It really depends how severe you have the candida, I think. I've always said, the occasional cheat is fine, even better if you can make it a "good cheat." If I only cheat occasionally, I notice nothing. Now, one weekend I let things go for almost every meal and did feel worse the next week.

The diet isn't that rough if you don't beat yourself up over an occasional cheat. And I, with my naturopath feeling the same way, don't feel an occasional cheat makes any difference in the grand scheme of things.

And yes, the diet is very important. Diet alone probably won't work in getting rid of candida, but it plays a key role with your protocol for keeping it in check and not letting it fester.

Hi. Let's see. . .

1. Where can I find information about it? You can just type in Candida Diet into a browser and get many versions. I prefer the no grain, limited fruit, and lots of good veggies and protein version, but other versions allow lots of grains (except wheat - that is pretty universal). BTW, I stopped drinking alcohol for the first 9 months I was on it, but now I do fine allowing white wine once or twice a week. Others say sprits are a better choice, The only thing I would say as far as drink goes would be no beer. But, if it makes you feel worse, well, stop anything that makes you feel worse.

2. How long do I have to stay on it? You probably don't have too severe a case if you could get such good, albeit temporary, relief from 3-lac and such. If your other organs are not affected (liver, kidneys, bowels, thyroid, lymphs, etc.), you may be able to lick this with diet and probiotics, but to be honest, that is rare. Most need to dig a lot deeper with cleanses, etc. One thing I can say is that it is not a good idea to look at this wondering when you can go off the diet, but rather to look at what you are doing as a positive permanent lifestyle change. Embrace the process. Not that you can't cheat here and there, but best to stick with whole organic foods, no "frankenfood" (processed crap). One "good" cheat I like is an ounce of 70% or more cocoa organic chocolate. That being said, general guideline is a month of treatment for each year you have been infected.

3. Will the overgrowth come back again once I'm off the diet? Maybe. If diet was part of the reason you got into this mess in the first place, going back to old habits will probably bring candida back, altho there have been reports of some who have been able to. But, more often, people go back and seem fine for a while, even a year, and then they find themselves back in the candida boat. Instead, think about getting healthy. It may be hard at first to eat healthy, but I and many others have found that once you are used to eating good foods, you will prefer them over junk. We are not meant to eat Cheetos and Twinkies, BHT, hydrogenated blahbliddyblu, etc. There is no way we can expect health when we use chemicals as fuel for our bodies.

4. Would being on the diet "most of the time" help? I mean, say I'm on it Monday-Friday but on Saturday and Sunday I have the odd alcoholic beverage? One concern I have about the diet is my lifestyle, which involves "forbidden" foods and beverages. See above.

http://nourished.com.au/archives/2004/03/10/how-to-overcome-candida-part-2/