It can be very challenging for many people to accept the food choices available to them for breakfast while on the Candida diet and requires a great deal of change in not only behavior but thinking. We explore this issue further in this question from a site visitor…

Hi Cynthia,

Just wondering what the best way is to deal with constipation. I also noticed in one of your blogs that you mention not to eat the same thing everyday. I have candida and have been having 2 boiled eggs for breakfast each morning. I’m not sure what other options may be available to me? Thanks very much for your help,
Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,

In regard to what to eat for breakfast on the candida diet, the first thing that has to change is the mindset. We have been conditioned to believe that we are supposed to eat certain things for breakfast that must go if we want to improve our health. Most people think they should have eggs, toast, cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, waffles etc. Contrary to popular belief, most of these foods, except eggs are not healthy.

On the candida diet, all forms of sugar must be removed and the amount of foods that break down into sugar in the body must be greatly reduced, including complex carbohydrates. Therefore, pretty much all traditional breakfast foods are out the window, except eggs.

You have to begin by reframing your definition of a breakfast meal. You must let go of traditional views of breakfast and expand your thinking to include other atypical breakfast food choices.

Yes, I say you shouldn’t eat the same food every day because over exposure to a food often results in sensitivity to that food. Eggs are one of the most common foods that we develop sensitivities to. Food sensitivities usually go hand in hand with Candida. So eggs should not be eaten everyday, because this will increase the chances of developing a food sensitivity. There should be variety in the diet.

On the candida diet, all meals, including breakfast, should consist primarily of meat and vegetables.

Here’s what I eat for breakfast and all other meals — meat and steamed vegetables which may consist of any of the following:

• buffalo burgers
• ground buffalo
• chicken breasts
• ground beef
• beef burgers
• ground turkey
• turkey patties
• cucumbers
• spinach
• green beans
• cauliflower
• broccoli
• carrots
• avocado

Other possibilities

• ostrich
• deer
• goose
• duck
• pheasant
• any low carb vegetable

If you do okay with yogurt and nuts, then that is another possibility, however many people with Candida do not tolerate nuts very well. For many, Candida will feed on nuts. Personally, I can’t eat yogurt or nuts unless I have first eaten meat and vegetables. If I eat yogurt or nuts alone, it will feed my Candida and give me a migraine. If I eat them after a meal of meat protein and vegetables, and keep the proportion low, then I do okay.

I sometimes have a small serving of fruit with a meal, but again it must be eaten after meat protein and vegetables. If I eat fruit alone, it flares Candida and gives me a migraine.

Fruit, yogurt and nuts contain natural sugars which will feed Candida when eaten alone, but in the presence of meat protein, the meat slows down the absorption and availability of sugar. It’s also better for blood sugar and insulin.

However, the amount of fruit, nuts, yogurt and other complex carbohydrates that one can consume varies greatly from person to person, depending on genetic factors, the level of Candida overgrowth one has, the strain of Candida one has and other health issues that may accompany Candida, like adrenal fatigue and hypoglycemia. Some people may be able to eat more complex carbohydrates than others. Each person has to gauge their decisions by how their body responds.

I also eat a rotation diet, which is always recommended for food sensitivities that usually accompany Candida. So one day I have buffalo, the next day I have chicken, the next day turkey and the next day beef. The same with my vegetables, they are alternated daily. All food should be organic, of course.

So, as you can see, this type of breakfast is far from the traditional choices most people have been socialized to follow. It takes some time to adjust to the new way of thinking.

The other important point to keep in mind is this, the diet that you are forced to eat with a Candida problem is really the diet you were supposed to eat in the first place. The human body is not genetically designed to eat sugar, grains, legumes, potatoes, etc. These foods disrupt neurotransmittters, blood sugar, insulin, metabolism and the GI tract, all of which leads to poor mental and physical health. When you eat a Candida diet, which is basically a slightly modified version of the Paleolithic diet, then you are eating the foods that are healthiest for you all around and won’t lead to other degenerative health conditions like type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity and more.

In regard to constipation, it can be caused by a variety of issues. Hypothyroidism, adrenal disorders, poor diet, candida overgrowth, lack of sufficient water intake, bacteria overgrowth and nutritional deficiencies can all play a role. A deficiency in magnesium is a common root factor. I have found that supplementing my diet with buffered Vitamin C powder keeps my bowels running efficiently. You can read more on this what causes constipation page for more in depth info on this issue.

Best Regards
Cynthia