Does This Sound Like Candida?

[Lshetler]

I have chronic fatigue and brain fog, and I've removed just about everything from my diet. A few days ago I started a specific carbohydrate diet, and my body started doing some weird things. I was extremely tired, I could hardly walk for the first two days. I had a really bad headache, and I was craving carbohydrates. When I would wake up, I had really bad gut rot, and I had a white, plaque-like film coating the inside of my mouth; it was very thick in some areas, and I had just brushed my teeth and night before. I was also really bloated.

On the third day, I woke up with the most energy I've ever had, but every time that happens it ends up going away with a seemingly safe meal. I had upped my fruit intake significantly. At this point I feel the same as before I started the diet, though I've been eating a lot of fruit. I'm definitely having some digestive symptoms right now.

The earlier fatigue and headache seemed to me like a Candida die off, but I'm obviously not sure.

I used to have a huge problem with fruit, primarily neurological symptoms, but it went away, at least I thought I did. I used to believe that I had a fructose malabsorption, and when I came here to read about it I started learning about Candida. Maybe a dysbiosis die off could have caused my symptoms, but added together with my fruit problems, I'd like to hear what you guys have to say.

[ShayFL]

Sure sounds like it to me. You might try some anti-fungals like Caprylic Acid, Pau d' Arco, Neem, Grapefruit Seed Extract PLUS add in probiotics (acidophilus and bifidum). These will help.

[RiceGuy]

I agree - candida sounds likely to me too. Open Original Shared Link that has a number of candida fighters in it.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Lshetler]

Thanks, any idea how much sugar I can have each day on a Candida diet? My current diet is really dangerous, with vegetables and meat alone, I probably couldn't even break 800 calories a day. Besides, strawberries and blueberries are quite low in sugar.

This is really interesting, because I've always avoided garlic like the plague. Garlic gave me a reaction unlike any of my other food intolerances. Frankly, it gave me all the symptoms that I'm having now; even my breath would be the same as it is right now. Garlic is supposed to kill Candida, so I wonder if instead of being horribly intolerant garlic, the reason I would always feel awful upon eating it was because it was killing the Candida, thus releasing all these toxins.

I really want to try garlic, but if I am intolerant to it it would set me back a week or more.

[ShayFL]

I can honestly recommend Neem now and there are a lot of studies on Grapefruit Seed Extract.

Add coconut oil into your diet. It kills candida. NO SUGARS at all for a few months. Just low sugar fruits until it is under control. And not too many starchy carbs either. Nuts and seeds will give you nutrition and calories without feeding the fungus.

[veggienft]

Unfortunately there's no hard fast rule about what body types get fungal overgrowth, or what lines they have to cross to get it. One thing's for sure, when you get it, you'll fight it for life. You're lucky if you get the opportunity to fight the fungus and lengthen your life.

The problem for some people is the cure. Most westerners are addicted to sugar ........literally.

The problem with fruit is:

1. It's loaded with sugar ........which feeds the candida and the addiction

2. It's loaded with dye .......which kills off competing beneficial bacteria ......while you grow new fungus

3. It's loaded with glycoproteins .......which have equivalent effects to gluten

Celiac and gluten intolerance both start with a fungal overgrowth. Fungal colonies attack with many genetic signatures. Some of the candida mimics gluten. The gut makes antibodies to attack the fungus and fungus-compromised tissue. The gut makes the same antibodies to attack gluten and all the tissue it touches. If candida can mimic gluten this way, it can potentially mimic any glycoprotein the same way.

One of the gut's reactions to either gluten or candida is to release zonulin, and empty the gut contents into the bloodstream. Gluten protein is an opioid which mimics human endorphin. Gluten plugs into nerve addiction receptors. Theoretically the same addictive reaction can come from any glycoprotein which zonulin places in the blood.

As long as there's fungus and a glycoprotein in the gut, people who react with zonulin are susceptible to addiction and autoimmune disease. As long as there's sugar in the gut of a fungus and gluten victim who reacts with zonulin, any sugar, there's gonna be a zonulin reaction.

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[ShayFL]

Interesting theory. There are many. I read a paper the other day that says you MUST eat fruit to kill candida because the fruit actually feed the good bacteria. And if you "starve" the candida......you "starve" the good guys too. There are always opposing views on either side of any problem. Published papers for both sides on many issues as well. The bottom line is what works for you as an individual organism.

