Food Psych #291: The Truth About Candida Overgrowth
We discuss why a restrictive “candida diet” is unnecessary, why the concept of “candida overgrowth” as packaged and sold by wellness culture is largely pseudoscience, how this dubious diagnosis gained traction, and evidence-based ways to treat frequent yeast infections.
Resources Mentioned
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter, Food Psych Weekly
Submit your questions for a chance to have them answered in the weekly newsletter
My online course, Intuitive Eating Fundamentals
My first book, Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating
My forthcoming book, The Wellness Trap: Break Free from Diet Culture, Disinformation, and Dubious Diagnoses and Find Your True Well-Being
My list of providers specializing in disordered eating
Evidence-based treatments for vaginal yeast infections
Mixed evidence on probiotics and vaginal yeast infections, with some studies showing probiotics may offer some short-term help in treatment, while others have found that probiotics don’t seem to help with treatment or prevention
Fact sheet on invasive candidiasis
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology paper describing so-called candidiasis hypersensitivity syndrome as “speculative and unproven”
2006 study (CW: nutritional minutiae) showing that consuming a large amount of sugar didn’t raise vaginal glucose levels
1999 study (CW: nutritional minutiae) showing that sugar intake had no effect on candida colonization or infection of the mouth or gastrointestinal tract among “healthy” participants
2017 study (CW: nutritional minutiae) showing that among patients with recurrent vaginal yeast infections, blood sugar levels weren’t any different between people who responded to oral antifungal medication and those who didn’t