Onychomycosis, commonly known as toenail fungus, is a prevalent condition affecting approximately 1 in 25 people. It is characterized by nail discoloration, deformity, detachment, thickening, crumbling, and ridging. While it's more common in older individuals, affecting one in five people over 60 and half of those over 70, toenail fungus can affect anyone. This article explores dietary tips that may help combat toenail fungus, complementing traditional treatments.
Understanding Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a fungal infection that develops when microscopic organisms invade and thrive in the warm, damp environments around your toenails. These fungal spores are commonly found in the air and can grow if they land on a receptive surface, such as your toenail. They feed off the nail tissues, gradually burrowing into the skin under the nail. Over time, the nail thickens and may lift off the nail bed as fungal debris accumulates.
The infection is difficult to treat because the fungus can hide deep inside the nail, protected from both the blood supply and topical treatments. Recurrence after treatment is common due to residual hyphae or spores that were not previously eliminated.
The Role of Diet in Fighting Toenail Fungus
While there isn't an immediate cure for toenail fungus, incorporating specific dietary habits may support your immune system and overall health, potentially aiding in the fight against the infection. Eating a balanced diet supports your immune system. A strong immune system could help prevent toenail fungus. Some patients find it helpful to incorporate anti-fungal foods as part of their daily eating habits. Research has suggested it may be beneficial to eat foods that are made with specific ingredients and oils that may improve the quality of the bacteria in the gut.
Foods to Include in Your Diet
Fresh Vegetables, Chicken, and Fish: These foods may help keep the body healthy, improve the immune system, and are often considered when beginning treatment for toenail fungus.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Fermented Foods: Eating foods and oils that improve your gut health is a great way to ward off toenail fungus. Try to eat fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir.
Garlic, Onions, and Asparagus: Include garlic, onions, and asparagus in your diet.
Whole Grains, Fruits, and Vegetables: These foods contribute to a healthy gut.
Nuts, Seeds, and Oily Fish: These provide essential nutrients and healthy fats.
Healthy Fats: Consume healthy fats like olive oil and avocados.
Read also: Walnut Keto Guide
Probiotics: Research shows that probiotics may help prevent the growth of various fungi, which may be able to reduce the chance of an infection.
Water: It’s important to drink a lot of water. Lots of water!
Foods to Avoid
Sugary Foods and Refined Carbs: Foods with lots of sugar and refined carbs feed toenail fungus.
Alcohol: You should also avoid alcohol. All of these things will wreck the healthy balance in your gut. And that could lead to yeast overgrowth. That, in turn, could lead to a fungal infection. Especially sugar.
Additional Strategies to Combat Toenail Fungus
Beyond dietary changes, several other strategies can help manage and prevent toenail fungus:
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP
Topical Treatments: Over-the-counter and prescription antifungal preparations can be applied on and under the nail. Effective prescription products include efinaconazole (Jublia), tavaborole (Kerydin), and ciclopirox (Penlac).
Oral Medications: Prescription oral antifungals like itraconazole (Sporanox) and terbinafine (Lamisil) can be effective, but they may have side effects and require liver function monitoring.
Natural Remedies: Some patients prefer more natural antifungal treatments. The most common remedies include using vinegar, cornmeal, baking soda, and essential oils including oregano, lavender, coconut, tea tree, olive leaf, and orange.
Good Foot Hygiene: Keep your feet clean and dry. Wash daily with soap and water, and dry thoroughly, especially between the toes. Wear socks that wick away perspiration.
Proper Nail Care: Keep toenails trimmed short and straight. Disinfect tools like clippers or files before and after use.
Breathable Footwear: Choose shoes made of breathable materials like leather or mesh. Avoid wearing the same pair two days in a row; give them time to dry completely.
Antifungal Powders or Sprays: Incorporate antifungal powders or sprays into your routine, especially if you are prone to sweaty feet.
