Filed under: Candida, Eggie's Adventures | Tags: cleanse, crap, Die-off symptoms, fennel, ginger, herbs, medicinal, nourishing, pain
You might ask this question when you are doing a cleanse of any kind. I promise you, it will get better. It’ll suck for awhile though. Hang tight! In the meantime, this crap feeling has a name…and its name is Die-Off Symptom….Bwahahahahahaha!
When we cleanse the body with supplements and starve Candida through diet changes, the Candida give off toxins through decomposition (we’ve talked about toxins, please don’t make me repeat myself because I have die-off symptoms, and I’m currently swatting a purple unicorns in technicolor dream-coats out of my face….did I ingest Acid somehow?). Anyway, these toxins are being emitted at a faster rate than what our body can process and eliminate so for a couple of days to several weeks (depending on your Candida level) you will feel like some level of crap on the crap continuum. These crap symptoms are called ‘die-off symptoms’ or the Herxheimer Reaction. Because die-off symptoms are common with cleansing lifestyles, most professional recommendations emphasize a ‘nourishing’ element to your treatment. There is nourishing and replenishing support in the cleansing supplements that Muppet and I are taking. Professional resources also recommend supportive fruits and veggies to ingest as integrative assistance with your cleansing diet.
The primary cleansing herbs found in the cleanse we chose to use (Rainbow Light Candida Cleanse) are Pau D’Arco (a favorite for naturopathic professionals as it is an anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. It also used to be my favorite herb to recommend to customers when I managed the Alternative Health Center in Montgomery); Black Walnut (also a favorite for naturopathics and best documented medicinal herb used in North American cultures); Garlic (also great for immune support and contending with Vampires); and Indian Barberry (used because it contains berberine which controls fungal growth).
In addition to all these front line Candida fighters are an assortment of nourishing cohorts: Probiotics like Lactobacillis; Digestive support like Protease, Lipase and Cellulase; and soothing herbal support like Ginger, Cinnamon, Fennel, Nettle, Marshmallow and Spirulina. I could talk for days about the qualities of all of these with almost comparable vigor and nerdy glee with which I adorn my sweet Muppet, but I will simmer down for now and talk about what you might expect to feel with die-off symptoms….
What do die-off symptoms look like? Kinda like symptomatic aspects of Candida overgrowth actually…
As your body is doing what it needs to do to eliminate the Candida’s decomposing waste, you might experience specific symptoms such as:
dizziness
headache
“foggy” headedness
eye floaters
depression
anxiety
heightened anger reactions
gas & bloating
flatulence
diarrhea
constipation
joint pain
muscle pain
body aches
sore throat
general malaise
exhaustion
need for more sleep
sweating
chills
nausea
skin breakouts
It’ll be important to nourish your body and reward your system with foods and Candida friendly treats while you cleanse to help maintain motivation and that overall crap feeling.
The first week was hard for both Muppet and I. I didn’t take the cleansers for a week because my nausea was so bad. I couldn’t figure out if it was my love bug or my fungus. I’m back on it and did experience some serious die-off symptoms that kept me near the potty. Justsayin’. My newest friends are hot Spearmint tea and carrots.
Off to sip some Naked juice and hot Spearmint tea. Also, also….I get to see Muppet in 6 hours. She’s the kind of sugar that I’m dying for!!!!!!!! Nom, nom.
Now that we know the major causes of Candida overgrowth and ways to approach treatment, we should probably talk shit….feces, poop, ca-ca, doo-doo, the big BM.
The reason we can handle Candida in our body in the first place is because of evolution. If you are allergic to knowledge, please stop reading now. I can close with a Bible verse if it makes you feel better, but you’ll have have to scroll to the end in order to get it. Our ancient, evolved bodies were meant to enjoy the symbiotic relationship between friendly bacteria and the small quantities of Candida on which it feeds. Bad diet, high stress, over-consumption of antibiotics or yeasty processed foods will offset this balance. Because Candida is alive, eats SUGAR for a living and reproduces, you betta’ believe it poops. Things that are alive and well produce waste. You learn this in Botany, Chemistry, Anatomy, Astronomy and going to Bonnaroo and dealing with the port-a-lets.
