I seem to be getting sicker even though I've been on Atkins almost 3 years and have tried cutting out as many yeast products as possible for the past 6 months. I started taking the Candida Cleanse again this weekend and again I ended up with horrible stomach cramps and throwing up - vitamins do the same thing to me.

I know there are some foods on the yeast free list that are not allowed on low carb. I'm wondering what results I'd have by going off plan trying to battle this stuff. Anyone done this before and have good (or bad) results??? I am so sick of being sick all the time.

Hi there. Have you talked to a doctor about taking Diflucan for an extended period of time to treat candida?

No but I have a dr appt Monday & will ask for a referral to an allergist to find out what's going on with my food allergies & intolerances. I need to know what I'm actually allergic to so I can fully avoid them. I mentioned possibly having a systemic yeast overgrowth to my doc last time and he didn't bat an eye or offer to run any tests for it. I will have to be more forceful this time in asking I suppose.

Finally got around to picking up a copy of The Yeast Connection and was really disappointed. It didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I found it rather vague in spots.

Hi there Luzyanna,

I just happened to find this on the web because my particular area of interest right now is digestive enzymes. This particular article has lots of links and specifically mentions a lot of the symptoms you and the other lady with stomach problems have talked about.

http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxif...iet/enzymes.htm

I really wonder if a lack of digestive enzymes is at the root of your problems. If that is the case, then there are supplements etc available. You might be able to self-medicate if your doctor doesn't go a bundle on this idea. "The Probiotics Revolution" is also a book that might be worth looking into.

Good luck!

amanda

btw, I just had a closer look at this link I sent you and although it is a bit weird in places, I think it might have some good ideas that could work for you.

If you do go "off plan", I would definitely NOT re-introduce too many starchy carbs, like rice, for example, but I would try these enzyme-rich fruits and maybe get a bunch of sprouted seeds going.

How did the doctor's visit go?

good luck once more,

amanda

My stepmom takes Pau d'Arco supplements, and she says it works great. You can also get it as a tea.

That's one thing I'm having difficulty understanding is how they have starchy foods without it feeding yeast. Doesn't it convert to glucose?????

Doctor appt isn't til later this afternoon....crossing fingers he'll suggest something.

If it converts to glucose, you're all right, at least according to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet people - your body gets that before the candida does. The really bad ones are the big starches that sit in your gut long enough for the candida to get at them. I think that's why fruit isn't as bad as nuts, grains and beans.

Candida is about as well-understood as allergies, which is to say, not at all!

Did you get your candida taken care of? I think I am having this problem and dont know what to do. There is too much conflicting info on the net. I would prefer not to take diflucan because i think it kills the good bacteria too. I may be wrong anyone know?

I'd like to hear a check-in from everybody on how they're doing with candida.

I think I'm improving, but the progress is so slow I'm never sure. I have stomach symptoms and I have mood symptoms. Usually if I find myself losing my temper all the time, I can trace it back to gluten or alcohol/yeast/or acetic acid. Stomach pain, gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea are harder to track down. If I'm exposed to dairy I get them, but that's rare. Sometimes I push the carb limit a little and then I get both kinds of symptoms. I also get stomach trouble from coconut milk sometimes (irritated throat too) but coconut milk really helps with the mood problems, which are much worse. So I usually chalk it up to die-off and live with it. But the candida must be growing back every time it dies off, because I get this trouble all the time.

I'm seeing a chiropractor who's interested in the ileocecal valve thing, and sometimes I poke around at it myself - the only obvious result is instant gas.

One crazy symptom I get is that my left ear "clogs up." I can't find any wax with a q-tip, but I feel like there's a big wad of something in there, so bad I can't stand to speak because my voice booms in my head. There are two times I get it: one, from eating foods that bug me (a sure sign that I can't drink kombucha) and two, from exercise. Since I do trapeze, Wifey used to think it was from going upside down, but I don't actually have to go upside down to get it. Just a few chinups will make my ear clog.

Hi all,

I am having a shocking time at the moment. I've been on the candida diet on and off since I was 5 so its something I've lived with all my life, but lately we moved states and I got really slack with what I was eating and I've ended up really sick because of it.

