Anti Candida diet, which one?

[alfiemama]

Okay bit of a long story, but I am referred to a chronic fatigue team. However, after a discussion with the Dr we have decided to give an Anti Candida diet. It was only a brief conversation because I was ringing due to a swollen tongue because (I thought) of some Anti depressants I am on.

Anyway my question is which Anti Candida diet am I best following/ There seems to be such a conflict of information. I am currently (for 3 weeks) cutting out bread/gluten/ryes/wheat, alcohol, any sauces, dairy, caffeine, sugar and sweetners except for truvia oh and having one small portion of fruit. So basically eating meat, fish, veg and sour fruit or berries. I have just added back in natural yoghurt. I have to admit to eating quite a few granny smith's apples due to lack of anything to eat.

I was also prescribed 1 weeks of antifungal tablets.

I am now though, suffering with what seems withdrawal and have a lovely white coated tongue (disgusting) I have just ordered a repeat of the antifungal meds.

Can anyone help? I just want to be well again. [SAD]

I get brown rice cakes Kallo organic ones (TBH it's so long since I did elimination I can't remember wether you can have them at that point, I though you could have the brown ones?)

Just check the ingredients but usually I find it's gram flour, some herbs and spices and some rapeseed/sunflower oil.

Um... with my eggs in the morning I quite often have green veg cooked in olive oil, keeps me full for ages and I like green veg - we always have peas in the freezer for days when the fresh stuff has run out.

Tahini is nice for changing the flavour of things - with a little lemon juice and oil to thin it out can be used for chicken (add garlic too for chicken if you like) or salad dressing, hummous is your friend - garlic is antifungal, try it on baked spuds (with either plenty of olive oil or butter if you can tolerate it) or avocado - or both at the same time.

Marigold yeast free Boullion powder, it's a saviour for soups and stews and instead of gravy, I can't find any online but my local supermarket and the Holland and Barrat stock it, it looks like this

www.amazon.co.uk/Marigold-Swiss-Vegetable-Bouillon-Powder/dp/B005NMMWR4

If you want a treat put some coconut milk over your berries and toast some flaked almonds to sprinkle over, or a spoon of unsweetened cocoa powder in some unsweetened coconut milk, the second one isn't for everyone but I like it.

I think cider vinegar has something to do with it being specifically antifungal, can't remember exactly why.

Also you can have two conditions, getting rid of the 'easy' one ie the candida should mean you feel better regardless of the other, I sometimes wonder if the candida causes the body to respond with these underlying issues or if people with them are just unusually sensitive as there seem to be quite a lot of people with ME/fibro/candida crossovers.

It is frustrating that the medical professionals don't consider candida anything other than a minor health complaint but there doesn't seem to have been any robust research into what an awful lot of people seem to have anedotes about. Problem is not all of medicine is evidence based, but more modern medicine has to be, so the system is split between culture/historical ideas and good quality science.Unfortunatly someone has to do a good quality study to get the evidence and then that is usually dependant on being abel to turn a profit from the research at the end of the day - and there isn't that much profit in an elimination diet!

Thanks trickle, you're right must for them a lot in investigations and referrals though?

Can you eat peas? Tahini and hummous are shop bought ones okay? Are carrots okay? I'm thinking to snack on dipped in hummous yum yum. I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. I know I'm being extreme
How about drinks then trickle I take it no alcohol at all?. I have had sneaky black coffee once. Omg, it was lush.

I think a trip to holland and Barrets is in order. How about supplements did you try any?

Hi

I followed an anti-candida diet strictly a long time (10 years!) ago - I used o get recurrent uti's and the antibiotics would trigger a thrush breakout, then I'd get cystitis again in a vicious cycle.

From memory I found it very hard to begin with, but from about 6 weeks it got easier - I knew what worked for me and found I craved my trigger foods less.

At the time I stayed on it for about 4 months, then gradually ended up reverting back to my 'normal' diet.

I now take low dose antibiotics most of the time to prevent uti's, and am fine, but if I have a particularly heavy sugar/yeasty bread few days I can feel the thrush coming on. Usually I go straight back to being strict for a few weeks and up my natural yogurt intake and I can stave it off.

I know I'd probably have less problems if I kept to the strict diet all the time but I just can't resist cake all the time!

