Anti-fungal Diet and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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3 min read

When your gut is healthy, your whole body is usually healthy. Studies show that your gut’s contents affect all your major systems. And fungus serves a key role in your gut.^1-3

To understand this, consider what goes on within your large intestine (colon). Normally, 100 trillion bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites live in balance there. This tiny world is called the gut microbiome. There are good and bad citizens; the good ones police the bad. Many help each other, a situation called symbiosis.^1,2,4

Some evidence shows that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may imbalance your microbiome’s population. This creates a condition called dysbiosis. During dysbiosis, your good bacteria decrease while fungi and bad bacteria increase. It is a chain reaction leading to many negative symptoms.^1,2

Candida albicans (C. albicans), the most common gut fungus, multiplies as part of this reaction. Increasing amounts of C. albicans would normally trigger your immune system. In turn, your immune system would go after it and get rid of it. But C. albicans hides by forming a covering, or biofilm. It also releases 79 harmful substances, including uric acid, ammonia, and a nerve poison.^1-5

Symptoms of C. albicans overgrowth in the gut include:^2,3,5

Bloating and gas
Indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea
Fatigue and brain fog
Yeast infections and sinus infections
Depression
Joint pain

Some research shows that you can correct this situation by re-balancing the relationships between the organisms in your gut.^1-4

What factors can unbalance my gut contents?

Before you can re-balance your gut microbiome, consider the situations that upset it. One key factor is what you put into your body. Your diet and chemicals like antibiotics, alcohol, and tobacco smoke all affect the population balance within your colon.^1-3

The second way you can disrupt your gut contents is by what your body goes through. Your bathroom habits, lifestyle, and mental stress affect the microbiome population, too. If your waste passes too slowly, the contents can spread beyond your colon and cause harm. If your waste passes too quickly, the good bacteria cannot do their job.^1,2

Further, an inactive lifestyle can trigger gut inflammation. Inflammation can lead to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), IBS, and C. albicans overgrowth. Importantly, long-term mental stress also harms your gut. Any of these conditions may reduce your good bacteria, allowing excess fungal growth and dysbiosis.^2,4,5

What does diet have to do with fungus growth in my gut?

As we mentioned, studies have shown that what you eat can greatly affect your gut health. On the one hand, research suggests that a diet high in sugar, fat, and processed foods may lead to dysbiosis. It can kick off that chain reaction of C. albicans overgrowth and the resulting negative effects.^{1-3, 5}

On the other hand, animal studies also show that a diet high in anti-fungal foods may prevent and correct dysbiosis. Part of this includes reducing excessive C. albicans. Anti-fungal foods, when digested, lead to high short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content in the gut. And that is good news. SCFAs:^1-5

Guard against inflammation, cancer, and fungal overgrowth
Serve as antioxidants
Help your body create energy from food
Reduce appetite and help prevent overeating
Balance insulin, preventing high blood sugar

What is included in an anti-fungal diet?

Typically, an anti-fungal diet focuses on reintroducing good bacteria into your digestive tract while also getting rid of extra fungi. Below is a basic list of things to include and avoid with an anti-fungal diet.^{1-3, 5}

Foods to include

Whole vegetables
Low-sugar fruits
Gluten-free whole grains like quinoa and brown rice
Nuts and seeds
Small amounts of chicken, fish, and eggs
Fermented dairy and vegetables

Other components to include

Fiber
Antioxidants
Vitamins D and E
Omega-3 fatty acids
Selenium
Probiotics

Traditional medicine fungi-fighting foods and plants to include

Garlic
Lemongrass
Coconut oil and olive oil
Thyme
Apple cider vinegar
Fermented vegetables (kimchi, sauerkraut)
Unprocessed yogurt

Substances to avoid

Any form of sugar; on food labels, look out for anything that ends with -sugar, -ose, or -syrup
Caffeine
Alcohol
Processed foods, fast foods
Condiments (most)
Tobacco smoke

Where should I start if I want to try an anti-fungal diet?

Before you start any new diet or lifestyle change, check with your doctor or healthcare provider. You can explain your symptoms and concerns about dysbiosis and gut fungi and get their feedback.

It is quite simple to include anti-fungal foods in your meals. You can check the internet for recipes and shopping tips. As you learn to adjust your eating and lifestyle, you will likely notice fewer IBS symptoms. And because a healthy gut means a healthy person, your overall well-being should increase.^1-3

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Michaela Member
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This is an interesting read! I haven't heard of an anti-fungal diet before. I'm curious to see where the research goes! ~Michaela (irritablebowelsyndrome.net Team Member)
CommunityMember72e475 Member
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I never knew this existed. I try to research what to eat and not to eat. Someone told me to try omitting dairy to see if that helps with my issues. Also another question tobacco smoke is bad ,but what about weed smoking ? Does this too hurt our intestines..?
1. Elizabeth Alvarez Member
 Last Updated:
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMember72e475" user-id="4660346"/> That's a great question. I know of a study done in Israel that actually shows Marijuana helps improve symptoms of patients with Crohn's Disease. I do not know of a study that is focused for IBS, however. For me personally, I used to use CBD oil. And I found it to help my symptoms with IBS. I had less abdominal pain. Here are some articles on the topic that you might find interesting: <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/medical-marijuana' target='_blank'>https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/medical-marijuana</a> and <a href='https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/cbd-oil' target='_blank'>https://irritablebowelsyndrome.net/living/cbd-oil</a>. -Elizabeth (team member)
seebabsrun Member
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Before I was ultimately referred to Dr. William Chey, I was treated at the University of Arizona center for alternative medicine. Diagnosed with overgrowth of yeast, I was put on the anti fungal diet. Pretty much everything that I was allowed to eat, as I learned much later, was extremely high in FODMAPs. Needless to say, I only got worse over the 90 days on this diet. Be very cautious with this diet if you have IBS. 
1. seebabsrun Member
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 <inline-mention username="Elizabeth Alvarez" user-id="2297012"/>, I have had tremendous success with the low FODMAP diet. I’ve learned which foods are safe in moderation (including apples and peaches) and which I will probably never be able to tolerate (cashews, pistachios, avocados). I can eat ONE asparagus spear, but a few Brussels sprouts. My IBS is largely controlled now, and I haven’t had a flare for more than two years. This is after nearly 15 years of unrelenting pain, cramping and diarrhea, then constipation. The 13 years of diarrhea with the labor-like cramps and overwhelming urge to push resulted in a rectal prolapse. Oddly enough, after the surgery to correct the prolapse (including removal of part of the upper left quadrant of my colon, which was redundant), I started to feel better, and that’s when I was able to start experimenting with small amounts of the previously problematic foods. Probably more than you wanted to know, but I didn’t want to oversimplify. I don’t currently take any medication for my gut. 
2. Elizabeth Alvarez Member
 Last Updated:
 <inline-mention username="seebabsrun" user-id="2330343"/> You have been through so much. Thank you for sharing. I'm glad the Low FODMAP Diet has offered you relief after your procedures. I hope you continue to improve and feel better. Best, Elizabeth (team member)