Monday, April 16, 2012

Strict Candida Diet

The Strict Candida Diet is for people experiencing a wild array of symptoms related to foods. To make this diet, I’ve cross-referenced many candida diets and read about why certain foods are on the list or why they are stricken from it. This is not a “perfect” diet for everyone experiencing radical food sensitivities as people even develop individual sensitivities/allergies. However, this is a core diet and can be added to or subtracted from based on the individual’s needs.

The diet principles exercised here are sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, meat-free, yeast-free, processed food-free, and low-carb. The intent is to starve (actually weaken) the offending bacteria so that anti-bacterials, anti-fungals and anti-inflammatories can further damage and kill them off.

DIETARY RATIO – 65% - 20% - 10% - 5%

Keep this tentative ratio in mind when planning meals: 65+% of high fiber foods such as steamed vegies (broccoli, celery, red radishes in moderation, asparagus, cabbage, spinach and kale) with raw garlic, onion and ginger, three natural anti-fungals; 20% of high protein foods like nuts, seeds (and some people eat eggs); 10% complex carbs like brown rice, millet, select beans (carbs actually help promote a healthy body and deter candida, but once there is overgrowth the bacteria must be weakened and so carbs are withdrawn); 5% fresh fruits like lemons, limes, avocadoes and perhaps green apples or blackberries if the person can tolerate them (some people like myself must be very strict with this category). ?? % of oils is unknown but depends on the individual – some oils are very instrumental in fighting against the candida overgrowth, and so some people require more oil than others; for those upping their oils, reduce the carbs as they compete with each other. A word of caution here, a low-carb diet long-term, say for six months or more, has been known to cause electrolyte problems.

ALLOWABLE FOODS

VEGETABLES

Vegetables starve the candida of the sugar and mold that feed it. Vegies filled with chlorophyll absorb fungal poisons and escort them out of the body. Avoid starchy vegies like carrots sweet potatoes, potatoes, yams, corn, all winter squash, beets, peas, parsnips and all beans except green beans; the starch quickly turns to sugar which feeds the candida. Vegies are typically very alkaline and should be eaten raw or slightly steamed. Cooking makes all food - vegies included - acidic, the pH which candida thrives in. Seaweeds are good, e.g. spirulina, chlorella, dulse, but many seaweeds are processed with processed salts and corn oil, which could cause reaction and/or feed the candida. Tomatoes are acidic (yellow tomatoes less so) and a nightshade, which affects inflammation and particularly those with rheumatoid problems - best to avoid.

Vegetables : amaranth leaves, asparagus, beet greens, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, cucumber (peeled), dandelion greens, eggplant (controversial as it’s a nightshade), endive, garlic stems, green beans, kale, lettuce (all types), leeks, mustard greens, okra, fresh olives, onions, red radish (in moderation), seaweed, spaghetti squash, spinach, spring onions, swiss chard, tomatoes (controversial), turnip greens, zucchini

LEGUMES
Legumes can be very moldy. Some candida diets restrict all legume consumption, some allow low-carb legumes such as chickpeas/garbanzo beans, lentils, black beans, black-eyed peas and adzuki beans. Because of the possible mold factor, soak beans (except lentils) for 8 hours, drain off dirty water and rinse till rinse-water is colorless. Cook as desired. Slow-cooking in a crock pot will retain the most nutrients that higher heats will kill.

NUTS & SEEDS
Nuts are rich in nutrients, essential fats but can be very moldy. Also they are tough on the digestive system of many candida sufferers; some people react while others tolerate them well. For eliminating mold on nuts, soak and rinse nuts before eating. For the busy person, they can be soaked in bulk and dried in a dehydrator to be eaten when desired. Drying temperatures over 118F (in the oven for example) kill nutrients, essential for the healing candida sufferer’s body. Flax seeds (chia and hemp to a lesser degree) go rancid quickly so buy whole seeds and blend the seeds to a powder just before using. Heat also destroys the nutrients in these fragile seeds so eat raw.

Nuts : almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts (no more than 6 at a time due to heavy selenium)
Seeds : sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds

GLUTEN-FREE GRAINS
Grains contain a high amount of fiber, so figuratively they are the pipe-cleaners of the intestines grabbing pollutants, chemicals, pesticides and heavy metals and sweeping some of them out. Grains are complex carbs but they do break down into sugars and so must be eaten in small proportion when “starving” the candida so anti-fungals work more effectively.

Gluten-free grains: adlay/Job’s tears, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, sorghum (possibly), wild and brown rice

BEVERAGES
The GI track needs to be continually washed throughout the day to remove toxins, so drink lots of water. The herbal teas listed have anti-fungal properties. Chickory root is also a great prebiotic (it contains 20% inulin) so can help repopulate the gut with healthy bacteria.

Beverages: almond milk, chamomile tea, chickory root, cinnamon tea, clove tea, fennel tea, ginger tea, lemongrass tea, licorice tea, peppermint tea, taheebo/pau d’arco tea, lots of water

SWEETENERS
Candida loves sweeteners. Supposedly stevia (controversial) can be eaten in tiny amounts every day. Coconut oil is naturally sweet, as are green apples, cinnamon, almonds and almond flour. Blend ingredients considering natural flavors and skip on all sugars and chemical-compound substitute sugars, including xylitol (known to mess up pets’ pancreases) and agave (90+% fructose while corn syrup is only about 50%; also processed at temps around 400F! thus a trans fat?).

FRUITS
Fruits range from very high fructose to fruits with much less fructose. Fruits tend to be slightly acidic, which makes them even more appealing to candida. So, choosing low fructose, low-acidic fruit is important. Limes and lemons are both low acidic, as are avocadoes. Cranberries are very low fructose but high acidic; tomatoes are acidic. The following fruits are “good” fruits for the strict candida diet but must be eaten only upon occasion and as each body allows. Limes, lemons and avocadoes are the first fruits to add to the diet.

Fruits: avocadoes, blackberries, cranberries, green apples, green papaya, lemons, limes, red or black currants

CONDIMENTS, VINEGARS & SEASONINGS
Condiments are typically fermented but people with candida have huge intolerances to yeast and/or fermentation, so they must think simple, eat simple … but feel well. Coconut aminos is a great alternative for soy sauce. Salt, by the way, is processed and often has dextrose and chemical ingredients in it; eat unprocessed sea salt which is loaded with accessible nutrients and minerals. Dried herbs are known to be moldy, not to mention irradiated. Dehydrated garlic and onion powders might have sugar additives.

