Candidiasis – what to eat?

Candida infections require more aspects of treatment. In order to get healthy, it is necessary to eliminate certain everyday ingredients that may worsen the infection. The remaining ones must be balanced.

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by yeasts of the genus Candida. The fungus Candida albicans is the most common cause of infection. It is normally present in the intestines, genitals, mouth, pharynx, and conjunctiva of a healthy person’s microbiome. During a state of low immunity or other pathological processes, the infection can spread to the skin, mucous membranes, and some internal organs.

What not to eat?

The aim of non-pharmacological treatment is to balance the microbiome and avoid foods that promote bacterial growth. It is important to avoid consuming foods that are high in sugar because Candida uses them for growth and biofilm formation. In addition, sugar enhances its ability to adhere to epithelial cells. These sugars include refined sugars, sweeteners, honey, and fruits with high sugar levels such as bananas, dates, and grapes.

It is recommended to cut out cereals that contain gluten such as barley, rye, spelt, and wheat. It is also important to eliminate various sweet sauces that are full of sugar and preservatives, as well as refined oils, fats, and cured meats, as they can hurt long-term treatment. Cheese and milk can also have a negative impact, as well as drinks that contain alcohol and caffeine.

What can help us?

It is important to introduce ingredients that can help the organism fight the infection, such as foods rich in vitamin D. It has a fungicidal effect on the cell membrane and metabolism of C. albicans. It also inhibits the accumulation of inflammatory cells in tissues and lowers the levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D can be found in sardines, mackerel, cod, pork and chicken liver, and egg yolk.

Along with vitamin C, vitamin E has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the activity of nuclear factor NF-kB. As an addition to amphotericin, both can be used since they reduce its cytotoxic effects. Vitamin E can be found in nuts, seeds, vegetables, and oils. Omega-3 fatty acids can have a positive effect on the immune system and may help reduce the occurrence of oral candidiasis. Selenium is an important micronutrient because it is a component of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial proteins.

Probiotics can also improve the recovery of the microbiota after a fungal infection. They achieve this by producing lactic acid, which reduces the intestinal pH to an unfavorable condition for Candida. Additionally, they help reduce the number of intestinal pathogens by competing for receptor binding on epithelial cells. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains are often used as a supplement to candidiasis treatment.

Ingredients with especially high antifungal properties are garlic, cinnamon, ginger, thyme, lemon grass, coconut and olive oil, apple cider vinegar, fermented vegetables, and yogurt.

Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has been used in folk medicine for centuries and has also been studied for its bioactive compounds by scientists. The most prominent one is allicin (diallylthiosulfinate) with many anticancerogenic, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and other properties. Allicin is a compound in garlic formed through the action of the enzyme alliinase after mechanical or microbial tissue damage. The efficiency of allicin against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was found to be equivalent to antibiotics. In addition to bacteria, it can inhibit spore germination and hyphal growth in fungi. Its strong antifungal properties are comparable to those of the medication fluconazole.

Garlic, along with other foods and supplements, can aid in the treatment of candidiasis. However, it is crucial to follow the prescribed therapy and consult with your doctor and pharmacist.