Candida Diet

[moldlady]

Hi Lisa,

I agree with April, black beans are good and make sure no sugar is added.

I buy all sorts in a can (water and salt) rinse them well and put them in the crock pot for hours on low setting with water up to the top. After 6-8 hours I rinse them and put in new water and do again 6-8 hours on low. Then I rinse them and use them in salads and other dishes and they do not give any of the gas. I use a variety: black beans, garbanzos, pinto, kidney, etc. The mix of color always makes a dish interesting and more appetizing to the eye.

ML

[num1habsfan]

Hi Lisa,

I agree with April, black beans are good and make sure no sugar is added.

I buy all sorts in a can (water and salt) rinse them well and put them in the crock pot for hours on low setting with water up to the top. After 6-8 hours I rinse them and put in new water and do again 6-8 hours on low. Then I rinse them and use them in salads and other dishes and they do not give any of the gas. I use a variety: black beans, garbanzos, pinto, kidney, etc. The mix of color always makes a dish interesting and more appetizing to the eye.

ML

Good to know. Once i'm in my own place tomorrow maybe i will have the room to actually use my slow cooker

~ Lisa ~

[Flor]

Hi you guys,

I haven't been on here awhile. Lots going on in our lives, but I have been wanting to check back in and report on my progress and hear how you all are doing.

One quick tidbit: I've been reading a useful yeast thread over on the Low Oxalate Diet yahoo group and there are a ton of studies showing that damaged guts don't produce adequate biotin and that biotin is key for stopping yeast overgrowth. Most folks over there are taking 5-10mg of biotin a day -- I have been as well for some months. Some people over there have had success treating their yeast just with biotin and an anti-candida diet. Anyway, I wanted to mention that.

I've been on an anti-candida diet since just after Christmas. For me, it's been the final piece of the puzzle after two plus years of leaky gut, joint pain, chronic fatigue symptoms, etc. It feels like my guts are finally healing and that my body is getting better overall. It's been a slow road, but fairly steady progress.

I don't eat wheat, dairy, soy, corn, sugar, potatoes, and I limit my intake of high oxalate foods, though since I've gotten better I've been able to push that a little. I limit to one serving of fruit a day and one serving of grains -- brown rice or a Van's waffle. I don't do white rice or pasta or any gluten-free processed stuff except the waffle (it's my one vice). Okay, and occasionally I can get away now with a glass of red wine.

I've been rotating the anti-fungals, in addition to a whole mess of other supplements. I took VSL3 and then Threelac, am now going to take both at the same time. I take a solaray product called Yeast-Cleanse, also oregano oil, black walnut, and milk thistle seed. I drink lemon juice and take raw garlic every day -- I think those last two have been as important as anything else. And I take digestive enzymes and fiber.

If I'm feeling toxic dumping, I take peppermint oil and activated charcoal in addition to the fiber which I think is crucial for moving the junk out of the body.

Anyway, I wanted to report back because I am feeling better than I have for years. Like I said, I think this anti-candida approach has been the final key for me.

Other long-term problems I've had have cleared up since stopping sugar -- one is that I sleep soundly every night now, unheard for me; the other is that my TMJ symptoms in my left-side jaw are hugely improved, that I've had since I was twenty (I'm 43).

I had chronic diarrhea and gas and bloating and dry mouth and a ton of other digestive symptoms. Those are all gone now.

For those of you not eating meat (I do eat meat, but only grass-fed and no pork), I've found that making hummus fresh is a great way to get some wonderful ingredients in your body in a yummy way. Here's the hummus recipe I've been using and modifying:

1 can garbanzo beans

1/2 to 1 can other beans (kidney, black, adzuki)

1 sweet potato (microwave for 5-7 minutes, peel, dump in food processor)

some tahini (however much you like, from a couple T to 1/2 c)

some olive oil (a couple to a few Ts)

juice from 1-2 lemons

fresh garlic to taste

salt and pepper to taste

I dip carrots into it, but you could put it on anything!

One other note: our healthfood store just started carrying cassava chips -- they taste amazing and have twice the fiber of potato chips. I can't eat many of them, but for a real junk-out treat that's not too junky, you might try them. Can't do the BBQ flavor though because sugar added.

Best to all of you!

Florence

[confused]

Florence,

Im so glad you are doing so great, I am so happy for you. It seems you have came a long way since you started this diet and its awesome.