Condiments: fresh garlic, fresh ginger, fresh onion, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, coconut oil, flax oil, hemp oil; mustard powder (rarely; very arguable); apple cider vinegar (very very arguable!)
Seasonings: (unprocessed) sea salt, black pepper (very arguable)

HERBS & SPICES
Certain herbs and spices contain antioxidants and anti-fungals. Some increase circulation and reduce inflammation. Some improve digestion and alleviate constipation. Most herbs and spices are beneficial in the fight against candida. Avoid the nightshades, that is, any in the red pepper family.

Herbs and spices: basil, black pepper (very arguable), cardamom, cayenne (very arguable), cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, coriander (good cinnamon substitute), cumin, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, turmeric

OILS & FATS
Eat carefully selected oils only, and always choose cold-pressed and extra virgin if given the option. Heating or boiling destroys oils, especially fragile oils like hemp and flax oils.

Oils: coconut oil, olive oil, flax oil, hemp oil
Fats: avocado, cleaned nuts (almonds, walnuts and Brazil nuts)


FOODS TO AVOID

SUGARS

Sugars exacerbate candida. Soft drinks are loaded, and even if “sugar-free” there are chemicals and the drinks are very acidic. Artificial sweeteners can impair the immune system.

Avoid: honey, syrup includes brown rice syrup, lactose, malt, sucrose, fructose, chocolate, molasses, artificial sweeteners (e.g. asulfame, nutra-sweet, saccharine, maltodextrine), agave nectar, coconut sugar, yacon syrup

ALCOHOL
Alcohol is high in sugar, plus it is fermented, both of which cause candida to thrive. Alcohol puts stress on the organs and immune system. Mixing alcohol and candida is like opening all the windows in a house fire!

Avoid: beer, cider, liquors, spirits, wine

GRAINS & GLUTINOUS FOODS
Most candida sufferers have high sensitivities to glutens, so avoiding them allows the immune system to repair itself and spend more energy attacking the bacteria rather than the introduced toxin. Corn products like popcorn are highly contaminated with toxic fungi. White rice causes rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.

Avoid: glutens (wheat, rye, barley, oats and wheat variations like spelt, couscous, cream of wheat, durum, semolina, farina, triticale, etc); corn (popcorn, blue corn, hominy, grits)

LEGUMES
Most legumes are high in carbs, moldy, as well as hard to digest and so should be avoided. Lentils, garbanzos and black beans are probably the easiest to digest and have the lowest glycemic count. Soy products are toxic to people with candida, probably because the majority of soy is GMO, which has been linked to immune system damage and other health problems. Soy is also disruptive to the thyroid, a common problem with candida sufferers. Cocoa powder, even unsweetened, contains caffeine and weakens the adrenal glands. Bean sprouts contain high levels of bacteria and sometimes e.coli – those grown at home can be safe.

Avoid: all beans except later on the lentils, garbanzos and black beans; all soy (tofu, tofu cheese, textured vegetable protein, soy milk, tempeh, etc); carob powder; cocoa powder; bean sprouts

NUTS
Nuts contain high amounts of molds/fungal toxins, which can inflame candida. Some nuts are extremely moldy like the peanuts and pistachios while almonds and walnuts are easiest for the candida sufferer to clean and eat. Coconut meat is inflammatory while coconut oil fights against the candida bacteria (the body uses these materials very differently).

Avoid: all nuts, especially peanuts and pistachios; coconut meat, milk and cream; pecans cause inflammation; cashews can be very moldy

MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms often have mold on their exterior. Eating fungi can further the spread of candida, as they are a mold; however, some molds have been used to fight the candida mold-bacteria, ex. reishi and maitake.

FRUITS
Fruits have high sugar content, which candida thrives on. Melons and especially cantaloupe tend to be very moldy. Oranges and grapefruits cause inflammation and are acidic (even orange peel as a flavoring must be avoided) while lemons and limes are alkaline and low-inflammatory. Dried fruits and fruit juices are sugar intensified and must be avoided as they heavily tax the adrenals; processed canned fruit with natural fruit sugars and the added sugars does too!

ROOT/STARCHY & OTHER VEGETABLES
Root vegies are dense in nutrients but have high starch that easily convert to sugar. Winter squash are incredily starch and thus speedily convert to sugar. Hot peppers (capsicum family) and other peppers, including sweet peppers, are in the nightshade family (along with potatoes, eggplants and tomatoes) and therefore cause inflammation in many people with autoimmune diseases, particularly those with rhuematoid problems.
Avoid: beets, brussel sprouts (many people react), carrots, daikon radishes, eggplant, parsnips, all peppers (hot and not), peas, potatoes, all squash (except zucchini and spaghetti squash), sweet potatoes, tomatoes, yams and yucca

MEATS & FISH & SEAFOOD & EGGS
Avoid all meats: Meats like beef and pork are grain-fed, which increases the acidy of the meat, filled with hormones and antibiotics, and bacterial carriers. Pork cells contain retroviruses that survive cooking and may further harm a weakened digestive system. Processed meats like lunch meat and spam are loaded with dextrose, nitrates, nitrites, sulphates and sugars.

Avoid all fish and seafood: Most fish, excepting perhaps sockeye salmon and sardines, contain alarming levels of heavy metals and toxins, which suppress the immune system. Farm-raised salmon is grey in color before factory coloring making it more appealing to consumers, not to mention farm-raised salmon is extremely inflammatory while wild salmon is considered extremely anti-inflammatory, excepting for the fact that it’s loaded with PCBs, mercury and carcinogenic agents, as is farm-raised salmon according to studies. Seafoods are the oceans floor sweepers and are toxic by nature.

Avoid eggs: eggs are inflammatory (one naturopath found that 90% of all people with food sensitivities had an egg sensitivity too)

DAIRY PRODUCTS
Dairy is inflammatory, loaded with bacteria, hormones and antibiotics as well as pus. Dairy also contains lactose, a sugar compounded with milk agents, which feed bacteria and create phlegm (bacteria crap). Cheese is created by bacteria by-products aka crap.
Avoid: dairy (all cheese, milk, cream, buttermilk, even kefir and yogurt although many argue that these two are beneficial as probiotics, but these are fermented)

ADDITIVES & PRESERVATIVES
Chemicals disrupt friendly bacteria and allow candida yeast to flourish. MSG and citric acid are in most processed foods and are derived from yeasts as they underwent a fermentation process. The natural citric acid in lemons and limes is not a chemical compound and is beneficial.
Avoid: MSG, citric acid, maltodextrin, chemicals and anything on the list that can’t be pronounced.

