Anybody dealt with candida?

[3sEnough]

Hi - I've just been advised that I probably have Candida (and have had for years) Has anybody else had/have this and if so how did the dietary changes go and have they worked?
TIA

I don't know much about it but my friend went on an anti-candida diet because of IBS. You have to cut out ALL sugar (including fruit). It was restrictive in other ways too but I'm afraid I can't remember the details. I remember it cut out so much she had to take a whole load of supplements.

She followed it religiously, and it didn't solve her IBS problems poor thing. Hope it works for you.

Thanks weegle - yes - it's not for IBS this time so I'm hopeful.

Yes, have suffered from thrush - one of the main symptoms of candida - on and off for years.

First thing I did was come off the pill.

I didn't follow the diet - it is very strict - but I have switched to eating a low carbohydrate diet (which I did mainly for weight loss to be honest), and I suffer very rarely now.

If you want to follow the diet, here are the rules (that I can remember!)

No sugar (check any processed/tinned foods that you buy because they often use sugar - even savoury foods)
No white rice, pasta (I think brown can be used occasionally but not sure - probably best to avoid that as well)
Nothing with yeast (bread, Marmite)
No fungus (mushrooms, Quorn)
Nothing fermented (alcohol, vinegar, soy sauce)
Nothing smoked
No fruit
No cheese (not sure about other dairy)

Basically, and certainly for a short/initial period, it's just any meat/fish and vegetables

Very boring! But then it depends on how serious your symptoms are.

I thought it was just thrush, but I've realised since I've been low carbing that my skin is much better too - I used to get really rough and itchy patches, especially on my torso and arms. Can't remember when I had this.

Am also an IBS sufferer. Although attacks were very rare, I have noticed that if I'm being really bad with food, and starting to eat too many carbs over too long a period that I start to experience the beginnings of an attack.

There are some very good books about candida - unfortunately I've lent mine to someone else, and can't remember what they were called. But have a search on Amazon.

Candida is associated with many, many different symptoms - probably more than many of realise.

The other thing to do is to take a good supplement - bifidus and/or acidophilus. Go to a good healthfood shop (not Boots) and buy the one that's kept in the fridge.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Thanks - that's really helpful. Yes - the nutritionist was describing the initial diet which sounds hideous - no dairy and no meat either in my case (fairly severe symptoms now and have had evry other test for allergies, colitis, coeliac etc) I'll go get the book!

Have some experience of Candida diet as this was recommended to me as a possible to solution to some ongoing stomach problems I have had for the last year - after allerg testing me for (among other things) wheat, dairy, ornges, tomatoes, onions and yeast and discovering all were a no-no the kinesiologist (sp?) told me to follow a vey strict anti-candida diet. They thought that the candida levels in my gut had got out of control (apparently this is not uncommon) and were 80% (sounded scary!) and to follow the diet BecauseI'mwothit describes - she also tested for anti-candida tablets and said I needed these as well - different strengths - mail order through a company in London - ainsworths? (Homeopath pharmacy) - I did follow the diet strictly for a while and whilst it didnt solve the problems I'd been having I had more energy, was less bloated etc - its difficult to follow a strict anti-candida diet long term, but I now use it as a structure fror my eating (between my no dairy and very minuml wheat, dd's no gluten or cereals, and sister with ME staying its all fun fun fun!) We've all dealt with candida stuff and I have got a few book s kicking around - I'll look out the titles for you - hope this helps and good luck!