For individuals diagnosed with a yeast infection, adopting a Candida diet is often recommended. This diet aims to deprive yeast production of the foods it needs to multiply and grow, potentially reversing the disease. The overproduction of yeast in your body requires that you eat foods that don't encourage the production of excess yeast. Avoiding sugar is a major part of that because the yeast attaches to the sugar in your body and multiplies. So an obvious way to reduce yeast is to eliminate as much sugar as possible from your diet. Those who are diagnosed with a yeast infection often adopt a diet that avoids sugar, alcohol, grains, breads, peanuts, dairy, and other yeast containing items. The alternative to most sugar producing breads is yeast free bread. There are many delicious yeast free breads that are specially manufactured to meet the needs of those following a Candida diet. Because there is no yeast, you avoid the sugar issues. Furthermore, you can eat yeast free bread and not suffer the side effects of Candida. This article explores various bread options suitable for a Candida diet, focusing on yeast-free and sugar-free alternatives, along with recipes and considerations for incorporating them into your eating plan.
Understanding the Candida Diet
Foods play a very important role in yeast infection formation. The best foods to avoid with Candida are ones containing sugar and refined carbohydrates as these often result in an overproduction of yeast. Since people with Candida also are known to have leaky gut syndrome or intestinal bacterial overgrowth, the best foods to eat are ones that strengthen healthy digestion, nutritional extraction and a well-functioning immune system. These types of food include ones that are high in protein because they will help regulate healthy food breakdown in the body. Along with high protein foods, you need to incorporate leafy green vegetables, such as artichokes, broccoli, spinach and asparagus, because they contain beneficial sugars that help good bacteria ignite recovery in the body.
The primary goal of the Candida diet is to eliminate foods that promote yeast overgrowth, such as sugar and refined carbohydrates. By removing these fuel sources, the diet aims to reduce yeast production and alleviate the symptoms associated with Candida overgrowth.
The Importance of Yeast-Free Bread
The alternative to most sugar producing breads is yeast free bread. There are many delicious yeast free breads that are specially manufactured to meet the needs of those following a Candida diet. Because there is no yeast, you avoid the sugar issues. Furthermore, you can eat yeast free bread and not suffer the side effects of Candida. Traditional bread relies on yeast for leavening, which can contribute to sugar levels in the body and exacerbate Candida symptoms. Yeast-free bread options provide a suitable alternative, eliminating the risk of feeding yeast overgrowth.
Food for Life Yeast-Free Bread
The great news is that Food for Life has yeast free bread! What’s great about Food For Life’s yeast free bread is that it is high in vegetable based protein so you are eating the perfect bread that both avoids yeast that converts into sugar and strengthens your immune system with whole food that is protein packed. This yeast free bread formula is the result of countless hours of research and development and can only be made by master bakers. In addition to these breads being yeast free, they are also gluten free. This is very important for people with Celiac Disease because Celiac can often lead to Candida. Right now, you can get great tasting yeast free, gluten free brown rice bread and yeast free, gluten free multi-seed rice bread. Some other products that are yeast free include all varieties of the Food for Life tortillas, as well as the pastas and cereals. Food for Life's yeast free breads, tortillas, pastas, and cereals are all natural and only made from organic ingredients. No chemicals, preservatives, GMO's, or anything artificial are ever used. These great yeast free foods from Food for Life help you lower your overall sugar intake, which helps reduce yeast production. Reducing your sugar intake will reduce the side effects of Candida and Celiac Disease.
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Candida Diet-Friendly Baguette Recipe
Looking for the best candida diet bread recipe? This candida diet bread recipe is more than just a substitute - it's a hearty, satisfying addition to your weekly routine. This recipe features nutrient-dense ingredients such as almond flour, coconut flour, and psyllium husk powder, which provide essential vitamins, minerals, fibre, and healthy fats to support your well-being. This candida diet-friendly baguette bread is incredibly versatile. Best enjoyed fresh from the oven for a crispy crust!
This recipe offers a satisfying and versatile bread option for those following a Candida diet.