BEVERAGES
Caffeine causes blood sugar spikes feeding candida and stressing the adrenals and weakening the immune system, both already weaknesses in the candida sufferer. Coffee contains mold, one of the most important food categories to avoid; it also contains taurine, another evil. Decaf coffees and teas contain residual caffeine. Coconut water/milk contains a high amount of sugar and so is inflammatory.

Avoid: coffee, black and green tea, diet and regular sodas, energy drinks, sport drinks, malted drinks (e.g. Ovaltine, Horlicks, Caro), coconut water, fruit juices (fresh or packaged), rice milk, coconut water/milk

CONDIMENTS & VINEGARS
Condiments are usually fermented (vinegars, olives, pickles) or have sugar and/or citric acid (ketchup, tomato paste). They may even contain soy (soy sauce, fermented Asian bean sauces, Bragg’s, balsamic vinegar). Vinegars are made in a yeast culture, which depletes the stomach of acids and can cause inflammation in the gut

Avoid: Bragg’s, horseradish, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, relish, salad dressings, soy sauce; brewer’s yeast; nutritional yeast (some can tolerate nutritional yeast flakes though)

FATS & OILS
Avoid: Peanut, cottonseed, cotton and canola oils are mold contaminated. Sunflower and safflower oils are highly processed. Most beans in soy oil are GMO. Margarine is dairy plus saturated fat. Shortening is highly processed and has trans fat. Sesame seed oil is inflammatory for people with candida (some can tolerate it though).


SUMMARY

Candida flourishes in an acidic environment, and this acidity inhibits the bodies’ ability to absorb vitamins and minerals as well as limits enzyme production of digestive proteins, thus causing gas and a sense of being bloated and an increase in food sensitivities. Therefore, selecting foods from the ALLOWABLE FOODS list is important. A rule of thumb when “starving” the candida is to diet for one month for every year the person has had candida. That is, if someone’s had it for 18 years, then he/she must be on a strict candida diet for 18 months. Candida results in deficiencies; the strictness of the diet does not aim to clean up those deficiencies and may create more; however, once candida has been eliminated the body can be restored. There will never be any kind of restoration as long as candida survives and thrives.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Reverse osmosis water and distilled water are acidic waters and contain no minerals and actually leach minerals from the body. Adding minerals to water does not help as processed minerals cannot possibly duplicate what Mother Nature provides.

Canned foods are high in molds and lack nutrients; frozen is better; fresh is best.

Avoid all yeast: brewer’s yeast, baker’s yeast, vitamins & minerals (unless labeled “yeast free” and “sugar free”), B-complex (usually vitamin B1 undergoes a major fermentation process … this might affect the vitamin B1 additive in breads too)
Avoid malt products: malted drinks, cereals, candy (fermented)

Avoid sprouts unless home-grown. Sprouts often contain high amounts of bacteria and even e.coli.

Leftovers grow mold. Two hours after putting leftovers in the fridge, mold starts growing. It’s best to freeze leftovers.

Drink at least 2 liters of water a day. Consider lymphatic drainage techniques also (dry skin brushing) to keep the lymph system moving, which by the way, has more fluid in it than there is blood in the body. Exercise regularly (cardiovascular) to promote good circulation and oxygen-rich blood, which candida dislikes.



SOURCES

http://www.guruwellness.com/wellness_candida-2.htm

http://www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com/candidadiet.html

http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/foods50.php

http://www.thecandidadiet.com/foodstoeat.htm
http://www.thecandidadiet.com/foodstoavoid.htm

http://www.becomehealthynow.com/ebookprint.php?id=416

http://www.detoxwithcolonics.com/the_candida_diet

http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-diet.html

http://lightworkers.org/node/45200

http://www.yeastinfectioncure101.com/a-detailed-candida-diet-stage-1a-candida-detox.html

http://www.wellnesswatchersmd.com/feature_articles/cure_candidiasis.php

http://www.vrp.com/womens-health/candida-yeast-protection-program-part-ii-freeing-the-body-from-candida-and-preventing-recurrence

71 comments:

  1. A lot of research went into this! Very comprehensive compared with other diets I've seen. Thanks!

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  2. This diet is way to strict. What if you dont want to lose weight?

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  3. I don't want to lose weight. I want to get well. So this diet is controlling my systemic bacteria.

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    1. It's impossible not to lose weight on such strict diets, just saying. In the beginning anyone would lose some weight until the body rebalances, there are raw vegans that are actually overweight.

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  4. I am suprised that yacon syrup is on the avoid list, as it doesn't spike blood sugar levels?

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  5. All those sugar replacements have some kind of side effects, esp for people who have candida. But this is interesting - a friend who is borderline diabetic was doing some research on sugar and sugar substitutes and according to a piece of research he read, there is some kind of biological stimulation to "sweet" in the mouth which stimulates the pancreas ... and in short, it's not the sugar itself that is causing the pancreas to overwork but the sweetness in the mouth triggering pancreatic stress. Interesting concept and I'd like to get my hands on that article to further understand it AND to read the references used. BTW, stevia causes some probs with me so I wouldn't even consider yacon syrup but there are multiple levels of candida and my system is ultra sensitive - ugh.

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  6. I have read all the same sites as you and NONE of them say to not eat meat or eggs. It is preffered to use free range and/or organic but to cut it out of your diet is totally misleading! It should be a main part of your diet with veggies and good fats. To tell people you have read these sites and then tell them they say to not eat meat is FALSE information.

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    1. The most comprehensive information I've read regarding this diet recommends no meat for about the first week then slowly add a little at a time and see how you feel when you do so, and yes, it should be organic and no pork. The reason for no meat initially is because of the ammonia.

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    2. The most comprehensive information I've read regarding this diet recommends no meat for about the first week then slowly add a little at a time and see how you feel when you do so, and yes, it should be organic and no pork. The reason for no meat initially is because of the ammonia.

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  7. Hi Sharon,
    I'm not telling people what to do. I'm telling people what I do. There are all kinds of information on the web, like there are all kinds of religions, theories about creation, and interpretations of healing. I happen to follow the back-to-eden lifestyle, which is amply supported to be healthier than the carnivorous diet, which is also amply supported to be healthier than the vegan lifestyle ... so there you have it. Do your research and choose your lifestyle. People who do research and make informed choices based on that research can be respected.