If your body has an overgrowth of Candida and the Candida poops all the live long day, our bodies (host) has to figure out a way to manage and deal with the abundance of fungus shit that is floating around. The good news is that we have a way of breaking down the fungus ca-ca. The worst news is that we can have an allergic reaction to this massive waste if it is not broken down or produced at high levels. These allergic reactions manifest in different ways (i.e. brain fog, skin problems, digestive issues, achy joints). Go figure, Candida produces up to 80 different types of waste into our bodies. The reason many people react differently to Candida (I might have brain fog and lethargy while Muppet has digestive problems) is because there are many different types of Candida waste to which we react.
Candida’s most-est favorite-est waste product (and most researched) waste product is acetaldehyde. Like I mentioned before, it’s a pretty normal waste product for our body to handle but when an army of fungi poops artillery, you might have to call for back up. Acetaldehyde can affect your nervous system, digestive system and pretty much any cell in your body. You end up feeling ‘bad all over’; which is a common complaint of suffers.
Acetaldehyde is produced synthetically and used in fragrances, dyes, rubber, plastics and is present in fermented foods and plants express this as a waste product as well.
When you drink alcohol the ‘hangover’ that you feel the next day is actually the acetaldehyde. So I guess ‘feeling bad all over’ is like a chronic hangover…which might feel like fibromyalgia. Hmmm. That sucks.
Now that we know that we walking around infested with fungus and apparently drunk, the best way to manage the overgrowth of Candida and the waste they produce is consume foods that starve out Candida and consume supplements that help us break down Acetaldehyde. Resources recommend glutamine, selenium, niacin, folic acid, B6, B12, iron, and molybdenum which aids in the metabolism of aldehydes into acetic acid, which can be excreted, or converted further into acetyl coenzyme A (for carb and fat metabolism).
AND NOW FOR THE BIBLE VERSE!
John 6:48: I am the bread of life.
Filed under: Eggie's Adventures
The hardest part about being on the anti-candida diet, is being told what to do. Not so much fighting the microscopic demands of the rampant fungi that grows in me which partners with my emotional eating to annihilate coconut cake, fuck coffee or roll nude in Doritos. “I’m a grown ass woman, mama. I do what I want.” I guess part of this new lifestyle is learning more so that I can continue to do what I want but be subconsciously connected to the value of consuming healthy foods. It’s really what I want, especially when it means I can be around longer with my sweet, cosmic Muppet. Sharing fresh foods with her is the most romantic thing I have ever experienced. Giggle.
So, I’ll change the way I think about food so I can change the way I feel about food….or is it change the way I feel about food so I can change the way I think about food. Whatever, mainstream Capitalism promotes the consumption of crap foods and the food pyramid is a historical marketing ploy of the USDA. I’m good with disobeying the government, and it’s silly recommendations for foods so I’m cool with learning a new lifestyle that helps feed my defiant side. Yay!
I was researching through a few websites and scrolled over some really great points. #3 Don’t eat egg beaters and margarine, because they aren’t real #7 Don’t consume large amounts of coffee, because it is rough on your kidneys….and then I get to #9 Don’t eat anything that you usually eat regularly currently. Well if two adverbs side by side doesn’t piss me off, it’s being told I can’t do anything that I’m currently doing. Then I thought about it “what DO I currently do that is unhealthy”.
I made a list of the things I was doing (for whatever reason, emotional or accessible). It’s what nutritionists and that scary trainer from Biggest Loser does to help people realize what is going on so you can make healthy changes. Here I go…
I drank 2-4 cups of coffee a day. Throughout the day. This was rough on my organs as caffeine stimulated my gastrointestinal tract and increased the acidity of my body’s pH. Candida loves an acidic environment. I toned down the coffee and substituted spearmint tea and started using Ganoderma coffee when I really need a *twitch* fix. It has mushrooms in it so it’s not THAT Candida friendly.
I didn’t eat breakfast. This isn’t specific to the Anti-Candida diet, but it really did a number on my metabolism. Plus I was a coffee vacuum and for realsy just cared about my steaming hot cup of Joe in the mornings. I grab some fruit or whole grain oatmeal with flax.
