When it comes to candida overgrowth in the body, there are several different foods that can be used in order to inhibit its growth.  These foods have been used for centuries as both food and medicine.  In fact, many of the foods included on this list can help soothe digestive inflammation and improve nutrient absorption.

Those suffering from a candida overgrowth in the body often have poor digestive health.  This is because when candida morphs into its pathogenic fungal form, it can overcrowd the good bacteria and can contribute to inflammation of the intestines.  It’s also well known that candida can release over 70 toxic byproducts which can have an extremely negative impact on both gut health and the overall health of the body.

As result, we highly recommended you start consuming some of these foods included on the list.  Also, for those looking for a more advanced solution, our candida diet protocol can be excellent for anyone dealing with a candida overgrowth.  Also, for delicious recipe ideas that can inhibit the growth of candida in the body, be sure to check out our Crush Candida Recipe Cook Book.

With that said, let’s get on with the best foods for candida!

Top 8 Foods That Fight Candida

1. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Raw organic apple cider vinegar is a powerful beverage that has been used for centuries in order to treat digestive aliments.  In fact, it’s been well documented that Hippocrates used raw apple cider vinegar on the majority of his patients in order to induce faster recovery in the body.

Hippocrates was one of the first to understand that maintaining the health of the gut is extremely important for preventing disease and sickness in the body.  Raw ACV naturally contains high amounts of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.  It also contains high amounts of trace minerals which can help improve optimal health.

Apple cider vinegar is naturally acidic.  This acidity helps build stomach acid levels in the body which in return can help neutralize pathogenic bacteria and fungus in the gut.  Maintaining strong stomach acid levels is extremely important for anyone dealing with a dsybosis in the gut due to bacterial and fungal over-growths such as candida.

2. Sea Salt

Sea Salt is probably one of the simplest foods you can incorporate into your diet in order to inhibit the growth of candida in the body.  This is because sea salt naturally contains anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.  It’s for this reason that sea salt was used abundantly in ancient food preservation methods.

However, sea salt also contains the important mineral, chloride.  This mineral is needed in order for the formation of stomach acid levels in the body.  Interestingly, many who go on low salt diets may begin to notice that their digestion becomes worse over time.  This happens because sea salt is the main source of chloride in the diet.   Without chloride, stomach acid levels will inevitably suffer and digestion can worsen.

Luckily, sea salt, unlike table salt, is extremely healthy for the body.  It contains 84 trace minerals that can all contribute to better biological functioning in the body.  Simply salting your food to taste can be one of the best ways to inhibit the growth of candida.

With that being said, it’s important that you always use a high quality sea salt such as Celtic or Pink Himalayan.  Table salt has undergone a bleaching process and has had all of its minerals removed.  For this reason, we highly recommend you stay away from all forms of table salt.

3. Bitter Herbs

Bitter herbs have become a forgotten secret of the past for those dealing with candida issues and digestive troubles.  For centuries, bitter foods and herbs were always incorporated into the diet in order to promote health and well-being.  Unfortunately, due to modern societies palate becoming corrupt, bitter foods are often shunned.

However, bitter foods have an incredible ability to naturally increase stomach acid levels in the body.  This is because all bitter foods stimulate the vagus nerve on the back of the tongue which signals to the brain and gut to produce more stomach acid and bile.  Again, this increase in stomach acid production can help inhibit the growth of candida and also facilitate in digestion.

In fact, consuming bitter foods can significantly reduce sugar cravings in the body which in return helps re-balance the gut.  Traditional Chinese Medicine frequently advised to take bitter herbs in order to improve digestive troubles, facilitate digestion, and inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungus in the gut.

4. Animal Protein

Shunning all forms of animal protein is not advisable if you’re suffering from a candida overgrowth in the body.  This is because animal protein is the one food that can help repair the gut and correct imbalances in the microbiome.  In fact, animal protein is extremely easy to digest and does not contain anti-nutrients which can promote inflammation in the intestines.

Furthermore, animal protein does not contain any form of sugar.  As a result, candida is unable to use animal protein in order to survive.  Those who do not consume animal protein due to certain belief systems should consider observing nature.

In nature, almost all forms of plant foods are toxic and require extensive processing in order to make them edible.  Any fruit that can be found will only be seasonal and will be extremely low in calories and either bitter, sour, or slightly sweet.  However, animal foods are abundant year round and contain every single nutrient that the human body needs in order to survive.

With that being said, high quality organic animal protein contains a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that can assist in repair of gut issues caused by candida.  It also requires the body to produce a strong stomach acid to digest which in return naturally neutralizes pathogenic bacteria and fungus in the gut.

5. Fermented Vegetables

Up until recently, fermented vegetables played an extremely important role in the diets of various cultures and tribes around the world.  However, thanks to modern day storage techniques, fermenting vegetables as a preservation method has all but been forgotten.  Unfortunately, this is bad news for those wishing to have a well-balanced gut free from pathogenic bacteria and fungus.

This is because fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut, natto, kimchi, and miso contain extremely high amounts of live probiotics.  In fact, it’s been estimated that there are over 6 billion live microorganisms in a small tablespoon of sauerkraut.  These live organisms can help repopulate the gut and can help crowd out the bad bacteria in the gut.  This can be great for those dealing with a candida overgrowth.

With that said, there are some individuals who may do poorly with fermented foods due to histamine intolerance.  Luckily, we have written about histamine intolerance before and have gone in detail about what we believe is the true cause of histamine intolerance in the body.

6. Raw Carrot

Eating a raw organic carrot each day can be a great way to naturally combat fungal over-growths in the gut such as candida.  In fact, there is research showing that raw carrots have anti-candida properties and can be extremely beneficial for the gut (1).

For best results, shred 1 raw carrot in a bowel and then add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar, and pinch of Celtic sea salt.  This recipe was inspired by the famous doctor and researcher, Ray Peat.  We’ve found that this raw carrot salad can be excellent for those with candida issues.

However, be sure to not overdo it.  We only recommend that you use one carrot and not to go overboard.  More is not necessarily better.  Also, raw carrots are somewhat high in sugar and may or may not feed candida in large doses.

7. Coconut Oil

Extra virgin organic coconut oil is one of the most powerful and beneficial foods on the entire planet.  This amazing food has been used for centuries by ancient Native American Islanders as both food and medicine.  Coconut oil contains a powerful anti-fungal substance called lauric acid.

Research has shown that coconut oil can inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungus in the gut such as candida (2).  Also, coconut oil is an excellent source of saturated fat and can help soothe an inflamed digestive tract.  Many suffering with candida over-growths in the gut have found that supplementing with a few tablespoons of coconut oil daily can help keep bowel movements regular and can help relieve constipation.

8. Raw Honey

Although raw honey naturally contains sugar, it can be extremely beneficial for those suffering with candida.  This is because raw honey contains powerful anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties which can help eliminate pathogens from the gut.

In fact, one study found that raw honey helped inhibit the growth of several different species of candida (3).  For best results, we recommended you consume a local raw honey from your area, or purchase a high quality raw Manuka honey.  Also, raw honey can help tame sugar cravings in those with candida while also providing the body with nourishment in ways white sugar can not.