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  8. This is great info, thanks! I am a new mom who is breastfeeding and battling yeast issues. It is so tough. Your website has been a great help, along with a nutritionist. Because of breastfeeding, I need more calories and have had to introduce lentils, almonds, quinoa, and millet early on. I am also eating homemade grass-fed beef bone broth and wild caught sockeye salmon. I am battling low energy, but starting to feel better. Any other advice on some high calorie foods I can introduce very early on in an anti-candida diet?

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    1. I hope you've found a way to give your child probiotics and that your child hasn't had digestive issues since birth if you had candida problems at the time. We get our flora that allows us to digest our food from our birth mother as we come through the vaginal canal assuming we are born via the birth canal. If you had problems with candida, you may not have had the healthy flora to pass on to your child. Antibiotics, birth control and other things also deplete this and we can not ever get the original flora back, but we can get new flora via probiotics, although many strain (like 1282) probiotics are hard to find.

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  9. Hi Amanda,
    Eating enough-calorie foods has been my issue with candida too. When I got really skeletal, I discovered coconut oil and easily ate 5-6 tablespoons a day to kill the bacteria (the oil has caprylic acid in its natural form!), was great for coating the GI track and healing the holes where the bad bacteria were dying off and leaving holes into my system, and best of all, coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid much like palm oil (although palm oil is cultivated en masse in former rain forest areas so I don't support eating that). The medium-chain fatty acids are as close to mother's milk as something gets on planet earth, and the oil is rarely an allergen, which coconut flesh, milk, etc is (my candida loves coconut flesh and milk b/c of the sugars but it hates the oil ... can't explain that but it's scientifically proven too or I wouldn't have believed it were possible!)

    Other high calorie foods could be 1/2 an avocado, but in my early days of candida, even the avocados and lemons had too much sugar. You'll have to experiment with that personally as everyone reacts a bit differently to foods. Other high fat and high calorie foods are almond milk and Brazil nut milk. The Brazil nuts from Brazil as opposed to California are better for you as they are loaded with selenium, which combats candida nicely. American soil has selenium only in certain areas and CA is not one of them.

    I hope this gives you some more ideas for feeding you and your baby in a healthy way :) BTW, I just went to a raw food lifestyle center and though our food wasn't high calorie (I did guzzle 16 oz of almond or Brazil nut milk every day for fat calories so I wouldn't lose more weight), I and the other people there can assure you that the raw food lifestyle is the energy lifestyle. We REALLY felt light, not weighted down by food, and had tons more energy than off our previous cooked food diets. And the big kicker is, counting calories is something that was created by the USDA and/or FDA for meat eaters. People in the raw food world who get the balanced diet are so well nourished that calories don't matter b/c our cells are completely nourished! (On average we were eating only about 1500 calories/day and our eyes were bright and our energy was UP!) Great food for thought!!!

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  10. Hi, great piece. I have been battling Candida and Adrenal Insufficiency for over 20 years now believe it or not. Having a bad relapse at the moment after overindulging at Christmas, foolishly.

    I was wondering if you ever tried the Raw Vegan diet and particularly, the 80/10/10 diet that many Candida sufferers claim to have had success on?

    http://www.youtube.com/user/FoodnSport

    Megan Elizabeth would be one:

    http://meganelizabeth.com/

    All that sugar from fruit scares me but the theory is, when the a person eats low fat, Candida have no access to it.

    Be interested in your thoughts.

    Love the blog,

    Declan

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  11. I was found out I have a yeast overgrowth in my intestines. I was given a list of foods to avoid and a list of foods to avoid. It wasnt as strict as this is but I want clear this up asap. Can you tell me what a typical eating day is like for you, what do you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

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  12. Hi Declan,

    Sorry to hear about your very loooong battle with candida. The stuff has scared me so badly - because my younger bro had my probs 20 years before me and now he has huge allergies which include anaphalactic shock - that I've really really done research so I won't have such long-term horrendous consequences for not identifying the prob and then addressing it. Only after I diagnosed myself did I realize that that was what my bro had and still battles with! It's really opened his eyes too to what he can more safely eat. But my research has scared me into being strict ... long-term candida rewrites the DNA and that's why a lot of people get autoimmune diseases like MS, SLE, IBS, RA, and I would hazard a host more. And that is what I'm trying to beat!

    Actually, I've done a lot of raw and have been very successful on it. In fact, I just spent 3 weeks at Hippocrates Health Institute in FL, and their 3-week raw food program was sooo beneficial. My diet was easily 60-70% raw, with low amounts of carbs, maybe max of 20%.

    I think the biggest secrets diet-wise for controlling candida is the chlorophyll-rich but low-sugar (fruits included) diet. I didn't say anything about low-fat b/c the body needs "good" fats, but not at the same meals as carbs. HHI taught a lot about food combining; while it hasn't aided me in controlling my candida, it has indirectly aided me in that I digest foods sooo much better which helps with better elimination, a universal SAD problem and also a prob for candida sufferers ... the colon must be clean (!!!!) because what's in the colon is permeating the membrane (or putrifying and permeating the intestinal membrane) infecting/affecting the rest of the body. Kind of a sick picture to end on, but 70+% of human health probs are related to poor/inadequate food choices.

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  13. Hi Anonymous,

    You asked about my typical breakfast, lunch, supper menu. Wow! That's too huge a question to answer in a paragraph, but succinctly put, I've lived in South Korea for almost 2 decades and culturally there are no "breakfast foods" here. What's eaten in the evening is also eaten in the morning (Westernization has been changing that ... ugh on calorie-filled, nutritionless breakfast cereals).

    Also, I'm not a foodie, meaning I eat to live, not live to eat ... thank goodness b/c those wonderful "other and now forbidden" foods would be a terrible temptation.

    I think if you go through my blog, you'll find many recipes that can be allotted to breakfast and lunch/supper categories, but seriously, I can eat green salads at any time of day and not feel "weird" (my friends look surprised but what's in my breakfast box or travel kit is a great conversation starter!

    And a hint, building your diet and learning to cook well for yourself will take about a month. After that, you will have established new habits and the diet will then be quite easy for you.

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  14. Tahnk you for this great list. I am new to this problem and surprised how difficult is to deal with. Thanks again it made everything clear. Just a question what is the link between the candida and the thyroid problems?

