Candida albicans is a type of yeast that naturally lives in the mouth, digestive tract, skin, and other moist areas of the body.
It’s harmless when kept in check by the immune system, but when it grows excessively, it can cause a condition known as candidiasis.
Candidiasis may come in the form of a vaginal yeast infection or infection in the mouth, esophagus, under the breasts, or in the skin folds of the stomach.
Some people claim this yeast can lead to fatigue, headache, and poor memory.
Proponents of an anti-candida diet say it can stem the growth of this type of yeast, but there’s limited high-quality research that supports its effectiveness in preventing or treating candida infections.
Here’s what we do know about the connection between this type of yeast and the foods you eat.
1. Candidiasis Can Be Cured Through Diet Alone
For most people, altering diet won’t treat candida overgrowth, especially when it’s causing an active infection.
“Medical treatment, such as antifungal medication, is typically necessary,” says Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, director of nutrition programs and an associate professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health in Tampa. “Diet may play a supportive role in overall gut health, but it’s not a stand-alone cure.”
Candida is a normal part of our microbiome, but overgrowth requires medical attention. Dr. Wright says that healthy eating patterns that include fiber-rich plants and support a balanced gut microbiome may help reduce the risk of future overgrowth.
Part of the solution to preventing candida overgrowth is to improve the state of your diet, says Amy Bragagnini, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“Improve your diet by cutting back on too much red meat, added sugar, too much fried or convenience foods, and choosing whole grains, colorful vegetables, tofu/chickpeas and other beans, and a variety of nuts,” she says. “Balance is the key to a healthy microbiome.”
2. Following the Candida Diet Will Cure My Yeast Infection
The candida diet typically eliminates sugar, refined grains, certain fruits, alcohol, and sometimes dairy and fermented foods. The thought behind it is that avoiding these types of foods deprives the yeast of the food it needs to grow, making any type of yeast infection go away.
“The premise is to ‘starve’ candida,” says Wright. “While many people say they feel better on it, the scientific evidence supporting it is limited and low quality.”
Much of the benefit people notice from eating this way may come from eating fewer processed foods, more vegetables, and more balanced meals.
Bragagnini agrees that diet is an ineffective way to address vaginal yeast infections: “I would not recommend dietary interventions alone to treat a yeast infection. I advise you to speak with your healthcare adviser about how to treat an active yeast infection.”
Oral or topical antifungal medications treat most yeast infections. They are available over the counter and with a doctor’s prescription. Most clear up after a few days of taking it.
3. Eliminating Sugar Will Help Me Treat Candidiasis
There may be some truth to the concept that too much sugar in the diet can increase your odds of developing a yeast infection.
For instance, people with diabetes and poorly managed blood sugar levels are at greater risk of developing yeast infections. But preventing yeast from growing in the first place is not the same thing as treating an active infection.
“In lab studies, yeast can use sugar to grow, but your body’s internal sugar levels are tightly regulated by your metabolism,” says Wright. “Simply avoiding sugar in the diet won’t ‘starve’ any candida already in your body.”
Bragagnini’s take? “I do not recommend eliminating anything from your diet, unless you’ve found you are allergic or intolerant to certain foods. I advise you to begin checking the nutritional labels on foods you normally consume and aim to reduce your intake of added sugar and increase your intake of foods that are complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain bread, quinoa, barley, brown rice, lentils, and beans.”
4. Dairy Causes Candida Overgrowth
Does dairy feed candida? For most people, this isn’t the case, says Wright.
“Some versions of the candida diet eliminate dairy based on the idea that lactose (milk sugar) could promote yeast growth, but this hasn’t been proven in quality studies,” she says. “If someone has a milk allergy, lactose intolerance, or notices that dairy worsens symptoms, it may make sense to limit it; but for others, dairy can be part of a balanced diet, even when managing candida with medical treatment.”
Bragagnini advises her patients to speak with a registered dietitian if they feel their diet may be contributing to growth of candida.
“The dietitian can do a full diet history and investigate if you are consuming too much of any one food that may contribute to candida overgrowth,” she says.
5. You Shouldn’t Eat Fermented Foods if You Have Candida Overgrowth
Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi contain probiotics that may help restore a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut.
“Some fermented foods contain small amounts of yeast, but these are different strains from Candida albicans and generally don’t cause problems in healthy people,” says Wright.
Current research suggests that consuming a balanced diet that includes fermented foods can be a healthy way to reduce inflammation and support disease prevention.
“However, conflicting perspectives between the consumption of fermented foods and candida exist, and more scientific research is needed,” says Bragagnini.
The Takeaway
Candida albicans is a type of yeast that’s harmless when kept in check by the immune system. But when it grows excessively, it can cause yeast infections throughout the body.
Popular candida diet restrictions — like eliminating sugar, dairy, or fermented foods — have limited scientific support and won’t help treat active yeast infections.
A varied, fiber-rich diet with whole grains, vegetables, beans, and nuts can support gut health. Avoiding added sugars and ultra-processed foods may lower the risk for developing yeast infections.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Aaron DM. Candidiasis (Yeast Infection). Merck Manual. January 2024.
What is a Candida Cleanse Diet and What Does It Do? Mayo Clinic. June 28, 2025.
The Candida Diet: An Overview. The Candida Diet. January 14, 2021.
Reyna Franco, RDN, is a New York City–based dietitian-nutritionist, certified specialist in sports dietetics, and certified personal trainer. She is a diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and has a master's degree in nutrition and exercise physiology from Columbia University.
In her private practice, she provides medical nutrition therapy for weight management, sports nutrition, diabetes, cardiac disease, renal disease, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, food allergies, eating disorders, and childhood nutrition. To serve her diverse patients, she demonstrates cultural sensitivity and knowledge of customary food practices. She applies the tenets of lifestyle medicine to reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve health outcomes for her patients.
Franco is also a corporate wellness consultant who conducts wellness counseling and seminars for organizations of every size. She taught sports nutrition to medical students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, taught life cycle nutrition and nutrition counseling to undergraduate students at LaGuardia Community College, and precepts nutrition students and interns. She created the sports nutrition rotation for the New York Distance Dietetic Internship program.
She is the chair of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine's Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist Member Interest Group. She is also the treasurer and secretary of the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, having previously served in many other leadership roles for the organization, including as past president, awards committee chair, and grant committee chair, among others. She is active in the local Greater New York Dietetic Association and Long Island Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, too.
Cathy Garrard is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing and editing health content. Her work has appeared in print and online for clients such as UnitedHealthcare, SilverSneakers, Bio News, GoodRx, Posit Science, Prevention, Reader's Digest, and dozens of other media outlets and healthcare brands. She also teaches fact-checking and media literacy at the NYU School for Professional Studies.