I am doing better lately to, but im sometimes strict and sometimes not, but only slip ups i have had are an beer and some ruffles. I started to take activated charcoal the other day, but only one capsule, i figure ill go up to 2 in a couple of weeks.

my main problem right now is "C", im lucky to go every 4 days lately and it is driving me nuts. Today im on a mission to see what i can take for that to help me be regular.

How do you take your peppermint oil, i was going to start gargling with it for mouth sores, but if its a good idea to also drink it, then let me know what you do.

paula

[Flor]

Hi Paula,

I take the peppermint oil in capsules. I read some studies a couple of years ago that it helps with IBS -- so on days that I feel sore or gassy I take a capsule and it seems to help. Although you have to put up with burping and breathing peppermint oil. It could be worse!

Zinc, E, C, and biotin might help with those mouth sores. Also a two-week run of echineceae and goldenseal.

Are you getting enough fiber in your diet? Could that be part of the C problem? I started adding flax seeds to my goat yoghurt in the morning and flax oil and flax seeds to my oatmeal (when I have it). As well as the fiber I take with water. Also fish oil -- are you taking it? I think all these things help with moving things along.

Do you get time to walk or anything physical like that?

I know for me when my system starts to lean towards constipation that I instantly feel sicker -- it feels clear to me that the stuff that's stuck is giving off toxins and with a leaky gut, the toxic stuff makes me sick all over.

And you know to stay away from dairy and bananas?

Good luck to you!

[confused]

Hi Paula,

I take the peppermint oil in capsules. I read some studies a couple of years ago that it helps with IBS -- so on days that I feel sore or gassy I take a capsule and it seems to help. Although you have to put up with burping and breathing peppermint oil. It could be worse!

Zinc, E, C, and biotin might help with those mouth sores. Also a two-week run of echineceae and goldenseal.

Are you getting enough fiber in your diet? Could that be part of the C problem? I started adding flax seeds to my goat yoghurt in the morning and flax oil and flax seeds to my oatmeal (when I have it). As well as the fiber I take with water. Also fish oil -- are you taking it? I think all these things help with moving things along.

Do you get time to walk or anything physical like that?

I know for me when my system starts to lean towards constipation that I instantly feel sicker -- it feels clear to me that the stuff that's stuck is giving off toxins and with a leaky gut, the toxic stuff makes me sick all over.

And you know to stay away from dairy and bananas?

Good luck to you!

Well i just have peppermint oil so i guess i will have to look for the capsules if i want to try it. But i think the biotin would be so much more beneficial for me, i do have buffered C i can start taking to and ill look into those other vitamins. I have just been trying to add one thing at a time in case i have an reaction i will know what im reacting to.

I do work out 5 times a week or i try to jump on the trampoline when there isnt snow on it lol. I am going to start walking again on a bike trail once it warms up some more. Maybe once i start that things will be better.

I dont eat any dairy or bananas so im good there.

I did use the bahthroom tho after i typed out the last email, so the activated charcoal did help push some stuff out today, so that is a good thing and i am feeling better now then when i woke up. I am also going to work at in about an hour, so that will help out to.

Thanks for all the suggestions, i know once i get past this part of my life, i will be feeling as great as you.

paula

[cjacobs81]

Hi all~

This is my first ever post! So, I am new to the brave new world that is the candida diet (was diagnosed with Celiac over a year ago and have been gluten free ever since, and doing great in that department but now have to tackle candida overgrowth, my only real sympton are persistent yeast infections) and had some questions for this wonderful, knowledgable community:

(1) Since going on the candida diet, I have been very constipated despite eating lots of veggies, flax seed and physillum. I am also on a number of vitamins and digestive enzymes to help and I wonder if this is rendering me so constipated. So, what should I take to alleviate this without having to take Citrucel or sugar-free Citrucel (both no good as I understand on the diet?) My doc says to take a stool softener, but I am afraid to.

(2) do any of you eat any fruit on the Candida diet? If so, what?

(3) And the mother of all questions: how long do I need to be hardcore on the diet? When can I start phasing back into fruits and a more lenient way of eating?

In advance, thank you!

[confused]

Hi all~

This is my first ever post! So, I am new to the brave new world that is the candida diet (was diagnosed with Celiac over a year ago and have been gluten free ever since, and doing great in that department but now have to tackle candida overgrowth, my only real sympton are persistent yeast infections) and had some questions for this wonderful, knowledgable community:

(1) Since going on the candida diet, I have been very constipated despite eating lots of veggies, flax seed and physillum. I am also on a number of vitamins and digestive enzymes to help and I wonder if this is rendering me so constipated. So, what should I take to alleviate this without having to take Citrucel or sugar-free Citrucel (both no good as I understand on the diet?) My doc says to take a stool softener, but I am afraid to.