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  15. Both candida and thyroid issues are about imbalances in the body and because of those imbalances bacteria can flourish. I bumped into, once, a bacteria that causes hyperthyroidism, but was in a hurry and didn't bookmark the page and couldn't trace it later, but that was quite an eye-opening statement to me. Also thyroid problems are really metabolic problems. There are a lot of things going on in the body when the endocrine system (thyroid being one of the most noted endocrine organs) gets out of whack. And candida will throw the endocrine system out of whack if that wasn't what initally pointed to candida. Anyway, here's a site where you can get a little idea of the relationship between thyroid issues and candida, but the web is loaded with lots of information on it. If only I had known how to read the signs when I first had hyperthyroid problems ... Ok, the link: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/relatedconditions/a/candida.htm

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  16. Hi Cheryl,
    congratulations for your efforts to regain your health ! you did a lot of good work with this blog also. I really appreciate your articles even many times they are not applying to me :) its a personal journey as you said...

    I do have one question about this issue still not very clear for me - i even asked 3-4 naturopaths and they tell i should not worry about. its regarding B vitamins during candida cure.

    But Biamonte and dr.Sweeney (functional) told it is not wise to take them while still have gut infections although they could help the body generally speaking. But the others 3-4 other naturopaths told is non-sense I could go and take them.
    Years ago in a hospital an old doctor refused to give them to me by mouth but only IV because of the infections.

    I was wondering if you have any clear info about that. I was able to find just opinions about it including here :) or very general stuff like wikipedia (about giardia feeds on B viamins also).

    Thanks

    Dave

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    1. Hmm, I do remember somewhere that a person shouldn't take a multivitamin while doing a parasite cleanse (and the initial candida cleanse???). The reason given was not to support the vigor and health of the parasites that are being eliminated. But I don't know if a person should or should not take B vitamins when recovering from candida. My gut reactions is that they should get loads of B vitamins but I would advocate only in the whole food form and not the pill variety (because of the chemical process in making them, the additives, the synthetic chemicals, and the talc that is not being clearly labeled as to its source and ingredient/contamination level).

      I absolutely can't take the B complex (or even multivitamin) because four different brands -- pills and liquid -- cause breathing problems 40 minutes after taking them and which last for 40 minutes. I was raised on B complex but after getting severe systemic candida, I've had some wow reactions. I think the reactions are from the synthetic B1 which is produced in a fermentation process. (Came across this info in Brian Clement's Supplements Exposed). But then I know someone with SC just as bad as mine and he does ok on a multivitamin a day.

      And btw, in the early days of SC, if every day I didn't eat a lot of greens and vegies rich in vit B, I would be an emotional mess. I still have problems sometimes with emotions ... clearly connected to not eating my greens for 2-3 days in a row, and as soon as I get a healthy serving of B vits in vegie form, I feel calmed and energized.

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  17. Cheryl,
    Thanks so much for creating such a thorough website on candida! It is wonderful to find such a complete resource in one place. Clearly you have done a great deal of research. Thank you for sharing it. It gives me hope!
    I hope that you continue to improve.

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  18. Hi
    Great site! Possible candida overgrowth as well. Do you know of a definitive blood test?

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    1. I so wish I did! I would have had it done but it's been hard getting any kind of info out of biomedical docs because they almost consistently say, "You don't have candida" and they say that without testing. Frustrating! I did have a blood test of some kind that was tested for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. I never got a copy and the doc only said, "You're OK", whatever that means because biomedical docs and naturpathics read blood tests TOTALLY differently.

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    2. I had food sensitivity testing done, that showed candida was off the charts along with dairy, egg and glutens - see info@zrtlab.com Had no clue, but now putting the past together with this info it is all coming together.

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    3. Interesting link! I hope the doctor was able to make that link too. I had an allergy specialist give me a whole battery of tests which included blood serum tests for walnuts, milk, corn, tuna and something else that I had recently been reacting very badly to. Everything came back negative and the guy laughed at me, calling me a hypochondriac.

      I couldn't figure him out. I was seriously reacting to those foods but later found out that the serum tests are for testing allergies that cause a chemical reaction with the blood and the immunoglobulin tests (Ig A, Ig E, Ig G, Ig M, and Ig D) are the ones that are better tests for sensitivities, esp those in the GI track, and not necessarily allergies. Since I found that out, I just wonder why that specialist (and there are others) don't know that. I am so baffled about our "modern medical system"!

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    4. Here's a link outlining what the Ig tests are about: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/immunoglobulins

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  19. Just want to let everyone know that I myself went to a holistic/alternative facility in my town to get tested for Systemic Candidiasis. They did blood, urine, and stool tests. My regular docs also tested my blood, urine, and stool for all kinds of things, but couldn't find anything. However, when I went to a holistic/alternative facility, they indeed found the yeast overgrowth throughout my body. I asked my holistic doctor why they were able to find it when my regular docs had not. She told me that in holistic medicine they use a different lab then regular docs do, and that holistic labs test for yeast overgrowth throughout the body, while regular docs do not. Just thought this info might help others.

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    1. I so agree with you that the alternative world looks at and reads blood testing and analysis totally differently than that of biomedical practices. Case in point, vitamin B12 in my latest biomedical report should range between 160-900, and it's just plain common knowledge even in the biomedical world that anyone under 200 is probably exhibiting mental difficulties. Alternative medicine states that under 400 is not a strong mental health state. Japan and Europe have blood testing between 500/550 - 900. But then we know that the healthier body defeats all the "state-of-the-art" diagnostic testing created my pharmaceutical companies, etc. I'll get off my soap box. And Anonymous, thank you for sharing!!!

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  20. I am so grateful to encounter your blog; it's full of resources!
    As a Candida victim, I am most certainly down for trying out the Candida diet, but am curious if you will ever feel satiated. Does it take some time in the beginning to become used to just eating mostly vegetable?

    Not surprisingly like anybody else, I'm used to eating salad with some kind of dressing all the time so it's really hard to get away from this habit :( If dressing should be avoided, what do you like to add to salad make it taste better?

    Also, I read somewhere that wheatgrass, taken in form of juice, is a good source of chlorophyll that is anti-inflammatory.. Is this true?

    Keep up the good work! :)

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  21. The first month when you do the diet you need to be strict. I remember eating 1/2 cup of brown rice and 1/2 cup of lentils plus of course the vegies in a meal, and I was hungry, but that first 30 days is so important for eating enough to healthfully maintain the body but to weaken the grip of the candida fungus. Of course during this month you are hitting anti-fungals hard (oregano oil, olive leaf extract, grapefruit seed extract). I lost a lot of weight but my mind gained clarity. Try not to snack between meals, and one things I've read and really learned, hunger is the result of an underfed/undernourished body, so often times when we're hungry, we're just not eating enough of the things that nourish the body. Just remember that when planning your meals.

