info time

[the_siobhan]

So is there anybody on my f-list who has ever been on the diet designed to treat systemic Candida infection?

I've considering the possibility that some of my weird health issues are Candida related. The list of symptoms certainly seems to line up. And the treatment is non-invasive, so it certainly wouldn't hurt me if I'm wrong.

But dude! Four months without beer, bread or cheese? I'd go nuts.

Comments

[panic-girl.livejournal.com]

Beer and bread I've basically given up already.

Are you allowed yogurt?

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Yogurt and fresh milk are apparently ok. There is a list of foods here (http://www.qfac.com/detox/candida_diet_2.html).

[panic-girl.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm, well at least you still get ricotta. I've become very fond of it. And you eat pretty healthily anyway...

I'm glad machineplay mentioned Yeast Connection, cuz I never would have thought of it. We have the cook book at work. Do you want it?
We have this one (http://www.amazon.ca/Yeast-Connection-Wom-Health/dp/0933478275/sr=8-1/qid=1156378431/ref=sr_1_1/702-8959661-8628055?ie=UTF8&s=gateway) too.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Yes please! That could be very useful.

[panic-girl.livejournal.com]

Will do. It'll be about a week.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Danke!

[machineplay.livejournal.com]

Meeeee!

Seriously, it will make you feel HORRIBLE. If you feel HORRIBLE, you needed to be on it. The horrible goes away. I'm about to go back on it soon myself, after I get my elimination diet schedule from the naturopath.

It /does/ help. You will know in a week or two whether or not it's helping. It's completely harmless, pretty much free, and healthy, if you're careful with it. If you think you might need it and there's no reason not to do it, go for it. :)

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Do you have any good resources you can point to? There are lots of very general info pages I can google up, but I'm looking for something with a little more detail.

[machineplay.livejournal.com]

http://yeastconnection.com/pdf/GroceryList.pdf This is basically what I started with, only no wheat/corn/rice at all, and the grains I ate were always steamed and eaten hot. I didn't get the list from this site, but it's the same, really.

It's easiest to move things around in your pantry, hide anything forbidden in a closet, freeze anything forbidden from the fridge or give it away, purchase what you can eat, and go from there. When what there is to eat is all good for you, it's much simpler.

If you don't want to go cold turkey, I suggest starting with dropping all processed carbs (donuts, pop, chips, white bread, rice cakes, etc) and anything deep fried. I use raw sugar in my coffee, but that's about it. Do that for a bit and then step down again. Something to keep in mind about not going cold turkey is that Candida can make you crave what feeds it. Going cold turkey is like cutting off the snake's head.

Hope that helps!

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking I really want to do a cold turkey, but I'm kind of bracing myself to find a good time for it.

It would probably be a good idea to whittle down my coffee consumption before I start. Otherwise there will be major withdrawal goin' on.

systemic Canadia infection

[chromeangel.livejournal.com]

ewwww that has got to hurt

especially the part with alberta

and the sharp pointy parts of Nova Soctia

good luck with that

Re: systemic Canadia infection

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

And Nunavut is cold.

[melete.livejournal.com]

This is a completely unhelpful reply to say that has to be the saddest diet I've ever heard of. It would make me cry. Hopefully, if you do it, it helps you.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

It makes me cry just thinking about it. :-)

I'm hoping it would only be necessary on a temporary basis.

[artistatlarge.livejournal.com]

Dude. I found out three years ago that I'm allergic to mould, so that meant giving up bread, beer- actually, all alcohol- and any decent cheese. Which I did quite rigorously for two years.

I've been so good that I'm healthy enough to have small amounts of bread and old cheeses occasionally, but beer is still a Forbidden Pleasure.

It does kinda suck, but you get used to it pretty fast. Especially if you start feeling way better for eliminating these things, and then get REALLY sick when you decide to sneak a whole beer some night...

Not that I'd know from experience or anything, no no no. 0:-)

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Yikes.

I'm hoping mine is a temporary problem. I think they revoke my Irish citizenship if I can't drink beer any more...

[the-fury.livejournal.com]

That diet sucks!

Of absolutely no help.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I could probably do without beer as long as gin & rum were still allowed, but my diet consists mainly of bread and cheese.

I'd lose a lot of weight, but not in a good way.

[ash-pixie.livejournal.com]

I had a friend in college who was on this diet. Some days it would make her nuts sitting there watching us chew away at the things she loved, but honestly, she said she felt much better for being on it... And to make up for the no-beer thing, she just smoked more pot. *grin* Not the same, I know, but to her, it was all good.

[50-ft-queenie.livejournal.com]

I know people who have done it for a short while. Personally, I'd rather slit my wrists, but that's just me.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I have to do something. My skin is peeling off in sheets and it's not even winter yet. My stomach hurts every day. And I can't even stand next to somebody who has finished smoking without having an asthmatic reaction.

It's getting stupid. If a diet will fix it, no matter how evil, I'm willing to give it a shot.

I might wait to start until after Etienne's birthday party though.