(2) do any of you eat any fruit on the Candida diet? If so, what?

(3) And the mother of all questions: how long do I need to be hardcore on the diet? When can I start phasing back into fruits and a more lenient way of eating?

In advance, thank you!

Welcome to the forum.

I cant help with the constipation, since im having the same problems and im not taking any supplements but activated charcoal for 3 days lol.

I still eat fruit from time to time, if im feeling toxic i eat some blueberries (organic), i sometimes have grapefruit, or green apples, i think these are the only things that you can have in moderation.

I think you have to be strict for 6 months then you can start to add things in and see how you do. I started this diet january 5th, so only about 2 months in but i can tell an difference in my body.

paula

[moldlady]

Good advice by everyone so far and I agree....

It takes a while for the body to adjust. Make sure you are drinking pure water first thing in the a.m.... 32 oz. upon rising. then, about a 1/2 hour later eat the breakfast.

Have 5-6 black olives at each meal until you are regulated. It takes about a week to get back on track.

Exercise, even if it is just walking, will help move the intestinal stuff along.

I hope this helps a bit.

ML

[cjacobs81]

Thanks everyone for the advice thus far; I really appreciate it. I have been on the diet for about two weeks and I guess that I am still adjusting to the much higher fiber intake. Can you actually get C from having too much fiber, isn't that ironic?

I will try to drink more H20 when I first wake up and then try the black olives trick. I too take physillum and flax seeds and oil but have not seen much improvement. Oh well, hopefully, it will clear up soon. I am going to start taking Nystatin in the next week or so and I would prefer that the C be cleared up by then.

Thanks again, all.

[scotty]

cjacobs,

i was wondering if you are eating any carbs at the moment, any grains or soluble fibers. grant it these things can give me wicked D but they have also proven to give me hard painful C. these will add to your yeast infections as well. i know you mentioned eating a lot of veggies but i was not sure. they can be a real burden though you do not know it. when i get "glutened" which is coming from everytwhere as we speak i tend to really become unable to absorb carbs, and they give me a flu-like feeling...i'm seeking other casues for this though too...as sensitive as i am though it is something to keep in mind

scotty

[cjacobs81]

Scotty:

Thanks for responding.

I am off carbs, especially "white carbs". I try to eat as much veggies as possible, but mainly cooked, as raw veggies just kind of gross me out and are hard for me to swallow. I eat either a brown rice or oatmeal(gluten-free) cereal in the morning and then eat some protein and veggies the rest of the day. Since being on the diet, I have had only two servings of red meat.

I am not entirely stopped up, but I can tell that I am not going nearly enough, particularly given the amount of fiber I am consuming. I am not having those sort of "fullfilling", "healthy" sort of movements that one gets when eating so much fiber.

So, does anyone have a suggestion for supplements (like Citrucel) that work and are okay to use on the candida diet? I am really missing my Citricul, which always worked great for me.

This diet is terrible and I hope that I can do it for as long as I need to! I am going to be so happy to go back to the gluten free diet--which will be paradise compared to this! I am too young (28!) to be dealing with this sort of thing; ugh.

[moldlady]

Thanks everyone for the advice thus far; I really appreciate it. I have been on the diet for about two weeks and I guess that I am still adjusting to the much higher fiber intake. Can you actually get C from having too much fiber, isn't that ironic?

I will try to drink more H20 when I first wake up and then try the black olives trick. I too take physillum and flax seeds and oil but have not seen much improvement. Oh well, hopefully, it will clear up soon. I am going to start taking Nystatin in the next week or so and I would prefer that the C be cleared up by then.

Thanks again, all.

Give it a solid week and let us know how you are doing.

ML

[aprilh]

For some people the pysllium actually causes the C. Something to think about. Magnesium will help move things along, so will vit c in higher doses. Flax seed ground up in a coffee grinder works well. You can run uncooked rice through the coffee grinder to clean the grounds out.

The length of time on the diet vary between people. It can all depend on what your underlying conditions are. Many of us have to move on to taking antifungals after being on the diet for a while. If you have underlying issues such as metals or lyme then you may not officially beat the candida until you have dealt with those.