    Wheatgrass and leaves juiced are awesome for boosting the immune system. Downside is that they take so much time to prepare. You can make your salads taste good with dressings: my all-time fav is lemon juice, loads of fresh pressed garlic, sea salt and a little olive oil. You can always flavor it differently by adding herbs, and my fav herb to add is dill! :)

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  22. Cayenne purifies blood, accelerate lymphatic system, fights inflammation like no other herb... I don't see what is arguable here. I really doubt that candida likes cayenne. Same is with ordinary portobello champignons, boosts immune system. http://owndoc.com/candida-albicans/mushrooms-fungi-molds-candida/

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    1. I've read so many good benefits of cayenne but for some reason my body is reacting. I'm listening to my body, esp as my bro has food restrictions similar to mine but his started 15 years before I had any problems. He also has anaphalactic shock from ANY pepper, so I'm on high alert because I don't my food sensitivites to evolve in full blown allergies like his has.

      Good point on the mushrooms that are beneficial to the body. Portobellos are neutral and shitake and a couple others are supposed to be beneficial. Straw mushrooms and the majority of others commonly in the supermarket are the fungals that are known to trigger reactions in people with candida. In the early days when I made this list, I didn't realize the difference. Good point!

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  23. Very useful discussion is going on. Thanks for sharing it. My sister is facing this problem from last three-four weeks. Please share a hygienic and easily made Candida diet plan .

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  24. Hi Cheryl.

    A very inspiring blog - thank you so much. I have been dealing with candida now for 10 years and like many here I suspect - I am very sick and tired of it. I have been on various forms of the candida diet but I know I need to do more if I wish to beat this thing. Many of the things you have posted on here have been most inspiring. Thanks!

    - Regards

    Jack

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    1. Thanks for this comment, Jack. My point in posting on candida is b/c doctors so messed me up with their lack of knowledge that I thought if I could just clue in a few others so they could avoid the hell I went through, then I have contributed to the planet. Comments like yours make the time and effort of this blog meaningful! Thank you.

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  25. Hi Cheryl,

    Great website, very useful to read!

    There is one question I would like to ask though. A couple of times you say that you react to some types of food. May I ask what reactions you have? Are they instant, or it takes time for it to kick in? I too sometimes react to some types of food, but I am almost never able to be sure what I am reacting to, since the effect is not instant... Do you have any advice on "self monitoring" in particular?

    Also, one more question. Since you seem to have been on this diet for quite some time, does this mean that it will never end for you? I am still relatively new to this and I am kind of scared/frustrated of/about all these restrictions and not being able to eat my favorite meals....

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    1. Two good questions, Peter. As to reactions, the reactions depend on the type of food I eat. Eg. eating flour of any kind (with or without gluten) my back muscles get tight and usually within a very short while, sugar and vinegar make my throat feel thick and mucous-y and before I would have the weirdest of neural sensations in my left arm. I have a lot more reactions but these are a few. They all have one thing in common though and that is my biggest area of candida growth is in the upper GI, and most obviously in my throat area behind my thyroid ... so I get a lot of fairly instant and quick food reactions.

      As to the long term question, wow, I think if I had known I had candida a lot sooner and gotten help before my body was shutting down and brain was hardly processing info, I probably could have licked this stuff long ago. The biggest prob with candida you have to understand is that once it's out of the GI track, controlling it and getting the body to rebalance TAKES A LONG TIME. My suggestion is go on the candida diet for one month and for an additional month for every year you've had candida (saw that formula somewhere) and then slowly add foods back as you can take them. Oh, and take lots of probiotics to reintroduce the good bacteria.

      Good luck. BTW, after the first month of eating strictly it's not bad. The first month was HARD! Had to retrain my tastebuds and food-eating habits.

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  26. eating coconut meat kills my stomach. throws me in pain for days. diarrhea. i never had any problems with the oil. i have no problems with the water of the coconut either. is this what was meant by milk, or was he referring to the meat mixed with water.
    ejteacher@hushmail.com

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    1. I've read that the body reacts differently to the coconut milk and meat and the oil, and while the meat and milk are inflammatory, the oil is soothing and inflammatory. Very odd, and I can't explain it, but I've reacted in much the same way as you with the meat and milk. I rather think my reaction in related to the glycemic load in the meat and milk/water b/c my symptoms are quite similar (more pronounced actually) when I have higher glycemic foods.

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  27. Thanks for the article, I've started a candida diet not that strict because I still eat some fruits, I went into hypoglicemia for not eating sugar for an entire month and don't want to deal with hypoglicemia again.

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    1. I struggled with hypoglycemia for a bit too until I started eating coconut oil. That seemed to give me some calories, energy and was healing to the esophagus. For a good while ate 5-7 tablespoons a day, at 100 calories/T. My body so needed that energy b/c yes the diet is very limiting ... and healing.

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  28. Hi Cheryl, Thank you for all the information. I'm currently living in South Korea too and I was wondering if you could recommend any doctors or hospitals that will acknowledge candida and provide some tests. I have tried a few places and they either think I'm a nut job or diagnose me with something else. I took antibiotics for years and now my symptoms are progressively getting worse. These range from fungal infections, constipation, acid reflux, rosacea from flushing ( especially with Korea weather haha) and general fatigue. I have been on a diet for the last two months with no effect so far. I would like to just get tested and then know exactly what I am dealing with. My acupuncture doctor thinks I may have some autoimmune disease too. Thank you very much :)

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    1. Hi Anon, I really wish I could recommend a place for testing but I basically received the same treatment as you from the biomedical field - laughter, disdain, intolerance and in a few cases a desire to help but they just didn't know how.

      I did go to a naturopathic doctor last week (expensive) but even with all my knowledge he gave some tips to take a step closer to 'normalcy'. I've improved a lot but think my prob stem from a gut flora prob, and yes, he gave me some very helpful direction for improving that. He does not do biomedical testing, I don't know where you could get that, but he does do intensive physical assessment using eastern medicine diagnostic principles. I do recommend him! He is Sunjae Lee, Naturopathic MSOM working at Create Wellness in Itaewon, Seoul. He does initial consulting - maybe 10 min - for free, and from there you can see if he can help you.

      To get to the office he works in, a chiropractic office (another form of alternative medicine), get out of the Itaewon subway, ex 2 I think and walk 5-6 min to the Hannam Bldg. Create Wellness is on the 1st floor. Sunjae Lee is available Th, F and Sat. Sorry, I don't have an office number but you can look that up on the web. Good luck.

