4 avocado)
Lunch:
- Chicken Salad Wraps: Creamy chicken salad (made with avocado instead of mayo) wrapped in collard greens. (4 oz chicken, 1/4 avocado, 2 large collard green leaves)
Dinner:
- Steak and Veggie Kebabs: Grill steak and vegetable kebabs. (6 oz steak, 1 cup mixed vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and zucchini)
Snacks:
- Celery with Sunflower Seed Butter: Spread sunflower seed butter on celery sticks. (2 celery stalks, 2 tbsp sunflower seed butter)
- Celery Sticks with Almond Butter: Fresh celery sticks with almond butter. (1 cup celery sticks, 2 tbsp almond butter)
Day 3
Breakfast:
- Chia Pudding: Chia seeds soaked in unsweetened almond milk, topped with berries and sunflower seeds. (2 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/4 cup mixed berries, 1 tbsp sunflower seeds)
Lunch:
- Kale Salad: Massaged kale salad with olive oil, topped with olives, sliced almonds, and roasted veggies. (2 cups kale, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp olives, 1 tbsp almonds, 1/2 cup roasted veggies)
Dinner:
- Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles: Homemade meatballs served over zucchini noodles with sugar-free pasta sauce. (4 oz ground beef for meatballs, 2 cups zucchini noodles, 1/4 cup sugar-free pasta sauce)
Snacks:
- Pumpkin Seeds and Green Apple Slices: A handful of pumpkin seeds and sliced apple. (1/4 cup pumpkin seeds, 1 small apple)
- Coconut Chips: Unsweetened coconut chips. (1/4 cup coconut chips)
Day 4
Breakfast:
- Candida-Friendly Pancakes: Make pancakes with almond flour and serve with a small portion of berries. (1/4 cup almond flour, 1 egg, 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/4 cup mixed berries)
Lunch:
- Veggie Frittata with Salad: A slice of leftover frittata with a side spinach salad and avocado. (1 slice frittata, 2 cups spinach, 1/4 avocado)
Dinner:
- Chicken Satay with Veggie Sticks: Grilled chicken skewers served with raw vegetable sticks and spicy almond butter sauce. (6 oz chicken, 1 cup mixed veggie sticks, 2 tbsp almond butter for sauce)
Snacks:
- Greek Yogurt with Cinnamon: Unsweetened Greek yogurt topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon. (1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1/4 tsp cinnamon)
- Pumpkin Seeds: Roasted pumpkin seeds. (1/4 cup pumpkin seeds)
Day 5
Breakfast:
- Berry Smoothie: Smoothie made with unsweetened almond milk, mixed berries, almond butter, and coconut oil. (1 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup mixed berries, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1 tsp coconut oil)
Lunch:
- Tuna Niçoise Salad: Tuna served over mixed greens with olives, green beans, and hard-boiled egg. (4 oz tuna, 2 cups mixed greens, 1 tbsp olives, 1/2 cup green beans, 1 hard-boiled egg)
Dinner:
- Roasted Chicken with Vegetables: Roasted skin-on chicken with sautéed peppers, onions, and eggplant. (6 oz chicken, 1 cup mixed sautéed vegetables)
Snacks:
- Seaweed Snacks: Nori sheets. (1 package seaweed snacks)
- Walnuts and Cucumber Slices: A handful of walnuts and fresh cucumber slices. (1/4 cup walnuts, 1/2 cucumber)
Day 6
Breakfast:
- Veggie Egg Scramble: Scrambled eggs with mixed vegetables. (2 eggs, 1/2 cup mixed vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, and onions)
Lunch:
- Chicken Soup with Side Salad: Homemade chicken soup served with a side salad of dark leafy greens. (1 cup chicken soup, 2 cups mixed dark leafy greens)
Dinner:
- Turkey-Stuffed Zucchini Boats: Zucchini boats stuffed with ground turkey and topped with sugar-free tomato sauce. (4 oz ground turkey, 1 large zucchini, 1/4 cup sugar-free tomato sauce)
Snacks:
- Avocado with Lemon: Half an avocado sprinkled with lemon juice. (1/2 avocado, 1 tsp lemon juice)
- Carrot Sticks with Hummus: Fresh carrot sticks dipped in homemade hummus. (1 cup carrot sticks, 1/4 cup hummus)
Day 7
Breakfast:
- Avocado Omelet: Omelet filled with avocado and topped with sugar-free salsa. (2 eggs, 1/4 avocado, 2 tbsp sugar-free salsa)