There are usually 3 phases to the diet. You can find out more on www.wholeapproach.com. Phase I is the strictest phase, phase II allows some foods back in so on. Another good site forum is Open Original Shared Link This forum is not just dedicated to candida, but there is a LOT of good info there.

The blueberries are good to help soak up toxins. Paula, remember when you used to hate blueberries

Hope this helps!

April

[moldlady]

Good point April. I agree that many of the fibers on the market are too rough for people with bowel issues. I could not take most of them either. Olives and flax seed meal seemed to be the easiest to tolerate and still do the job.

ML

[Joni63]

Hey Everyone,

I spent last night reading this thread and want to jump in on the diet. I just got through taking a round of Cipro for an ear infection and prior to being gluten free, I would get a yeast infection every time. Since I have been gluten free I have not had any, but this was the first time I've been on antibiotics so I'm trying to be proactive and use preventive mediicne so to speak!

Couple of questions...

What is green juice? Is it just your fruits and veggies made up in a juicer???

Here are the diet guidelines my local health food store recommends:

No sugar, use stevia instead

No white flour

No drinks with sugar, only caffeine free herbal teas

Drink fresh green juice.

No cheese or dairy

Use only raw apple cider vinegar (ie. Braggs)

No sauces or salad dressings, use lemon juice oil and salt/spices for salads

Eat organic veggies and meat

Limit beans and potatoes

Eat fish, eggs and tofu

Eat nuts soaked overnight in purified water

Soak whole grains overnight

Use cold pressed oils, limit butter

Is olive oil cold-pressed???

Why should nuts and grains be soaked in purified water???

I've seen where some people go on a strict fruit intake. I didn't want to do that and don't think that fruit was ever a problem for me. My problem has never been severe so I was kind of trying to tailor it.

Are some processed carbs ok, if they are whole grain? Like rice cakes and crackers made with brown rice flour and pecan meal???

What about Nutty Rice Cereal??? Would that be acceptable? Ingredients are rice flour, rice bran, raisin juice concentrate, honey, salt.

I know thre are a lot of variations in the diet so I am just hoping for some general ideas and if the guidelines given above would be fine.

THANK YOU!!!

[confused]

Green juice is like all your green veggies, you can put whatever ones in that you like, i for one have not done this yet lol.

I see nothng wrong with what u posted to eat.

What i eat is just veggies and meats and anything fresh, like i only shop the outside of the store lol. I was eating rice cakes tho with almond butter, but i found out i was reacting to something either almods or the eggs so i elimanted both and havent added either one in yet, i just know i feel awesome without either one of them lol.

I use evoo and olive oil only to cook with.

I think the cereal would be out cause of the honey, but im not sure, maybe someone else will answer that one.

I see no difference when i eat fruit and when i dont eat fruit, of course i dont eat alot of it, but i do have my lemon water, an green apple a day and sometimes an handful of organic blueberries.

You are so right about there being so many variations, i spent hours and i mean hours trying to figure out which one to follow. until i just decided to eat the way i am eating now.

I have cheated a few times and had an beer or chips but it doesnt seem to puch me far back in the healing.

Ask any questions you want and ill try to answer them or the ones that know so much more then me im sure will add info.

paula

[aprilh]

Hey Everyone,

I spent last night reading this thread and want to jump in on the diet. I just got through taking a round of Cipro for an ear infection and prior to being gluten free, I would get a yeast infection every time. Since I have been gluten free I have not had any, but this was the first time I've been on antibiotics so I'm trying to be proactive and use preventive mediicne so to speak!

Couple of questions...

What is green juice? Is it just your fruits and veggies made up in a juicer???

Here are the diet guidelines my local health food store recommends:

No sugar, use stevia instead

No white flour

No drinks with sugar, only caffeine free herbal teas

Drink fresh green juice.

No cheese or dairy

Use only raw apple cider vinegar (ie. Braggs)

No sauces or salad dressings, use lemon juice oil and salt/spices for salads

Eat organic veggies and meat

Limit beans and potatoes

Eat fish, eggs and tofu

Eat nuts soaked overnight in purified water

Soak whole grains overnight

Use cold pressed oils, limit butter

Is olive oil cold-pressed???

Why should nuts and grains be soaked in purified water???

I've seen where some people go on a strict fruit intake. I didn't want to do that and don't think that fruit was ever a problem for me. My problem has never been severe so I was kind of trying to tailor it.