Ingredients
- Almond flour
- Coconut flour
- Ground flaxseed
- Psyllium husk powder
- Baking powder
- Sea salt
- Warm water
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Eggs
Almond flour, derived from blanched almonds, is low in carbs and high in healthy fats, fibre, and protein. Psyllium husk powder helps create the classic bread-like texture and improves binding without the use of gluten. Extra virgin olive oil brings just enough moisture and a smooth, subtle richness.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175°C / 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a reusable silicone mat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, ground flaxseed, psyllium husk powder, baking powder, and sea salt.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the warm water, olive oil, and eggs.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until a thick, sticky dough forms.
- Use a silicone spatula to scrape down the bowl when incorporating. Leave the mixture to sit for a couple of minutes to allow the flour to absorb the excess water.
- One-by-one shape the dough into a baguette shape, on the prepared baking sheet.
- Score each baguette diagonally with a sharp knife.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the outside is golden, crisp, and firm to the touch.
Storage
Store your baguettes in an airtight container or wrapped in parchment inside a paper bag and keep refrigerated for 2-3 days. For longer storage, slice, and freeze for up to one month.
Tips and Substitutions
- Egg-free option: Yes, you can substitute with more ground flaxseed to create flax eggs (1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoon water = 1 flax egg), but the result will be denser and not as light.
- Why has my bread turned purple? This can happen with certain brands of psyllium husk. It's still completely safe (and delicious!) to eat.
Coconut Flour Bread
Coconut is a tremendously versatile ingredient, and you can integrate it into your diet in many different ways. Consider using a high quality, organic coconut flour instead of your regular baking flour. It’s much dryer than your regular multipurpose flour, so it’s a little different to cook with. If you’re not getting the consistency that you need, you can also mix it with other low carb flours like almond flour and buckwheat flour.
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This coconut bread is a filling snack that will help to kill any hunger pangs during your Candida treatment. You can eat this bread as much as you want during the diet. Coconut bread is one of the lowest-carb breads that you can find, and it’s also high in fiber which is great for maintaining a healthy digestive system.
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut flour
- ½ cup buckwheat flour
- ½ cup coconut milk (use only the creamy part on the top)
- 5 eggs
- 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
- ½ tsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. aluminum-free baking powder
- Stevia, to taste
Instructions
- Blend together the eggs, coconut oil, stevia and salt.
- Now add the coconut flour, coconut milk, buckwheat flour and baking powder, and whisk until you don’t see any lumps.
- Pour into a loaf pan greased with coconut oil and bake at 175C (350F) for 30 minutes.
- Now the top of the loaf should be firm and a light golden color, and you can remove from the oven and allow it to cool.
Gluten-Free Vegan Bread Loaf
One of the pleasures that I have been indulging in on since this diet has been a homemade Paleo bread loaf that is also yeast free. I buy it from an LA-based health food store chain however it comes at a pretty penny, like $1.75 a slice (and with 8-9 slices per loaf, you can do the math and see that this has been a very expensive indulgence). I felt it was worth the cost because 1). It was something I could eat; and B). It gave a bit of normalcy back to my life. After a good month of buying a loaf every week I said to myself, “Hey you, learn how to make your own bread at home.” And that is exactly what happened (obviously you know this, you read the dang title to this post…) So here you go. Adapted from my Gluten Free Vegan Bread Loaf, this is a quick go-to bread recipe that is perfect for anyone who is trying to avoid grains, cannot have yeast and/or is battling with a Candida overgrowth.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 c. gluten-free oat flour
- 3/4 c. tapioca flour
- 3/4 c. chickpea flour
- 1/4 c. chia meal
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1 c. unsweetened applesauce
- 1 c. non-dairy milk
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, chia meal, baking powder, soda and sea salt until well combined.
- Pour the batter into a greased 8″ loaf pan, sprinkle raw sunflower seeds over the top (optional) and allow to sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Bake for 60 minutes or until cooked all the way through (use a knife or toothpick to stick in the middle to check for gumminess).
- Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool in pan until cool enough to touch.
- Once the loaf has fully cooled, slice it and store either in your fridge or freezer in a sealed bag.
