Day 21 & beyond

After three weeks of following the candida cleanse, consider repeating the spit test on page 26 and reassessing yeast-related symptoms, like frequent headaches, low energy, brain fog and sugar cravings.

If you’re free of symptoms & your spit test is clear

You’ve conquered your overgrowth and can reintroduce your favorite foods back into your diet. At this point, you likely notice that your cravings have changed, and perhaps you don’t crave sweets as much.

“Once yeast is controlled, you aren’t more susceptible to overgrowth in the future, but it’s still beneficial to find healthier ways to satisfy your sweet tooth,” asserts natural healer Michelle Schoffro Cook, Ph.D. She suggests savoring sugary pastries as an occasional treat and indulging in fresh or frozen fruit or low-sugar fruit sorbet when you’re in the mood for a sweet.

If you’re still experiencing symptoms

You may have a lingering overgrowth. Cook notes that biofilms—a sticky, shell-like coating that forms around candida in the body—can protect the yeast cells from turmeric’s beneficial effects. To break through those nasty films, she recommends sticking to the cleanse for one more week and adding a biofilm buster to your protocol. One option: Manuka honey with a UMF rating of at least 10+

(like PRI Manuka Honey 10+, $36 for 1.1 lbs., ShopPRI.com). This sweet has been shown to reduce the growth of existing biofilms by 46 percent and cut the formation of new biofilms by 77 percent. Another option: Biohm Probiotics ($50 for 42 days, BiohmHealth.com), which includes a combination of probiotics and enzymes that are formulated to break down stubborn biofilms to banish candida more effectively.