And people do recover from fungal infections. It isnt a life sentence (unless you believe it to be). Our minds control a lot of what heals and what doesnt.

I personally cannot support the theories you hve presented here because it doesnt match the research that I have read. Nor does it instinctively make sense to me.

[veggienft]

Interesting theory. There are many. I read a paper the other day that says you MUST eat fruit to kill candida because the fruit actually feed the good bacteria. And if you "starve" the candida......you "starve" the good guys too. There are always opposing views on either side of any problem. Published papers for both sides on many issues as well. The bottom line is what works for you as an individual organism.

And people do recover from fungal infections. It isnt a life sentence (unless you believe it to be). Our minds control a lot of what heals and what doesnt.

I personally cannot support the theories you hve presented here because it doesnt match the research that I have read. Nor does it instinctively make sense to me.

I'm sure there are several people who disagree with every posted theory. That's why I forwarded so much of the structure of my model. I disagree with your explanation, but I would not have confronted you over it.

I found that I have celiac disease after a couple decades battling progressive candida infestation. I've tested this model on myself, and it works.

The treatments I mentioned support the model .........at least in me.

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[ShayFL]

Nothing I have said goes against your model. I was recommending things that could help including low sugar fruits.

I dont think that ALL Celiac is triggered by candida. I find no support for it, nor was it my experience.

I also dont personally believe that if I have a bacteria, virus, fungus or whatever that I will have it for life. I believe in my ability to heal more than that. I do not limit myself and I do not limit others with regards to those things.

For instance Celiac is for life. There is proof. It has been heavily researched and studies. Papers have been published.

If you can show me proof that once you have a fungal infection that you will have it for life, I will stand corrected. Please make them be published in respected and well known journals.

Once again, it is what works for you as an individual organism that is key. I just dont see how telling people that they will "never heal" is helpful. I found that hurtful. So I responded with my beliefs.

[veggienft]

Nothing I have said goes against your model. I was recommending things that could help including low sugar fruits.

I dont think that ALL Celiac is triggered by candida. I find no support for it, nor was it my experience.

I also dont personally believe that if I have a bacteria, virus, fungus or whatever that I will have it for life. I believe in my ability to heal more than that. I do not limit myself and I do not limit others with regards to those things.

For instance Celiac is for life. There is proof. It has been heavily researched and studies. Papers have been published.

If you can show me proof that once you have a fungal infection that you will have it for life, I will stand corrected. Please make them be published in respected and well known journals.

Once again, it is what works for you as an individual organism that is key. I just dont see how telling people that they will "never heal" is helpful. I found that hurtful. So I responded with my beliefs.

What you find "hurtful" I find probable. Someone thinks they can take some cure for candidiasis, and go back to doing the things which feed the candida. Either that's the right thing to do, or it's the wrong thing to do. Even a compromise position between yours and mine would not block out either strategy ........even to guard someone's feelings .......rub that out .........especially Just to guard someone's feelings.

To test my theory you're demanding that I provide proof that part of it works the way I said. I cannot. I can provide proof that it CAN work that way in one instance. But that's all I claimed. My theory merely expands that occurrance to very similar substances.

Even if I wanted to join your p******* contest ........there's nothing there.

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[Rachel--24]

Unfortunately there's no hard fast rule about what body types get fungal overgrowth, or what lines they have to cross to get it. One thing's for sure, when you get it, you'll fight it for life.

I gotta also disagree with this. Its just not true.....people DO overcome fungal infections.

It depends on the condition of the body....the state of the immune system. If things arent functioning as they should....then yes...these infections will stick around forever. However, the body is amazing in its ability to heal itself and if given that opportunity it can effectively do so.

Any chronic infection can remain chronic if the immune system is not able to fight it off. In some cases the immune system doesnt recognize the pathogen as being an "invader" and does nothing to fight it off.

Once the underlying cause for chronic infection is identified and dealt with....healing is definately possible....and it does happen.

If the immune system was keeping fungal infections in check (prior to illness) why would it not be able to keep them in check once again.....when the body is in a healthier state?

I've never heard that ANY type of chronic infection is "for life".