When I'm being strict, potato cakes are my saviour - they give me the comfort carb craving I need but without the sugar. Make sure you check the ingredient list though as not all are the same - I buy the potato farls (not sure what make it is).

Phew, longest post ever!

I don't remember anything about peas being a problem, I guess if you are highly sensitive to carbs/sugar they could be a problem, if you know you are sensitive to legumes then they are a no, but I've never had a problem with them.

I did buy shop bought even in elimination for hummous and dipped things like carrots and sugar snap peas in without a problem - but some people would say not to becasue they are processed, but I found there wasn't really a problem for me. I never had a problem with carrots either, for me veg of any kind has never casued me a problem it's grains, yeasts and sugar including at first rice that have casued the most problem.

I took a lacto-bacillus and bifido bacterium as well as something called regucol which has pre-biotics in it too as well as psyllium husk. I would have taken grape seed extract but I couldn't afford it but I've heard a lot of people swear by it - I just ate loads of garlic, wquite often in homemade hummous as you can easily eat it raw that way.

Zippy that sounds awful. I thought potatoes where a no no?

Trickle, I will check out those probiotics thanks.
I've had chicken plain with spinach and salad, a few carrots and tzakiki watered down with lemon juice. Yum yum very nice although, it does say it has sugar in not much. Wonder if there is an amount of sugar I could stick to eat day?

There are times when it gets to me more than others, but at the moment I'm positive about it!

I think one of the main things is that different foods are a trigger for different people, so although it's a pain starting from a very bland, basic diet you can slowly add things in to try what works for you.

Potatoes are done for me but even 1/4 glass of wine and I'll definitely wake up the next day with cystitis and thrush. Luckily my poison of choice is bourbon or gin and that doesn't effect me!

Zippy, sorry did you do strict diet at first?
On phone so can't look back

Sorry, wrote a long post last night but think my phone crashed as I posted as have noticed its not on now!

Yes, I went very strict for about 4 months, then gradually eased off. Basically if it had sugar or yeast in it I didn't eat it. Most processed foods have one or the other so I stayed away from them, also anything caffeinated (still only ever have decaf tea and coffee), mouldy (like blue cheese, or aged cheese, mushrooms come under this too), pickled (and normal vinegar too).

I basically ate a lot if plain meat and fish, salads (with no dressing), and veggies. I stayed away from fruit to begin with too (apart from unripe bananas- yum!), but started to add it back after a few months and felt fine.

I did a lot of experimentation with bread like products - I love my hot buttered toast so not being able to have that was the worst thing about it for me! I'd eat potato cakes, also soda bread, and tesco's did one at the time that was like a mini soda loaf which was good. Also homemade scones (plain or with a mild cheese), and of course, lots of plain bio yoghurt!

Alcohol wise I would have neat whiskey or vodka and milk (I drink a lot of milk anyway so this tastes fine to me, although will get you a very odd look on a night out!)

The diet I was following was from an American book (sorry, I can't remember the name of it), and I remember it talking about stevia, but at the time you couldn't get it here. From memory, it's something to do with the fact that artificial sweetness have the same effect on candida as normal sugar, but it doesn't do is fine to take. I've actually got a plant of it growing in my kitchen, but haven't worked out what to actually do with the leaves yet!

Sorry, it's a bit of an essay! Hope it helps - its really hard to begin with, but it gets easier to follow as you get used to it, and as you work out what works for you.

No that's brill Zippy.
I did wonder about soda bread. I quite like it yum yum.
is it right though that if I muck up and have something that feeds the yeast it will be a more severe attack? That's what I'm sated of really undoing the hardwork I'm going to put into this

I did the sputum test first thing and if it's right i still have yeast

I've found an app on phone which scans your food and tells me if I can eat it (I think that's what it's called. Can I eat this).

Ooh, that app sounds good, I'll have to look it up!

It might set you back a bit if you have something yeasty, but I think you'll find the longer you do the diet the less it will set you back - I think you have to go 'hard core' to begin with and give your body time to get its balance back!

You're right Zippy, it's totally knackered up. Just had shingles and after had dd I was on antibiotics all the time for about
7-8 months. I also had Mrsa with ds luckily just in the site wound though. Then I've abused my body with basically processed crappy carbs and alcohol. Top of that with a stressful life and bam! It's no wonder
I will keep you all posted. Thanks again everyone.

