Trying a New Diet with Aspergillosis

Healthy balanced meal illustrating evidence-based dietary advice for people living with aspergillosis. — Healthy eating can support overall wellbeing when living with aspergillosis, but no specific diet has been proven to treat the condition. Learn how to assess dietary claims and make informed choices.

Originally published: August 2018
Last reviewed: July 2026

If you have searched online for “the best diet for aspergillosis”, you may have found advice ranging from sensible healthy eating to highly restrictive diets claiming to treat fungal infections. It can be difficult to know what to believe.

This guide explains what diet can and cannot do, how to recognise marketing claims, and how to try dietary changes safely if you decide to do so.

A note from the National Aspergillosis Centre

People often ask whether changing their diet can help control aspergillosis. It is a sensible question, and many patients find that healthier eating improves their overall wellbeing. However, current research has not identified any specific diet that treats aspergillosis itself.

This guide is designed to help you separate evidence-based advice from common myths and make informed choices alongside your usual medical care.

Key points

There is no proven “anti-fungal diet” that treats aspergillosis.
A healthy, balanced diet can support general health, energy levels and recovery from illness.
Dietary changes should not replace antifungal medicines, inhalers, steroids or other prescribed treatments.
Be cautious of diets, supplements or programmes that promise cures.
Marketing phrases such as “immune boosting”, “natural antifungal” or “clinically proven” do not always mean strong evidence.
If you try a new diet, make one change at a time and monitor whether it genuinely helps.
Speak to your healthcare team before making major dietary changes, especially if you have diabetes, kidney disease, weight loss or are taking antifungal medication.

Why do people with aspergillosis look at diet?

Living with aspergillosis can be frustrating and exhausting. People may experience breathlessness, fatigue, weight changes, repeated flare-ups, steroid side effects or uncertainty about the future. It is understandable to look for things you can control yourself.

Diet is one of the most common areas people explore. Some dietary changes may be helpful for general health, but many claims online go much further than the evidence supports.

Over the years, patients have asked about anti-fungal diets, Candida diets, sugar-free diets, ketogenic diets, low-carbohydrate diets, gluten-free diets, dairy-free diets, alkaline diets, detox programmes and supplement regimens. Some of these approaches may be appropriate for specific medical reasons, but none has been shown to treat aspergillosis itself.

So how can you separate reliable advice from persuasive marketing?

Recognising marketing claims

Many websites, social media posts and advertisements use scientific-sounding language to make products appear more effective than the evidence supports. This does not necessarily mean the product is ineffective, but it does mean you should look carefully for independent evidence rather than relying on marketing claims.

Be particularly cautious if you see terms such as:

“clinically proven”
“doctor recommended”
“immune boosting”
“natural antifungal”
“detoxifies the body”
“supports immunity”
“research backed”
“breakthrough formula”
“ancient remedy”
“pharmaceutical grade”
“exclusive blend”
“used by leading experts”

These phrases are commonly used in advertising but do not necessarily indicate strong clinical evidence. In some cases, the supporting research may involve only laboratory studies, animal research, very small human studies, or research funded by the manufacturer. Such studies can provide useful early information but are rarely enough on their own to show that a product benefits people with aspergillosis.

Similarly, remember that “natural” does not automatically mean safe, and “evidence based” does not necessarily mean there is good-quality evidence that a product works for people with aspergillosis. Even products described as “clinically tested” may only have been evaluated in a small number of people or for conditions unrelated to aspergillosis.

If a supplement or diet genuinely provides a meaningful health benefit, you should usually be able to find independent recommendations from organisations such as the NHS, registered dietitians, recognised medical societies or high-quality systematic reviews — not just testimonials, celebrity endorsements or promotional websites.

It is perfectly reasonable to ask whether a particular diet, supplement or health product might help. Your healthcare team can help you interpret the available evidence and identify any potential interactions with your medication before you spend money or make major changes.

A simple rule of thumb is to follow the evidence, not the marketing.

So what does the evidence actually tell us?

What does the evidence say?

Nutrition is important for everyone living with a chronic illness. A good diet can support general health, but current research has not identified any diet that treats aspergillosis itself.

What diet can help with

A healthy eating pattern may help you:

maintain strength and muscle mass
recover from illness
manage weight
support bone health
control blood sugar
reduce cardiovascular risk
improve general wellbeing

This can be especially important for people living with long-term lung disease, chronic infection, steroid treatment or reduced physical activity.

What diet cannot do

Diet cannot:

kill Aspergillus growing in the lungs
cure chronic pulmonary aspergillosis
cure allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
replace antifungal treatment
replace specialist respiratory care

If someone claims that a diet can cure aspergillosis, it is reasonable to ask whether this has been tested in properly conducted clinical studies. At present, there is no good evidence that any specific diet cures aspergillosis.

How to judge a new diet

Before trying a diet you have found online, ask:

Does it promise a cure?
Does it claim to “starve” fungus from the body?
Does it recommend stopping prescribed medicines?
Does it require expensive supplements, tests or coaching?
Does it remove whole food groups without a clear medical reason?
Is it based mainly on personal stories rather than research?
Is it supported by recognised healthcare organisations?