Most of these pathogens will remain in the body for life....however, they do not necessarily have to be a PROBLEM for life. As long as the immune system has a handle on them.....they dont cause problems.

Candida is a normal part of the intestinal flora.....yes, it can get out of hand (when the body isnt in balance) BUT there is nothing to say that this has to be a permanant situation. With proper treatment many people overcome chronic illness/infections.

[Lshetler]

Okay, I appreciate this information and I have a few questions for people who have actually done the Candida diet, but I also have something to say. My mom's best friend is a prominent doctor, with a Ph.D. in both nutrition and psychology. She used to work at the Amen Clinic and really knows her stuff. I don't like to bother her, since she is very busy, but I was experiencing severe detox symptoms, so I give her a call and asked what she thought about Candida. She said that she's been working with it for 15 years, and that if you're steadfast with eliminating it, you can reintroduce sugars within a short period of time.

Now I need to know what other Candida sufferers went through on the diet, because I feel like I'm dying. I'm honestly worried about my health, and some really weird things are happening. My heart beat's all messed up, I'm short of breath, I can't stand without almost passing out, my muscles ache, I have zero energy, I'm quite neurotic, and I'm a 6 foot tall male who weighs 130 pounds. I wasn't able to eat for a while without throwing up, but now I'm getting quite a few calories, and a lot of protein.

I can withstand this as long as I know I'm not killing myself. Part of me is wondering if I don't have Candida, and that this is my body's way of telling me that I need some sugar.

So, is this normal, should I keep going through this, and how long does the hard part last? I'm intolerant to both nuts and seeds, but if the diet isn't going to kill me I would like to stay on it for a long time, just to be safe.

[ShayFL]

I do not know exactly what diet you are on. What are you eating?

[AliB]

I too went through some weird things both when I started gluten-free and dairy free at the end of Jan and on transferring to the SCD in March. You do experience die-off, and it can be pretty yukky for a week or two but does get better.

When you cut the carbs and sugar you are withdrawing the food for the fungus and other bacteria so you are bound to experience some peculiar things. I had that brief burst of energy which faded after 2 days. I suspect that it is the bacteria 're-grouping'. My theory is that when you first drop the carbs they go into free-fall which is when you get the energy. But within a couple of days they have adapted to the new environment and picked up again, which is when the fatigue descends again.

It does mean that the diet has to be strictly adhered to for some time - it can take as long as a year or two before you really start to feel the benefit. Plenty of fresh vegetables and a little fruit seems to be the key, along with good 24 hour cultured yogurt full of lactobacillus, and protein sources from meat, fish and poultry.

You may well be right about the garlic. It could well be causing a reaction due to die-off. Beasties like Candida and rogue bacteria exude one type of toxins when alive and a different set when they die so it could well be due to that. I was laughing with some friends the other day - one of them is in her 60's and fit as a fiddle. Another friend commented about her health and I said, do you know why? She eats garlic by the handful. Freda eats raw garlic corms, she slices them and eats them in a sandwich! She puts them on salads and cooks with them. I doubt that any bacteria would get within three feet of her! Unsociable, maybe, but full of health! what an advert for garlic!

I wish I liked it. I tried a raw corm the other day and I nearly hit the ceiling - boy did it burn my throat! Maybe though it was attacking the beasties down there! I don't mind it cooked, but I bet it isn't half as effective as raw.

Anyway, back to the subject. I used to get, before gluten-free, palpitations and terrible weakness after I had eaten. I knew the palpitations were to do with my digestion. I now know that I don't digest carbs very well so try to avoid them if I can (except in times of weakness when I pay for it big time!). Although the palpitations calmed down I do get a sort of pounding/throbbing all over which is obviously still linked to the digestion. If I avoid the carbs I'm fine.

I suppose it took about 2 or 3 months after starting the SCD before everything started to settle down. My stools were all over the place but they are fine now. Initially I got some weird symptoms - numb fingers and prickly feet, etc., that can be B12 shortage or thyroid. I took some kelp for a week or so, not sure if it helped or not but after a few days it went away.