Are some processed carbs ok, if they are whole grain? Like rice cakes and crackers made with brown rice flour and pecan meal???

What about Nutty Rice Cereal??? Would that be acceptable? Ingredients are rice flour, rice bran, raisin juice concentrate, honey, salt.

I know thre are a lot of variations in the diet so I am just hoping for some general ideas and if the guidelines given above would be fine.

THANK YOU!!!

bellyfat,

Hi and welcome!

It probably would depend on how bad your candida problem was as to what phase you should start. If you don't think its too bad, you could probably be ok having some low carb fruits like blueberries and strawberries. Same goes for those processed grains like Rice cakes and nutty rice cereal. For me the rice cakes fed the yeast in the beginning, but I was bad off. Honey would too.

You can take a test here. See what your score is and maybe that will give you an idea of where to start. Constant yeast infections are where I started. This moved on to leaky gut and a systemic yeast condition. So, might be wise to start on phase I for about 2 weeks to starve the yeast before you move on to phase II. Open Original Shared Link

There is another questionare on www.wholeapproach.com and I believe that site has the phases.

Otherwise, the healthfood store's recommendations sound good.

[aprilh]

Green juice is a juice that I make using spinach, celery, green apple, parsley, zucchini, lemon and lime and cucumber. I use my juicer by you can throw in a blender. The celery makes it a bit thick so you might just do a little of that.

Green juice is very alkalizing and yeast can make our bodies too acidic. Plus the parsley helps cleanse the blood. The spinach gives us calcium, the celery and zucchini are good for the adrenals, the lemon and lime are good for cleansing the liver and kidneys, the cucumber is good for the kidneys.

It is very refreshing!

[covsooze]

I think I'll have to try that juice April One question: are limes OK at the start of the diet? I've only been on the diet 3 weeks.

[Joni63]

Thank you all for the replies. I started out good yesterday but had manicotti last night. It was a microwave meal made by a local pasta company and I just bought it for the first time. It was totally amazing, but not good for the diet. I was definately bloated after so I know either the diary or the starch in it was not good for me. I'm off to the store today to get more food and be more prepared for the diet.

The green juice sounds very good.

I took the Candida Questionaire and my score was an 185 so I think I need to do this full force. Thank you for that link, it was very helpful, aprilh!!!

[covsooze]

Hi everyone

I'm dealing with quite a lot of die-off symptoms at the moment. Taking epsom salt baths, lemon water, body brushing, going to get new charcoal tabs (my ones have sugar in them ). My lovely friends are treating me to an aromatherapy neck and back massage to help me feel better. I was just wondering if this would help or make things worse, as my lymph feels quite sluggish. What do you think?

Susie x

[confused]

Susie,

I really dont think it will hurt to have it done, I actually think it sounds like heaven to have it done. My body is so achy today so can i go with you lol.

paula

[covsooze]

Paula, I hope you're feeling a bit better today

I could do with some advice about anti-fungals please. I did flucanazole for 3 weeks, which had some impact and now I need something more natural. I've been trying one which was recommended on another board which is a combo of different things, including berberine, GSE and garlic. Only problem is, it makes my stomach feel really 'raw' as if it's really hungry - I know it's irritation rather than real hunger, as this is one of my most common reactions to things I'm intolerant to. I'm pretty sure it's the garlic that's the problem, as I've had another vit c combo before which had garlic in and gave me the same problem.

Any recommendations for an anti-fungal that would be gentle on my stomach?

Also, is there anything I can take to heal my sore stomach? (it is my stomach rather than my gut)

Last qu!: I've been on this quest just 3 weeks. My tongue is still coated (not really badly) and I ws wondering how long that would take to shift?

One good thing I have noticed is that a toe-nail fungal infection that I've had for years is almost gone I think my brain fog is lifting a bit too.

Susie

[confused]

I cant help with anti-fungals cause i havent got that far yet even tho ive been on this for over 2 months, i do everything slow lol, i cant afford too much die off at one time when i have 5 kids that need my attention 24/7, especially this week on spring break lol.

My tounge is getting better but what i started last night is rinising with mouthwash and tea tree oil, it is good for oral candidas and for toe fungus, i would try it. My mom has been using it since she jsut got dentures and i did some research on it and it showed so many healy benefits that i thought i would try it for my white tounge.

I am really getting back on track today, i have had a few slip ups drinking an beer here and there and eating too many chips and my body was so mad at me, so today is a new day to get it all back on track, even going to start green juicing today.

paula