The more warning signs you see, the more cautious you should be.

If you decide to try a new diet

1. Be clear about your goal

Decide what you are trying to improve. For example:

energy levels
weight
blood sugar
digestion
reflux
general fitness

A clear goal makes it easier to judge whether the change is helping.

2. Change one thing at a time

If you change several things at once, it becomes difficult to know what made a difference. Try one change for a few weeks before adding another.

3. Keep a simple diary

You may want to record:

what you changed
symptoms
energy levels
weight
blood sugar, if relevant
exercise tolerance
side effects

4. Do not stop prescribed treatment

Dietary changes should complement your medical care, not replace it. Do not stop antifungal medication, steroids, inhalers or other prescribed treatments without medical advice.

5. Review honestly

If a change has not helped after a reasonable trial, it may not be worth continuing. A diet should improve your life, not make it more stressful, expensive or restrictive.

Healthy eating in practice

For most people, the best starting point is not an extreme diet but a balanced eating pattern that can be maintained long term.

This usually means:

plenty of vegetables and fruit
whole grains where tolerated
beans, pulses, nuts and seeds
adequate protein
fish, lean meat, eggs or suitable alternatives
healthy fats such as olive oil
enough fluid
limiting highly processed foods and sugary drinks

A Mediterranean-style diet is often recommended for general health because it supports heart health and provides a wide range of nutrients. However, the best diet for an individual also depends on their medical conditions, preferences, culture, budget and ability to prepare food.

Special situations

If you take corticosteroids

Many people with ABPA or severe asthma take corticosteroids such as prednisolone. These medicines can be very useful, but they may also increase the risk of:

weight gain
raised blood sugar
diabetes
bone thinning
muscle loss

If you take steroids regularly, it is worth paying attention to:

adequate protein
calcium intake
vitamin D, if advised
blood sugar control
gradual weight management
strength-building activity where possible

If you take antifungal medicines

Some antifungal medicines can interact with other medicines, supplements, herbal products and certain foods. Always tell your healthcare team about any supplements or alternative products you are taking or planning to take.

This includes:

herbal remedies
vitamin and mineral supplements
protein powders
weight-loss products
traditional medicines
detox products

“Natural” does not always mean safe. Some products can affect liver function or alter medicine levels.

If you have diabetes or steroid-induced high blood sugar

People with diabetes, or those who develop raised blood sugar while taking steroids, may need more specific dietary advice. Reducing excess sugar and refined carbohydrates may help blood sugar control, but very restrictive diets should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

If you monitor your blood sugar, it can be useful to record any dietary changes alongside your readings. This can help you and your healthcare team see what is actually making a difference.

Common questions

What about sugar?

A common claim is that sugar “feeds” Aspergillus in the lungs. This is an oversimplification.

Reducing excess sugar is sensible for general health, particularly if you have diabetes or take steroids. However, there is no evidence that eliminating sugar cures aspergillosis.

Should I avoid mouldy foods?

You should avoid obviously mouldy food, as anyone should. Mouldy food can contain harmful substances and may not be safe to eat.

This does not mean that everyone with aspergillosis needs to follow an extreme mould-free diet. If you are unsure about food safety, ask your healthcare team or a registered dietitian.

Do probiotics help?

There is growing interest in the gut microbiome. Probiotics may help some digestive problems, but there is currently little evidence that they directly improve aspergillosis.

For most people, a varied diet containing fibre-rich foods is a better long-term foundation for gut health than relying only on supplements.

Be cautious with miracle diets

Be especially careful with diets or programmes that promise to:

cure fungal infection
detox the body
starve Aspergillus
replace medication
rapidly reset the immune system

These claims are rarely supported by good evidence. Very restrictive diets can also lead to weight loss, poor nutrition, social isolation and unnecessary anxiety around food.

When should I ask for professional advice?

Ask your GP, specialist team or a registered dietitian for advice if you:

are losing weight without trying
are struggling to eat enough
feel breathless while eating
have diabetes or steroid-induced high blood sugar
have kidney disease
are considering a very restrictive diet
are using supplements alongside antifungal medicines
have concerns about malnutrition

When should I seek urgent medical help?

Seek urgent medical advice if you develop:

rapid unexplained weight loss
persistent vomiting
difficulty swallowing
signs of dehydration
confusion or severe weakness
large amounts of coughing up blood

Summary

Living with aspergillosis often means making decisions about treatments, lifestyle and nutrition. While there is no diet that has been proven to treat aspergillosis, healthy eating can play an important role in maintaining strength, supporting recovery and improving overall wellbeing.

If you decide to make dietary changes, do so gradually, keep an open mind, and discuss major changes with your healthcare team. Be especially cautious of diets, supplements or programmes that promise more than the evidence can support.

The best dietary advice is usually the simplest: follow the evidence, not the marketing.

Trying a New Diet? A Guide for People with Aspergillosis