It’s a condom, it’s a mint….it’s a condiment! I put ketchup, dressing, mustard, relish, sauce, gravy in and on everything. I’m also a candy hound. Ain’t nothing wrong with a little flava’ and some candy, but there are tons of hidden sugars, salts, hydrogenated oils and preservatives. Most recipes, even made at home, require a great deal of sugar. Since starting this diet and following through some of the recommendations of the Candida Bible, I have found really tasty alternatives to the sauces I adore. I’ve been using lemon juice and olive oil recently. I throw garlic in there and so far…so good.
Late night eating. I like watching movies at night. Especially scary ones with zombies. Unfortunately, I heart snacking at that time too. It’s a lousy and inconsiderate move on my part. It’s not fair to stick foods into my digestive tract and metabolism while it’s trying to get ready for bed. It’s bad for your teeth too….brush!
Those are just a few of the things I did that I have changed that have really helped me a great deal. I would like to close with a picture of my first baby-doll, hard-headed Ornery and her painfully optimistic sidekick Annie. Both defiant in their own special ways.
So….some basic points for nutritional treatment of Candida.
No matter where I go to research or who I talk to…the foundational point is always made EAT ORGANIC. So do it already. Whether you eat meat, avoid dairy, eat cheese, don’t consume veggies, eat flamingos or children, whatever….eat orrrrrganic.
Candida hearts sugar and although Me and Muppet’s love is painfully sweet, Candida does not grow on it. Fungus loves sugar, especially milk sugar lactose. Some folks have natural allergies to dairy products (we are the only mammals on the planet that consume milk post-infancy btw). Avoid foods high in sugar like fruit juice; fermented foods like beer and wine; aged foods like cheese; hormone fed animals; pork, red meat and products with animals fat; nuts like cashews, peanuts, pistachios and dried coconut; and refined foods. Avoid exotic fruits like pineapple, papaya and starfruit. Avoid white products like fuel efficient cars with liberal bumper stickers, vintage movie posters, scarves, sweaters with cats and other products you would find on Stuff White People Like. No, seriously, avoid white breads,rice, spring roll wrappers, white beans, white noodles, white pasta and processed sugar. If it’s white, just hate on it. Avoid left overs and tobacco products. Avoid coffee. So sad.
Oh sad news! Eliminate mushrooms because they feed fungal populations in your belly hole.
What does that leave you with? Children? Yes, just make sure they are free range. Focus on consuming more fish (I can provide a list of ecologically friendly fish selections later but the general rule is to choose ocean fish first like salmon, trout, sole). If you don’t dig fish and burping fish oils bothers you, get some flax-seed oil. Choose from garlic, onions, herbs, olive oil, dark leafy greens, soy products like tofu, squashes, yogurt, berries, lemons, sea vegetables, well cooked eggs, quinoa….lots and lots of quinoa, whole grains and legumes. Depending on your estimated level of Candida or level at which you wish to start this journey, the “Bible” gives you several phases on which to base your meal plans which includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinners, drinks and deserts. I can link a few of these recipes, recommendations and specific Superfoods later. But…for now, I’m going to eat pears with almond butter and drool a little….over Muppet.
Filed under: Candida, Eggie's Adventures | Tags: anti-candida, candida, diet, health, love, nutrition
Love – a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart which weakens the brain, causes eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise and the lips to pucker. ~Author Unknown
Or it could be a fungus…..
Back in the day, I worked at an alternative health center where I was down and privy to all types of health information, treatments and complementary therapies to help beef up and sustain a healthy lifestyle. One of the things I learned, but have not really followed since then, is awareness of and treatment of Candida. I previously suffered with endometriosis and a sweet tooth the size of North America. I still have both. There is so much homage we can pay to our body just by putting good food and drink in our system….BUT we can’t pay homage until we pay attention. It’s important to our own evolutionary and meta-physical success that we understand how the body works down to the intricate micro-happenings so we can aid and support it through lifestyle changes and smart food decision-making.
Now that my path has crossed with the most cosmic, perceptive, beautiful and hilarious Homo sapien on the planet, we are walking hand in hand while our love grows and our Candida resides. Squeal!
What pray tell is Candida you might ask?