With Candida it is best to limit the fruit for a while until you are more in control of it and better able to cope with it. The weakness after eating is your digestion in distress. You may have to experiment with the 'legal' food until you find a combination that your digestion can cope with. The digestion draws a lot of energy from the body - if it is not working effectively then you will be fatigued. I could not understand why I was tired all my life until now. My research has helped me realise that my digestion has been the problem all along. I know that I have had Candida about me for years, but stupidly tried to ignore it. It turned round and bit me, big time. I was put on a new drug and I believe it finished off what was left of my already extremely decimated gut flora and allowed the Candida free reign.

Progress is slow (I am not as disciplined as I would wish!) but I am improving. Already I can eat foods that I couldn't touch a few months ago - every week I can add a little more. The energy level is better - I can run up the stairs! But I am constantly tired - I can't blame all of that on the Candida - I am just so bad at getting to bed early. It would undoubtedly make a big difference if I did!

I am convinced that bacterial activity (see my bacteria thread) is behind or certainly a major contributor to a lot of our 'Western' diseases and illnesses. I know it is true in my case and I see evidence of it in a lot of my family and friends. Gas and bloating is due to bacterial activity. If you are bloating, it is because you are eating foods that the rogue bacteria are feeding on. Even good bacteria emits some gas, but nothing like the rogue ones and/or parasites.

It is hard at first, and pretty frightening at times as your body does weird things, but it does get better, honestly! Make sure you get the yogurt or at least a good health supply of Acidophilus probiotics every day to rebuild the good gut flora. It is only by doing that that you stand any chance of getting the rogue ones under control. While you are pulling the rug out under the beasties, you need to be re-carpeting with wall-to-wall plush..............

[Rachel--24]

This is really interesting, because I've always avoided garlic like the plague. Garlic gave me a reaction unlike any of my other food intolerances. Frankly, it gave me all the symptoms that I'm having now; even my breath would be the same as it is right now. Garlic is supposed to kill Candida, so I wonder if instead of being horribly intolerant garlic, the reason I would always feel awful upon eating it was because it was killing the Candida, thus releasing all these toxins.

I really want to try garlic, but if I am intolerant to it it would set me back a week or more.

I wanted to comment on this since my experience with garlic was very similar to yours.

I never ate alot of garlic prior to my illness....however, when I was following the anti-candida diet/antifungal treatments I started using quite a bit of garlic (fresh organic stuff)....as well as Kyolic brand garlic extract.

I had very bad symptoms which I attributed to "dieoff" reactions and I continued with the garlic until eventually I realized that I was only getting worse. I immediately began to improve when I cut out the garlic and other antifungal treatments I'd been using.

At the time I strongly suspected that mercury was part of my problem...although I had no evidence of it at that time (other than a strong gut instinct).

I was aware that garlic is a "mobilizer" of mercury as it is very high in thiol (sulfur compound) and can definately cause severe reactions in person's who have mercury toxicity.

A dieoff reaction is one that generally leaves a person feeling better than they felt prior to the treatment. So with each incidence of "dieoff" a person should notice some type of improvement in symptoms. Dieoff reactions should not last for weeks and should not leave a person feeling worse than they were feeling prior to the treatment.

If this happens its because the treatment is overwhelming the detoxification system (too much to handle) or the treatment is wrong for the body and is making things worse. In either case its NOT helpful to experience horrible reactions to any type of treatment....it indicates that the body is under a great deal of stress.

I later found out that my trans-sulfuration pathway is impaired (most likely as a result of mercury exposure from amalgams). I am not able to handle sulfur because this pathway which is critical in breaking it down is faulty. The sulfur accumulates to toxic levels which causes alot of symptoms. It may also be moving mercury around....and the mercury cannot be detoxed due to the block in this pathway.

So while garlic can be very beneficial....if the body is not functioning as it should it may not be able to handle the sulfur compounds. This will cause a worsening of symptoms. Instead of inhibiting the growth of candida.....it will actually promote the candida problem because its putting a heavy burden on the body's detoxification system as well as the immune system.

This was exactly what was happening in my case. There is a block in my pathway which prevents certain compounds from being broken down and used by the body in ways that are beneficail and necessary for good health.

Pay good attention to how your body responds to certain treatments because your body will provide you with the most important clues as to what is causing your health problems. If garlic seems to set you back.....there is probably a good reason that you've instinctively avoided it.

Listen to your body and dont push it too far. If your body responds negatively....with symptoms that do not improve your overall health issues....then it might be best to avoid whatever is causing that type of reaction.