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    2. Thanks for the quick reply, I will give them a call. It will be nice to get some advice off people who believe me haha. My girl friend found a doctor at severance who maybe deals with candida. I will let you know my experience if I go down that route. I was just wondering if you could recommend any good restaurants in seoul for us strict dieters. My cooking skills are a bit below par. Thank you

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    3. Restauarants - ha! Good luck. The first years I was so bad that I couldn't eat out. It was the "young-yang" (sp), which translates as "nutrition" and is a seasoning salt used in almost everything that messed me over in addition to whole foods. Restaurants, esp meat b/c it caused inflammation, was out! I can now get by with a once or twice a month galbitang (very little seasoning and the noodles are sweet potato as opposed to gluten. Or broiled fish and white rice (no nutrition and can be a bit of a sugar spike), or the Vietnamese pho noodles although I really have to be careful b/c of their "nutrition" powder. There are more and more salad places popping up. And once in an eon I'll eat deolseot bibimbop and pick out or ask that all red pepper stuff and fermented stuff not be added. Hah, so a restaurant? If you find one, please tell me! I really work my rice cooker (br rice, millet, buckwheat, quinoa) and crockpot (for beans and brewing cinnamon-ginseng drinks) to death. Good luck. BTW, why don't you look me up on FB if you're on.

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  29. Hi cheryl
    Been from many sites looking for the right way to get rid of candidiasis..but this sites really different in giving detail on doin do's and dont's in so called candida diet..only last year found out that hv also such thing.just wanna ask confirmation if a candida sufferers get well after hving ther right way diet.do we get totally ok without doctors prescriptions? Coz been with many medications but stil gets useless and makes it worse thats why am already scared to get mediction..coz after reading diz site i think the medication does not works coz of no hv candida diet..drop by to askd...keep up ur good work.

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    1. I have met a rare few people who had chronic systemic candida and got over it, but those people all refuse to go back to the SAD (standard American diet) and stick with the more natural foods by choice. As for using meds, I have met no one who got over candida with just meds. In fact, I know no one who used meds but made the slow recovery the natural way. Pay attention to your body. My body screamed when I tried any meds, which are chemicals and my body rebelled. So listen to what your body is telling you. Good luck with your journey. Hope it's not as convoluted as mine has been.

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  30. Pus?

    What are you talking about?

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  31. Dairy cows that are over milked or for other reasons get infections which lead to pus, which in turn gets in the milk. One of the big reasons why huge amounts of antibiotics are used on dairy cattle. It's in the literature.

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  32. The way you have worded this, makes it sound like other sites recommend you cut out meat. This is not true and you should make that clear. I lost 6kg in under 2 months with this diet, even with meat included. 4kg loss occurred in the first two weeks. That kind of weight loss is dangerous and I shudder to think what would have happened if I had cut out meat too.

    To anyone who is interested, I've been on this diet for over 4 months with no improvement and zero cheating. Whilst I have more energy from eating healthier, I do not believe this whole candida diet thing actually gets rid of candida. There are no scientific peer reviewed articles that attest to it; all articles online are anecdotal evidence only. I hope that someone does an in-depth and proper study on the effectiveness of this diet.

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    1. Although there are some contradictions between authors, I've found the information written by Richard Walsky on candidadiet.org to be very helpful, not necessarily all of the supplements he encourages, but the other information is very comprehensive, including much of the diet plan. Cheryl's advice is very good, although the diet that works for her is extremely restrictive, she's obviously done much research. If you don't limit what and how much you eat initially, you will be on the more restrictive diet for a longer period of time to conquer this. Some foods that are ok for some are not ok for others, but you have to figure this out slowly. Also, your system could be fighting more than candida alone as it will weaken your immune system and allow other problems to persist.

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    2. Essential fats like coconut oil which is very, very recommended due to the caprylic acid that helps kill candida also helps keep the weight on. You can also make bread with ok'ed ingredients which also helps keep the weight on. In fact, I've put too much weight back on. You just have to research the ingredients and recipes, even modify recipes based on what works for you that you figure out one ingredient at a time.

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  33. http://www.thecandidadiet.com/ph-levels-candida.htm
    I can give you several such sites which claim candia grows in alkaline environment. How can you prove and support your statements in this blog.
    Please suggest me as I am confused.

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    1. Read Richard Walsky's paper in candidadiet.org. Yes, the alkaline/acid conversation is very confusing. I think you have to have a balance, but I'm not completely sure.

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  34. Sara and Chandrashekhar - having trouble with the site as far as directly replying to each of your comments so here they are altogether.

    Sara - You're right. Most website advocate the eating of organic lean meats; however, my body screamed with pain and inflammation when I even ate a tiny piece of fish or even an egg. The reaction I think was due to getting a powerful (and unwanted) steroid shot which wrecked havoc on my body. For that big reason and because I had inflammation before, I chose to strike ALL meat and meat products from my diet. Have to say it was very hard maintained proper weight without the higher calorie foods but my body adjusted and started healing which couldn't happen with any meat products.

    The second point you brought up is about zero cheating and still not improving. The candida diet controls inflammation and the reaction of food but it does NOT eliminate candida. You'll need to take natural antifungals like oregano oil, grape seed extract, colloidal silver, among others to kill off the candida spores. Take coconut oil at the same time if you can; it also kills the spores and coats the tiny holes in the esophagus and so expedites healing. The candida diet alone will never kill of the fungus.

    Chandrashekhar - I know there is literature too that says that candida thrives in an alkaline environment. The problem about getting a lot of access to that kind of info is hard because with the American diet our bodies go into an acidic state. Few people suffer problems with alkalosis, but I did. According to a hair analysis, I had high alkalosis and my candida seemed to be weirdly thriving. Added tomatoes and more grains back into my diet and got my pH down to around 7.0 and felt tons better. The point is, a lot of literature says that candida thrives in an acidic environment but ironically it thrives in a high alkaline environment too. Different kind of candida spore? I don't know. I have never been able to answer this dichotomous question. Sorry.

