The Candida Diet

Low-Mold Nuts & Seeds

- Almonds.

- Coconut.

- Flaxseed.

- Hazelnuts.

- Sunflower seeds.

Nuts are a nutritious way to boost your calorie intake now that you've committed to reducing the number of carbs that you're eating.

Most nuts are fairly low in carbs, and the portion sizes tend to be relatively small anyway. There are a few nuts that are in fact high in net carbs (cashews and pistachios, for example), so you should be mindful when eating those. Pecans and Brazil nuts tend to be lowest in net carbs.

Mold is another consideration when we discuss nuts. Most nuts do contain at least some mold, which has the potential to be troublesome for Candida sufferers. This is not because mold 'feeds the Candida', as you might have read elsewhere. The concern is that Candida sufferers are particularly sensitive to mold exposure, and the mold in the nuts may trigger a reaction.

This is something of a grey area. Many Candida dieters eat plenty of nuts without having any issues at all. For vegetarians in particular, they form a very important part of the diet.

If you are concerned about mold exposure from the nuts you are eating, the best thing to do is to soak them in water overnight. Alternatively, you can spray them with a little Grapefruit Seed Extract, an antifungal that will quickly deal with any residual mold. The nuts most affected by mold tend to be cashews, peanuts, pecans, and pistachios.

For baking, almond flour and coconut flour are healthy options and very low in net carbs. They are often combined with a pseudo-grain flour like buckwheat.

Here are a few recipes that incorporate nuts and seeds:

- Cool almond mint smoothie (https://www.thecandidadiet.com/recipe/cool-almond-mint-smoothie/).

- Almond coconut tart crust (https://www.thecandidadiet.com/recipe/almond-coconut-tart-crust/).

- Cinnamon pecan crumb cakes (https://www.thecandidadiet.com/recipe/cinnamon-pecan-crumb-cakes/).

- Bircher Muesli (https://www.thecandidadiet.com/recipe/bircher-muesli/).