Important Considerations
Please do note that just because there is a bread now that you can eat, doesn’t mean you should overdo it. In fact I try not to eat a slice every day because part of living with candida is learning to rotate foods everyday. Also, this is still a high-carb treat and should be treated as such: a treat, thus concluding my Public Service Announcement. If you cannot have chickpea or nut flours, use this post as a reference to guide you to a good substitute. Please note that each gluten free flour does absorb liquids differently so the liquid in the recipe might have to be altered a little, depending on what flour you substitute.
Nut-Free and Lower Sugar Bread
Because I struggle with Lyme, mold, and candida, I will be on a lower sugar diet for the rest of my life. This bread is it. I can't believe it, and the great thing is it's so easy to make.
Ingredients
- Flours (gluten-free blend)
- Baking soda
- Apple cider vinegar
- Eggs
- Water
- Oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix the dry ingredients (flours, baking soda, salt) together in a large bowl.
- Whisk the wet ingredients (eggs, water, oil, vinegar) in a separate bowl.
- Mix all until well combined.
- Pour batter into a well-oiled loaf pan.
- Bake 35-45 minutes or until springy to the touch.
- Remove and cover with a dish towel (while still in the pan).
- Let sit 5-10 minutes.
- Uncover, cut, and enjoy!
Leek and Roasted Garlic Focaccia Bread
Here is a really filling, satisfying bread recipe that uses coconut flour and golden flaxseed meal. You can use it as a sandwich bread or just eat it as a snack by itself. The recipe calls for roasted garlic (garlic is an antifungal too), so I have included directions at the bottom of the page to help you with that. If you’re switching to a low carbohydrate, anti-inflammatory diet like the Candida diet, it is often helpful to find substitutes for the foods that you like to eat. So, for example, you might try zucchini noodle lasagna instead of your regular lasagna, and you could use this bread or some coconut bread instead of your usual store-bought loaf.
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Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 leek, sliced into thin rings
- 3 cloves roasted garlic, mashed
- 4 egg whites
- 4 egg yolks
- ⅓ cup kefir
- ⅓ cup coconut flour, sifted
- ⅓ cup golden flaxseed meal
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. Herbs de Provence
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium low heat. Add sliced leek and sauté until softened, but not browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in mashed roasted garlic cloves, set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). With a brush, oil a 13×9 inch baking pan with olive oil. Cut a piece of parchment paper the width of the bottom of the baking pan and long enough to overlap the ends of the pan. Brush parchment paper with olive oil and place it in the pan.
- In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form, set aside. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks and kefir, set aside. In a large bowl, combine sifted coconut flour, golden flaxseed meal, salt and baking soda. Fold egg whites and egg yolk mixture into flour mixture until just combined.
- Spread batter evenly in prepared baking pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove baking pan from oven and scatter top of bread with leek and roasted garlic mixture, drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, season with Herbs de Provence and salt and pepper to taste. Return baking pan to oven and bake bread for another 10 minutes, or until edges begin to brown.
- Cool, slice, serve. It makes a great bread for sandwiches!
How to Make Roasted Garlic
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Slice off top quarter of a whole head of garlic. Place garlic head in a small baking dish, cut side up, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cover baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour.
- Let garlic cool slightly before using. Refrigerate unused portion in an airtight container for 1 to 2 weeks.
Incorporating Coconut Products
Coconut oil is an incredibly healthy supplement that should be one of your first choices as an antifungal. It that contains 3 different fatty acids (caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid) that have been found to be effective against Candida. Coconut oil is a really easy and inexpensive antifungal food to add to your diet.
There’s another reason why coconut oil is great for a Candida diet. Many Candida sufferers lose weight while on the Candida Diet because of the changes in their eating routine. Coconut oil is high in calories (remember these are ‘good’ calories, not like junk food!). So if you feel like you are losing too much weight, coconut oil is a great way to boost your calorie intake.
If you’re struggling to create a tasty salad dressing while on the diet, or you’re frustrated that you can’t use soy sauce, don’t worry. Coconut aminos are a wonderful substitute for regular soy sauce, while coconut vinegar will make some delicious salad dressings and marinades. Both are packed full of nutrients and are good options for a Candida diet.