[50-ft-queenie.livejournal.com]

I have a suggestion. Try eliminating just one item at a time instead of all at once. Start with the element that usually gives you the worst reactions.

If it's the wheat gluten in bread that gives you problems, gluten-free products are becoming easier to find, and in fact, I have recipes for gluten-free bread and pizza dough, just to name a few. Wanna be my guinea pig?

Also, is there a definite date/location for E's party yet?

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

The trouble with eliminating one thing at a time is that if it is Candida, as I suspect, it won't tell me anything. I don't have reactions to any kind of food (other than lactose obviously) I have a collection of apparently unrelated health issues.

It does give me an idea though. I might just start off with a full-on fast, and then introduce specific items one at a time.

I have no reason at all to believe that gluten is a problem.

Also, is there a definite date/location for E's party yet?

Last I heard he was talking about the Oct 9 weekend, but I have no idea if that's definite or not.

[50-ft-queenie.livejournal.com]

A reverse elimination diet sounds like a good idea, and at the risk of sounding all new-agey, a good naturopath could be very helpful with that. Tracy sees a naturopath she really likes, and I'd be happy to get you her info if you're interested.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Yes please.

[tatyana-z.livejournal.com]

Not for this reason, but I've had to eliminate 99% of grains, alcohol, and sugar from my diet. It's completely doable, especially when you feel the difference in your health. After a little over a year, I have started to feel an aversion towards the foods that hurt me, so don't crave them too much any more.

You can still have soy cheese substitutes, Shirataki noodles, etc. if you crave such foods... Don't know what to tell you about beer - was never too fond of it in the first place!

Good luck!!!

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :-)

[50-ft-queenie.livejournal.com]

Pssst...Max's Market, which is near our chiro's office, sells organic lactose-free cheese. They have cheddar, havarti and mozzarella.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

So I can stuff myself before I get started? :-)

[50-ft-queenie.livejournal.com]

One last hurrah..at least for a while. ;) Also, once you're off the diet, you know where to get cheese that won't make you ill.

[shnells.livejournal.com]

well i don't drink beer and generally avoid cheese. you'd be surprised how little you miss bread and cheese three weeks after not eating it. i'd suggest eating indian unleavened bread (eg roti or chappati). that way you'll feel like you're getting bread but not really. i'm not sure if pita has yeast in it but i don't think so.

also you can subsitute soy cheese for cheese. not quite the same but if you're desparate.....

i have no suggestions for beer.

good luck!

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

I love naan. That wouldn't be a hardship at all.

The diet suggests taking it easy on the the legumes so I'd be limited in what I could have that's made from soy. Besides soy cheese is nasty. I think for the cheese and beer I'm just going to have to suck it up.

(I'm hoping that the diet would only be necessary as a temporary thing. Otherwise I'd never even start.)

[individuation.livejournal.com]

Other than yeast infections - what can Candida do?

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Aggravating my asthma (like a lot), increasing chemical sensitivities, wacked-out immune reactions, constant mysterious skin problems, constant mysterious digestive problems, headaches and migraines, thrush and some specific food cravings.

I got all of 'em.

[individuation.livejournal.com]

Ack! That's terrible!

If this diet is going to make you feel better - I say do it. I think it looks pretty livable, but I'd have to keep a list of the foods I can and cannot eat with me at all times or I know I'd screw up.

Good luck!

[mscissorhands.livejournal.com]

I just take grapefruit seend extract everyday..thirty drops in a gelatin capsule (i get the capsules from the health food store where I buy the GSE liquid) and never have yeasty problems again.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Is that a maintenace treatment? Did you have problems with Candida before?

[(Anonymous)]

it is maintenance to an extent I call it more of a lifestyle change. I was using it for yeast until I discovered that magically it keeps you a LOT healthier if taken daily. Not as many colds, flus, infections ( and I had chronic chest infections several times a year this year only one), no yeast infections even when I was taking antibiotics, no bladder infections ( those I have chronically) etc. The whole family takes it even the little ones and it has boosted their immune systems greatly, we clean the house with it as well because it is a natural antibacterial/antiviral. I know of many women who have used it to cure their yeasty problems due to breast feeding with tremendous success and still continue with daily usage even after ceasing breast feeding for it's "miraculous" properties.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Turns out it's recommended in the book as well.

Where do you get it? Is it a standard health-food store item?

[reddragdiva]

I think you have to live on shredded cardboard and water. Filtered water, of course. You are NOT allowed to kill a cow and drink its blood.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

You only think you're joking. :-)

[reddragdiva]

No, I watched redcountess try a candida diet ;-)

[jin-aili.livejournal.com]

My mom keeps suggesting that I try that diet for a while because of all the unexplained and apparently uncurable health problems I've had. Since I'm a vegetarian, though, it would be tough to do both and be able to eat anything at all. I guess I don't feel bad enough yet. One thing I'd recommend is trying to find a good Chinese Medicine practitioner - Toronto must have some. Chinese medicine is generally much better at holistic types of health problems that Western medicine can't figure out.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

That's a good idea. I was thinking of checking out a naturapath, Chinese medicine hadn't occurred to me.