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    1. I know that you believe that xylitol can cause bad results and I've read similar information based on the digestive system getting all set for sugar when the enzymes start producing in your mouth. This then taxes the adrenal glands when the sugar isn't delivered, but this is a natural ingredient in fruits and vegetables. Candida thinks it's sweet, too. They eat it then they die. We're not supposed to be completely without candida, by the way as they're supposed to eat waste in our intestines. It's when they are allowed to get out of control, they then grow legs and implant into the intestinal walls leading to leaky gut, a source of bad health - autoimmune disorders and more. I prefer to get a new small amount of them that aren't mutated with legs. I'm sure you've covered this in your blog, but for those readers who don't get the whole picture, this may help. Also, since long term candida taxes the adrenal glands/immune system, it leaves us vulnerable to many other conditions so those who don't seem to be making headway with the diet, you may be fighting other things as well. I highly recommend reading the information written by Richard Walsky that's difficult to find, but it's in candidadiet.org. Just keep in mind that they don't necessarily blame antibiotics, birth control pills, etc for this problem. They blame sugar intake. Don't take it personally. Cheryl, your blog is very comprehensive. Your intellect is refreshing.

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  35. I have tried to find a strict candida diet and everyone was different. I've been on one for almost 2 months and just had an issue come back..yeast infection... so, I got on line and found your diet and found some things i've been doing wrong..like ACV and coconut..ugh..Anyway, can you tell me if you recommend Probiotics while I am on this diet also, fermented veggies..like Sauerkraut? I have reintroduced them but not sure if its them or the coconut that is giving me a problem? Oh, also what about green plantain? Thank you I welcome the help:)

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    1. It took me forever, literally forever, to find out that ACV was complicating my candida, not helping it as many many websites say. The same goes for coconut meat and milk, while ironically coconut oil can be healing for people with candida. Fermented veggies ... why do you even ask?! Candida thrives on fermentation, but then the ACV and eating fermented veggies is something that's propagated widely on the web, and people repeat what they here so often, not knowing a speck of what they are talking about. Good luck with your health journey. The big thing to recovery is to listen to your body, not to what others say; your body knows best.

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  36. Thank you for this list. I just have a few questions since I just found your diet. I've been on the candida diet pretty restrictive because of leaky gut too but, I've had a relapse..yeast infection. I just reintroduced fermented veggies and kefir water and probiotics. Could that be the problem? I see you say no fermented drinks. Also, what about Tigernut and green plantains?
    Thank you for your help!

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    1. Wow Jen, everyone's different with how quickly they can reintroduce things. I'd suggest introducing the fermented veggies one by one and very gradually. It's been about 8 years for me ... and my body tolerates a little fermented foods but only on seldom occasions. I've heard great things about probiotics but never did much with them. Sorry, but you'll have to listen to your body on that. And I know nothing about Tigernut and the value of green bananas, but bananas are loaded with sugar so I would definitely hesitate in adding those back in until your body has had a more sufficient time to find balance. Good luck.

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    2. Wow Jen, everyone's different with how quickly they can reintroduce things. I'd suggest introducing the fermented veggies one by one and very gradually. It's been about 8 years for me ... and my body tolerates a little fermented foods but only on seldom occasions. I've heard great things about probiotics but never did much with them. Sorry, but you'll have to listen to your body on that. And I know nothing about Tigernut and the value of green bananas, but bananas are loaded with sugar so I would definitely hesitate in adding those back in until your body has had a more sufficient time to find balance. Good luck.

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  37. Cheryl, just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for posting this. I have just discovered I have Systemic Candida (after struggling with insulin resistance, going Keto and then sending the candida I already had deep into my system). I was really at a loss as I was following 'regular' candida diets, eating meat and taking lots of ACV but was reacting to more and more foods every week. Was nearly in tears everyday until I came across your site. I really appreciate you taking the time to put the site together and document your tips, tricks and struggles. I'm on week one of the strict diet and already starting to feel much better / mostly excited that my head and skin have stopped itching uncontrollably after every meal. Many thanks!!!!

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    1. I'm so happy that this info is a help. I swore that I would post about my frustration so that others wouldn't have to struggle so much. I found the biggest secret for taking care of candida: eating lots and lots of fresh greens! So many other things are important, but that is the number thing to be religious about. Really hope you can overcome SC. It's been 8 or 9 years and I can deviate a bit from the diet, but my body still has issues. I'll never see full recovery but I'm careful with my little deviations, and I FEEL GREAT! Good luck with your journey.

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  38. Hello Cheryl, and thank you so much for this post. I felt so happy to find it! It's obvious you put a lot of research into this, besides your experience in dealing with the Candida problem is invaluable.
    You put a major emphasis on leafy greens, and I was wondering if you took into consideration or investigated the options for those people who are unable to eat them due to other restrictive diets?
    From personal experience, I am really struggling with this kind of approach, because chlorophyll and the vegetables in general (aside cucumbers) make me even more sick. For seven years I've been on a very strict gluten free diet due to complications with celiac disease. Also, I have inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, and many of the foods recommended here are triggers for terrible flare ups for me. I haven't even really started my Candida cleanse yet and I already lost 6 kg in weight, so I am totally bummed how to approach it (and how cutting out meat would affect my anaemia).
    Do you have some advice for these kind of cases, when most of the foods killing Candida aren't possible to be used?
    I so look forward to hear your perspective on this - thank you!

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    1. Hi Anonymous,
      When I read your message about not being able to eat the green leafies, I immediately thought of my mom who has IBS, or rather, had it bad for one year and was able to escape that misery. Sorry, I have no idea what to do about the IBS factor and getting cholorphyll EXCEPT to use a masticating juicer which removes the fiber from the veggies and you drink straight fresh-veggie veggie juice. Guaranteed you'll get your chlorophyll, but you will also work hard as juicing that way takes time. I did that for a bit ... and felt wonderful! Anyway, something to think about. Wish you well on your journey. It's hard when you know the diet that can help you, hurts you on another.

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    2. Thank you for replying! I sure am going to try - if something good comes up as a solution, I'll share:-)

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  39. Are you successfully cured of systemic candida?

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    1. Well, I can eat some sugar again, oddly sucrose more easily than fructose, and I'm no longer a slave to my kitchen, but I do have food sensitivities that I didn't have before. They're masked as long as I eat lots of veggies, fresh is best.

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  40. wondering about raw Goats milk and Goat cheese? to introduce later around week 4 i read ?? isn't raw Goats milk supposed to be the closest thing to human milk ? i heard it was excellent to get rid of parasites.

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    1. I hear apple cider vinegar is good for candida, and it turned out it's fermented so it's not. The medical industry is against coconut oil because "it's long-chain fatty acid". It is not. It's medium chain and very easy to digest because it's the closest food (along with palm oil but there's negatives on that) to mother's milk. Best to do research in the alternative world, and of course read everything with an open mind ... and triangulate when you do your studies.

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