Leslie, I hope you went well at the doctor? I had had many many tests with doctors, neurologists, cardiologists, you name it, and no one could come up with an answer. Till I went to a naturopath. Now you have to be careful to go to one who is genuine and not just wanting you to run through a field of daisys. If you can find one that does VEGA testing that would be good. That way your body says what is wrong so you know you can trust that its not just crap. I think you just get to the point where you are so ill that you'll try anything anyway.

Anyway, the naturopath got me really well, so I'm quite mad at myself for getting back to this point again. I'm back on his plan again now, and I'm happy to post his diet and the supplements he gave me if anyone thinks it will help?

Yes, please.

Ok,

I can't work out how to use our scanner! So here it is, retyped.

FORBIDDEN:
Commercial breads and biscuits with wheat
Oats (for the first 3 weeks)
Commercial muffins, cakes and pastries
Wheat or semolina based pasta
all foods containing yeast
alcohol (for the first month, and thereafter vodka is best)
fruit juice
soft drink (have plain mineral water instead)
cordials
tea (can have decaf or herbal tea)
coffee (can have decaf)
dairy milk
soy milk with malt or sugar
sugar, artificial sweeteners, malt, honey, fructose, lactose
salt pepper, vinegar, soy sauce, mayonnaise, tamari, shoyu, worcestershire sauce
margarine, butter and all commercial spreads (except for grape juice sweetened, no sugar, jam)
No dairy (except small amounts of fresh fetta and ricotta)
No fruit at all for the first month, thereafter limit fruit intake, peaches and strawberries are best, then after 2 months can have pawpaw, banana, pineapple and kiwifruit. Melons are out totally.
Avoid shellfish, sausage, salami, ham and other processed or preserved meats
no peanuts, coconut, old nuts and seeds
no mushrooms
no fermented foods like miso or tofu
for the first 3 weeks: no potato, sweet potato, corn,beans or squash. They are all ok to eat after 3 weeks has passed.




ALTERNATIVES ALLOWED:
Rice, corn, buckwheat, millet
rice or corn crackers
puffed millet and rice flakes cereal
rice corn millet or buckwheat pasta
Pau D'Arco tea (great for getting rid of candida)
diluted vegetable juices (no carrot)
homemade salad dressins with linseed or olive oil and lemon juice
tahini
avocado
home made hommous (cooked chickpeas blended with garlic, lemon juice and tahini)
soy or rice milk with no sugar or malt
lean beef, chicken, lamb and fresh fish
fresh nuts and seeds
try to pick low gi fruits and veg


Ok so it looks pretty boring, its really no wonder it gets you so healthy - look at what you're eating! I find that the best way to do it is be brutal, throw everything out of the cupboard that doesn't fit with this plan - has added sugar or whatever. Then make everything from scratch. Ok it can be boring but the difference in how you feel and look (glowing skin etc) makes it soooo worth it. I find it hard though when I leave stuff in the cupboard, stocks and sauces etc with sugar, thinking it won't matter (plus I don't like to make BF's dinner too boring), but a little bit of sugar really does make a difference because candida only needs a little bit to survive. And the point is to get rid of it.

The supplements are:
Chinese herbs: these are miracle things - should be able to get them from any chinese herbalist. The supplement I'm on is called: Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis & Scutellaria Combination)
Pau D'Arco capsules, 2 twice a day
Vitamin C (to give the immune system a bit of a chance) 1000mg 2 times a day
Probiotics - either the acidopholous you keep in the fridge or if your like me and keep forgetting to put it in the fridge, there's one called Kolorex. Its not a probiotic as such but does the same thing, doesn't need to be kept in the fridge and it does a great job. I think you can get it online.
Olive leaf - a few mls in water every day
The naturopath also gave me some herbal drops which were specialised to me so probably not much point in me talking about them. But what's here will give you a good start to get a handle on things anyway.

hope it helps! I'm starting clean again today on the above diet/atkins style (the above just a lower carb version) if anyone feels inspired to join me!

Thanks for typing it up, Shannon.

Ooohh, this is going to be a challenge. I don't know if I can do w/o vinegar, mayonnaise, shoyu, and coffee