Good thread - I have coeliac and candida (I know - what a catch I am) and just starting the Harcombe Diet.

Sorry Pinot, I've only just seen this. I have to say you do get used to it. I'm feeling better than I have done for a long time. I'm hoping that I haven't got cfs just symptons of candiadasis. You just never know.

My weight is still stuck yesterday's menu was

Low fat natural yoghurt and truvia

Lunch was roast chicken

Tea was 3 egg omelette with ham
And roast beef (you make odd concoctions with this diet)

Snack/supper was low fat Nat yoghurt and truvia

Drinks. Green tea and one cup of black coffee oh and sparkling water.

Can anyone see why I wouldn't be losing weight?
Once a week I also do a double session of Pilates and body trim.

Ps I know should be normal yoghurt but can't make that much difference. I suppose I'm essentially doing the Dukan.

Yes - you are eating too much protein and not enough fat.

... and probably too many artificial sweeteners. For some people they trigger a release of insulin in the same way as sugar does - which will mean you are laying down fat.

Hey alfie - BIWI knows her stuff so I'd listen to her.

BIWI how did this Harcombe diet go for you? Re: candida especially.

Thanks BIWI. Quite scared of eating fat though. Doesn't Zoe harcombe say low fat yoghurt? Might be wrong will dig out the book later.
BIWI would you let me know what your day food wise looks like?
Surely it has to come off eventually, I know
I'm less than 1200 Kcals a day.
How does the Dukan work for some people then as they don't eat fat? Yet, lose weight.
On the plus side feeling so much better. Hair is in great nick. Don't need makeup which is unusual for me. I'm definitely getting narrower but just not budging on the scales.

I would be interested in knowing that also Pinot. Thanks

I thought truvia doesn't interfere with candida? I know some can be sensitive but health wise I don't appear to be.

Of course you're scared of fat - we've been told for the last 30 years or so that fat is wrong! I don't think Zoe Harcombe would advocate low fat yoghurt, as she isn't a believer in low fat foods generally.

You definitely need to read the book again. I would also suggest that you read Dr John Briffa's book "Escape the Diet Trap", because he also talks about the nonsense of trying to count calories.

My 'typical' 'day (because of course there is no such thing!):

Breakfast - 2 boiled eggs
Lunch - some kind of protein, e.g. lamb chops, pork chops, turkey/chicken breast, panfried in olive oil and/or butter with either salad, in an oily dressing, or a veg like spinach, with butter
Dinner - whatever I've cooked for the rest of the family, but minus the carb portion for me. Saturday, for example, was roast lamb with roasted tenderstem broccoli with shallots (roasted in olive oil) and a salad.

Pinot - TBH I never had to do ZH for anti-candida purposes. Eating low carb has seen off thrush for me and (thankfully) it is some time now since I've suffered from it. But there was a time, about 10 years ago, when I got it every month, and that lasted for around 2 years, on and off. It was truly awful and caused many issues between me and DH, as sex was always something I dreaded. Either because it was painful or it ended up with both of having thrush, as we were passing it between us.

Coming off the pill was one of the best things I ever did, closely followed by adopting a low carbohydrate diet. Zoe Harcombe's diet makes sense to me for both anti-candida purposes as well as weight loss - but I have to confess that I could never fully accept being able to eat brown rice, and her phase 2 was too confusing for my little brain to work out. I prefer to just stick to general low carb.

alfie I should say that I usually work from home, or my business partner's home, which is why I am able to cook the food that I do at lunchtime. It makes it much easier - I don't have to dodge sandwiches, crisps and chocolate that are usually the general lunchtime fare in the workplace

That's interesting, thanks lovely. I don't get vag thrush just really suffer with it in my gut. I literally b-a-l-l-o-o-n when I've eaten yeast and hold onto enough water to fill the great barrier reef. I'm a delight truly :)

Ah yes. I also suffered from IBS - something else that low carb has cleared up.

(sorry alfie to hijack your thread with tales of my ailments!)

also sorry alfie

My IBS turns out was coeliac - so am low carb whether i like it or not :)