Candida albicans is a common yeast (fungus) that lives symbiotically with the healthy bacteria in our body (mainly in the digestive tract). Ewie! Yeast and bacteria…that shit doesn’t live in my body!….Oh! But it does! This partnership of yeast and bacteria is a good one; a healthy one and a downright necessary one. A shorten synopsis of how yeast and bacteria function in the ancient body is provided via The Complete Candida Care Book: Candida exists naturally in your body ONLY as a food source for the healthy bacteria in select areas of your body (particularly digestive tract). Candida is not a problem until…….something off-sets the balance between the healthy bacteria and the Candida it needs to consume. As Americans tend to do, the over- consumption of antibiotics, hormones and processed, sugary foods offsets this natural and necessary balance and has been known to cause a number of maladies….not just yeast infections in your, uh ‘down there’ areas. If you do not have a healthy habitat for friendly bacteria and Candida to co-exist, you end up with an overgrowth or overabundance of Candida. This offset manifests systemically so that you end up with a giant yeast infection throughout your body (joints, skin, tongue). Yummy, let’s make out! Some of these maladies range from physical to psychological problems, to misdiagnosis of chronic diseases to over-medicated resolve. Most recently, I discovered a new way humans come into contact with candida…..breathing in environmental agents (like pollution, chemical household items and airborne pathogens). Well hell, if you didn’t already slather hand santizer on you already…you’ll be drinking it now.
Here, how about I name some of the symptoms of Candida overgrowth…why not, it’s fun.
* abdominal gas and bloating
* headaches
* migraines
* excessive fatigue
* cravings for alcohol
* anxiety
* vaginitis
* rectal itching (See Showering)
* cravings for sweets
* inability to think clearly or concentrate
* hyperactivity
* mood swings
* diarrhea
* constipation
* hyperactivity
* itching
* acne
* eczema
* depression
* sinus inflammation
* pre-menstrual syndrome
* dizziness
* poor memory
* persistent cough
* earaches
* low sex drive (See “…most cosmic, beautiful, perceptive, hilarious Homo sapien on the planet…” for prognosis)
* muscle weakness
* irritability
* learning difficulties
* sensitivity to fragrances and/or other chemicals
* cognitive impairment
* thrush
* athlete’s foot
* sore throat
* indigestion
* acid reflux
* chronic pain
Hey! You mean if I suffer from something from this list, I might have a weird, alien yeast overgrowth!???!!! Shit, I have no idea. I’m not a doctor; but, there are three ways I found online to test for Candida that might be helpful. You can click here to view where you stand with yeast…because it’s probably all up in you. In fact, the yeast is probably fighting your hand to click on that link. Another helpful resource is this simple survey which will give you some insight as to the potential level of Candida in your system…because it’s probably purchasing and selling real estate in your colon. Look! Now it’s raising a baby!
A couple of key points
1. Approach Candida with proper treatment, a wholesome diet and lifestyle changes. Just because you don’t appear to have problems with Candida, you can still seek to eradicate processed, sugary and yeasty foods in your diet to avoid future problems.
2. A weakened body is perfect breeding ground for rapid yeast growth. This means paying attention to your sleep and stress load and the pH attributes of the food you ingest. More on pH later.
3. Keep friendly bacteria in your diet.Your body will appreciate the de-lish grub.
4. Cleansing programs can help starve off Candida. Provide plenty of nourishing elements to your system while you do it. For example, consuming garlic is a great anti-fungal, and it pisses Candida off beyond belief. Since Candida is alive and considered a micro-organism, realize that it will fight for its evolutionary right to use you as a host (if Candida’s purpose was to kill you, it would win the Darwin award). You might feel lousy or tired or sluggish, so pump up your system simultaneously with nourishing treats like soy yogurt that beefs up your healthy bacterial load.
If you kill off all of the yeast, your healthy bacteria will have nothing to eat! Yea…if you do it wrong. Approach Candida holistically. You can provide the healthy bacteria in your body with a sustainable and pleasant habitat by consuming pH friendly foods and naturally existing probiotics while also consuming supplements and herbs that give Candida the big, middle finger.
There are many myths and facts about Candida and focusing on Candida is not the cure-all for all health issues. We can provide updated and credible resources for anti-Candida regimes and even share some aspects from our nutritional brethren over on the Vegan side. Mainly, we are sharing our experiences since starting a cleanse, a new diet and incorporating additional fitness in our pretty active lifestyle. But all googly eyed and lovey…
Adventures in Candi Land 