Are carrots, Kalmata olives, and grapefruit juice ok on the Candida diet or not?

by Abby
(Los Angeles)

Hi, I am about to start an anti-candida diet. I’ve had gut issues for years and have worked closely with my integrative doc on healing dysbiosis and SIBO. However, I am thinking that many or all of my issues are coming from Candida as I still have issues. Also spit test clearly indicated Candida.

My question is, you say carrots are ok- a lot of other Candida diets say cut the carrots due to the sugar content. Can you expand on that? Same with grapefruit. Most say no citrus except for lemon or lime. Also, how about Kalmata olives? The ones I usually buy are brined in salt, olive oil, and red vinegar. I thought all vinegars were a no-no except for ACV, but perhaps you can expand on that also. Thank you.

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Jul 15, 2021
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by: Dan

I actually have a page set up here on carrots. Although cooking carrots increases the sugar content of carrots, raw carrots are very low in carbohydrates, 6 grams of carbs and 2.9 grams of natural sugars. The glycemic index is very low at 16 so they will not cause blood sugar spikes. Cooking them doubles the carbs and raises the glycemic index to 49 so it is best to eat them raw occasionally.

You should not cut off all carbs on the Candida diet because the red and white blood cells need some carbs daily to function correctly. White blood cells are basically part of your immune system and it is best to not reduce their function through starvation. A healthy immune system is important when dealing with Candida over growth, or any other pathogen. I suggest 50 to 60 grams of carbs per day so if you eat a carrot, add those carbs to your daily total.

I also have a page set up about grapefruit here. Grapefruit does have more carbs than carrots, a half a grapefruit contains 13 grams of carbs and 8.5 grams of sugars. The glycemic index is 25 which has been deemed safe for diabetics so it will not spike blood sugar levels. Grapefruit does have anti-fungal properties but it won't be as much as the pill form of grapefruit seed extract. Compared to lemons, lemons have half the carbs and only 1.5 grams of sugars per one lemon. That is quite a bit less and does make lemons a safer option. However, the glycemic load of grapefruit is 3, which is minimal, so in our opinion, half a grapefruit every now and then won't hurt you. But, grapefruit interacts with many prescription drugs so it is best to consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any medications.

Olives have so many health benefits they could almost be considered a super food. I looked up the process on how Kalmata olives are made and I don't think the small amount of vinegar used will hurt you, unless you are eating them by the handful. Regular black olives can be eaten anytime.

Jul 15, 2021
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Thank you!
by: Abby

Thank you!

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