Candida?

[curlyfries]

I have been gluten free for over two months, and dairy free for a couple weeks. About a week ago I started to get a sore throat (not that unusual for me), except that it's not so much the throat as it is near the back of my tongue. I can't see any spots or inflammation. Then I started having problems with burning in my chest and stomach. I used to have a lot of problems with GERD, which went away when I first started trying to eliminate gluten about a year ago. I eliminated sugar a couple days ago and my symptoms are getting better---except now I itch all over (back, legs, armpits,butt) Years ago i had a rash on my butt which the dr said was a form of eczema. I still occassionally itch there, but no rash. I suspect it could have been DH. I have checked all my soaps, deodorant and detergents. I haven't eaten anything new. Any ideas? And I think i know the answer (but kinda don't want to know ), but does this sound like Candida?

Lisa

[RiceGuy]

Well, although I think it could be candida, it doesn't necessarily have to be. To be on the safe side though, it wouldn't hurt to take caprylic acid capsules for awhile and see how you feel. It is also wise to avoid yeasts, sugars, and vinegars, and limit or avoid fruits.

Also, take a close look at what you've been eating lately, as it seems like something in the change of diet might be related to your symptoms. Simple carbs can feed candida more than complex ones, so if you've been eating gluten-free bread high in starch, it might be a culprit. If the amounts of any food has been increased notably, you could be having a reaction to it. For instance, nightshades, yeasts (like from bread), or any common allergenic food, including corn, soy, nuts, etc.

I've had similar symptoms from foods which would ordinarily be considered safe. Like itchy arms from ground celery seed (but not whole celery seeds), and a weird pain/feeling in my throat and esophagus from pine nuts. Just some "food for thought"

[curlyfries]

Thanks!

I really don't eat much bread, just Van's waffles. I did buy a loaf over 2 months ago and it is almost gone, but I haven't had any in the past 2 weeks. I also limit the amount of pasta I eat (maybe once a week at best). I do eat celery quite a bit and have been eating a lot of tangerines. The only nuts I've eaten are almonds. Are caprylic acid capsules for candida? How much should I take? I've never seen them mentioned before. Are they easy to find?

Lisa

[curlyfries]

BTW, I haven't eaten any tangerines in the last couple days. I also stopped putting lemon in my water. I rarely eat potatoes and I don't like mushrooms. I'm sure soy would be in some things I eat as well as vinegar. I need to go back and re-read my labels. And of course sugar must be in a lot of things. However, I don't eat sweets a whole lot. I intentionally don't bake so I am not as tempted by all those carbs and sugars. I'm trying to lose weight.

Just a thought, but I used to have quite a sweet tooth before gluten-free. Could I be reacting to not eating so much carbs and sugar?

Lisa

[wowzer]

I am battling candida here too. I'm wondering if the citric acid is getting you. If I ingest too much I get a sore throat and sometimes blisters.

[curlyfries]

I am battling candida here too. I'm wondering if the citric acid is getting you. If I ingest too much I get a sore throat and sometimes blisters.

Yeah, that was one of the things I wondered about. That's why I decided to go without the lemons and tangerines . So maybe I'd be OK if I just cut back?

[moldlady]

Lemon and lime should be okay as they are very low sugar. I did switch to lemon oil and stevia at one point and got used to it. But lemon the pure stuff should be okay.

But the tangerines and oranges are high sugar fruits that if you are very fungal/candida, I would limit their use.

[tom]

I am battling candida here too. I'm wondering if the citric acid is getting you. If I ingest too much I get a sore throat and sometimes blisters.

Do you mean Citric Acid as an ingredient?

There's something about the manufacturing process that makes THAT bad for someone battling candida.

I think my case was pretty bad when I learned of it in '05, and I still have some I'm sure, but I NEVER ONCE had any problem w/ freshly-squeezed lemon juice in any quantity.

And it's quite beneficial in fact.

I wouldn't have any other citrus as most are too sweet, and somehow lime juice was a problem.

I've never found a satisfactory explanation for this, but I'm positive the problem doesn't lie w/ natural citric acid, since it's in the freshly-squeezed lemon juice.

[curlyfries]

Lemon and lime should be okay as they are very low sugar. I did switch to lemon oil and stevia at one point and got used to it. But lemon the pure stuff should be okay.

But the tangerines and oranges are high sugar fruits that if you are very fungal/candida, I would limit their use.

I have been squeezing lemon in my water for a long time, but have only been eating the tangerines for a few weeks---1-2 a day almost every day.

So maybe I will try putting the lemon in my water again and see what happens ( I so like it better that way ) My throat is almost back to normal and the reflux is gone (so is the itching...still not sure what that was about) If it's OK, then it was probably the sugar. If not, my guess would be the acid.

Thanks everyone

Lisa