Lunch:
- Turkey Patties with Veggies: Grilled turkey patties with a side of sautéed broccoli and cherry tomatoes. (4 oz ground turkey for patties, 1 cup broccoli, 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes)
Dinner:
- Baked Cod with Green Beans and Carrots: Baked cod fillet served with steamed green beans and carrots. (6 oz cod, 1/2 cup green beans, 1/2 cup carrots)
Snacks:
- Macadamia Nuts: Raw macadamia nuts. (1/4 cup macadamia nuts)
- Almonds and Green Apple: A handful of raw almonds and a small green apple. (1/4 cup almonds, 1 small apple)
How to Cure Candida Naturally and Permanently?
While the candida diet is a crucial part of managing candida overgrowth, it’s not the only piece of the puzzle.
To cure candida naturally and permanently, consider these additional steps:
- Take probiotics: These good bacteria can help restore balance in your gut.
- Use antifungal herbs: Oregano oil, garlic, and pau d’arco are known for their antifungal properties.
- Manage stress: Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off candida.
- Get enough sleep: Proper rest is crucial for a healthy immune system.
- Exercise regularly: Physical activity can boost your immune system and help manage stress.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help flush out toxins and support your body’s natural detox processes.
Conclusion
Embarking on a candida diet can seem daunting at first, but with this 7-day candida diet plan and the knowledge you’ve gained about what to eat and what to avoid, you’re well-equipped to take on the challenge.
Remember, everyone’s body is different, so it may take some time to figure out what works best for you.
As you follow this candida diet meal plan, pay attention to how your body feels. Are your symptoms improving? Do you have more energy? These are all signs that you’re on the right track.
Don’t forget to consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.
They can provide personalized advice and ensure that you’re meeting all your nutritional needs while on the candida diet.
Lastly, be kind to yourself throughout this process. Changing your diet can be challenging, but the potential benefits to your health are worth it. You’ve got this!
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FAQs
What kills Candida fast?
While there’s no instant cure, a combination of dietary changes, antifungal supplements (like oregano oil or caprylic acid), and probiotics can help combat Candida effectively.
Stick to a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet and consider natural antifungals like garlic and coconut oil for best results.
Is rice ok on a candida diet?
Brown rice can be consumed in moderation on a candida diet. It’s a complex carbohydrate that breaks down slowly, avoiding rapid spikes in blood sugar.
However, white rice should be avoided as it’s more processed and can raise blood sugar levels more quickly.
Is coffee bad for candida?
Coffee is generally discouraged on a strict candida diet. It can be acidic and may contribute to gut imbalance.
However, some people find they can tolerate small amounts of coffee once their symptoms improve. If you do consume coffee, opt for organic, mold-free varieties.
Is green tea good for Candida?
Yes, green tea can be beneficial for those with Candida. It contains catechins, which have antifungal properties. Green tea also supports overall health and can be a good alternative to coffee during a candida cleanse.
Is cucumber good for a Candida diet?
Yes, cucumber is an excellent choice for a Candida diet. It’s low in sugar, high in water content, and contains nutrients that support overall health. Cucumbers can be eaten freely as part of your non-starchy vegetable intake on the candida diet.
Can Candida be cured?
While Candida is a naturally occurring yeast in our bodies and can’t be completely eliminated, overgrowth can be effectively managed and brought back into balance.