Losing weight initially is pretty common on the Candida diet and most people usually welcome the loss.  However, sometimes it can be problematic for some people like our friend John, who submits the following question:

Dear Cynthia, I purchased your book, Candida Secrets, and found it very informative. However, I don’t see anything about weight loss on this diet unless I missed it. I have a mild case of Candida and have been on the diet 7 weeks. I have lost 23 lbs during that time and I am very drawn looking. I am going to stop my diet because of losing so much weight .Do you cover weight loss in you book ? I am not leveling off, just keep losing. John

Hi John, No I don’t have anything about weight loss in the Candida Secrets book, but now that you bring it up, I will be sure and add a section to address this issue in my next update. Thanks for the suggestion.

Although weight loss is pretty typical at first, after a while there is usually some leveling off. Seven weeks may not be long enough for leveling off to have occurred.

There are a variety of reasons that weight loss happens on the Candida diet:

1. Sugar and all foods that break down into sugar are what gets stored as fat in the body.
2. You’re usually eating less
3. You’re eliminating sugar and refined foods. Sugar and refined foods upset the body’s hormones, endocrine system and metabolism, which often results in weight gain. So when they are removed the body is readjusting itself.
4. You’re reducing carbohydrates. Too many carbohydrates, even complex ones, give the body too much sugar and interfere in metabolism. When reduced, then metabolism improves.
5. Since many of the foods eliminated from the diet while on the Candida diet are common allergens, you’re likely to be eliminating some foods that you are allergic to or sensitive to. Food sensitivities and allergies are often at the root of weight gain, so when the food is eliminated the weight comes off.

Here are a few steps that can be taken to minimize weight loss when following the Candida diet:

1. Although sugar and foods that break down into sugar are what gets stored as fat, if we increase foods that are high in calories it too can increase weight.
2. If seeds and nuts are tolerated, then add flax seed, sunflower seeds, walnuts, macadamias and almonds, to the diet. These foods are all high in fat, but still healthy.
3. Although I recommend avoidance of all grains, even alternative grains, you could add a few of the non-glutenous grains to the diet like buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, millet and brown rice. (Put nut butter or oil on these grains.)
4. Increase usage of healthy oils like coconut oil, walnut oil, olive oil or avocado oil. Put them on your veggies and meat. Coconut oil is also an antifungal.
5. Add more sea salt to the diet.
6. Eat bigger portions of meat or add a few fatty cuts every now and then.
7. If you tolerate fruit, add a couple servings of fruit to your menu. Be sure to eat them after your meat and veggies to reduce impact on the yeast.
8. Avocados are high in fat. Add a little oil or yogurt to it, and this increases it’s fat content even more.
9. Although I don’t advocate the use of dairy products on a regular basis, you could eat a serving here and there of yogurt that isn’t low fat.
10. Add a protein powder to the diet.
11. Eat more butter. Put it on veggies. (Only until some weight is gained)
12. If nuts or alternative grains set off symptoms, try adding just a small amount of them to each meal. Sometimes a smaller portion of a food can be tolerated, when a larger portion can’t.
13. Eat right before going to bed, so there’s no time to burn it off.

Be sure to discuss your concerns about weight loss and the Candida diet with your physician so you can rule out any other possible causes or potential complications.

Best regards,
Cynthia