Avoid Nail Polish: Try not to wear toenail polish. Wearing polish seems to damage the nail and may prevent the nail from getting the air that it needs. If you use nail polish, choose breathable formulas.
Treat Your Shoes: It is important to treat your shoes to kill any fungus that may be contributing to your onychomycosis.
Consider a Candida Cleanse: Candida is a natural fungus/yeast that is found in your large intestine. But, consuming excessive sugar over many years can contribute to Candida overgrowth which in simple terms, prevents your body’s ability to fight off fungal infections.
Address Underlying Conditions: It is important to treat your skin as this can be an underlying cause of your onychomycosis.
Natural Treatments
Given all the problems with prescription antifungals, there has been “a renewed interest” in natural remedies.
Tea Tree Oil: A study combining the antifungal drug in Lotrimin cream with tea tree oil seemed pretty effective. A head-to-head study compared tea tree oil with clotrimazole, a common antifungal drug. In a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, patients received twice-daily application on the nail of either the drug or pure tea tree oil over a six-month period and it did just as well as the drug! “The two preparations were comparable in efficacy of cure, clinical assessment, and subjective improvement. Paint the tea tree oil directly onto the affected nail twice daily with a cotton swab.
Oregano Oil: Oregano oil contains thymol. According to a 2016 review, thymol has antifungal and antibacterial properties. To treat toenail fungus, apply oregano oil to the affected nail twice daily with a cotton swab. Some people use oregano oil and tea tree oil together. Both products are potent and may cause irritation or allergic reactions. Combining them may increase this risk.
Vicks VapoRub: Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment. Although designed for cough suppression, its active ingredients (camphor and eucalyptus oil) may help treat toenail fungus. To use, apply a small amount of Vicks VapoRub to the affected area at least once a day.
Snakeroot extract: Snakeroot (Ageratina pichinchensis) extract is an antifungal made from plants in the sunflower family. For the study, snakeroot extract was applied to the affected area every third day for the first month, twice a week for the second month, and once a week for the third month.
Ozonized oils: Ozonized oils are oils like olive oil and sunflower oil that are “injected” with ozone gas. According to research from 2020, this type of ozone exposure in low concentrations for a short duration can then inactivate many organisms, such as fungi, yeast, and bacteria.
Listerine mouthwash: Supporters of the treatment recommend soaking the affected foot in a basin of amber-colored Listerine for 30 minutes daily.
Garlic: You may treat toenail fungus with garlic by placing chopped or crushed garlic cloves on the affected area for 30 minutes daily. It may be better, and less smelly, to treat it from the inside out with garlic capsules. Take as directed by the manufacturer.
Apple cider vinegar: If you want to give vinegar a try, soak the affected foot in one part vinegar to two parts warm water for up to 20 minutes daily.
Spirulina (Arthrospira maxima)
Spruce tree resin
Propolis extract
The Importance of Early Treatment
It’s extremely important to treat toenail fungus immediately. If you don’t, the infection will get worse. It will (at some point) spread to other parts of your body, like your other toes, skin, and maybe even your fingernails. The sooner you treat your toenail fungus, the better. Don’t wait until the fungus spreads to other parts of your body.
When to See a Podiatrist
While many cases of toenail fungus can be managed with over-the-counter treatments and lifestyle adjustments, it’s important to consult a podiatrist in certain situations:
- If self-care strategies and over-the-counter medications do not help.
- If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system.
- If you experience pain or irreversible toenail damage.
- If the infection spreads to other nails or skin.
- If you notice any signs of a diabetic foot ulcer.
A podiatrist can provide a proper diagnosis, recommend the best treatment methods, and develop an individualized plan to resolve your unique foot and ankle needs. In some cases, surgical procedures may be needed to remove the toenail fungus.
Prevention is Key
Preventing toenail fungus recurrence is all about maintaining good foot hygiene and making mindful choices. Public areas like pools, gyms, and locker rooms are hotspots for fungal infections. Regularly check your feet for signs of toenail fungus, such as discoloration, thickening, or brittleness.