Week 1, Part A
Week 1, Part B
How is the sugar/caffeine detox going? I'm down from four cups of full strength coffee throughout my day, to only 1, maybe 2. I'm getting there!
With company over the weekend, I had brownie sundaes, but once Monday hit, I did fine cutting back the sugar. My sweet fix each day has been a square of dark chocolate so sugar has been minimal.
I pleased with where I am right now.
Now, onto candida, another thing we need to detox from our bodies--and frankly, something much harder for me to kick because I'm a carb lover.
When I read the story of Jenny McCarthy’s austistic son in Louder than Words
, about how getting rid of yeast helped her son's body, it finally convinced me that this whole candida argument might have some validity to it. I was on the fence about this candida thing before reading her book but her first hand account left me full convinced it's a real issue and perhaps the cause of my own health-related issues.
I first heard of yeast overgrowth when I read The Diet Cure
for the first time. It made sense to me in some ways, but in other ways I wondered if it was just another fad-thing out there in the diet and nutrition world. It intrigued me, but not enough to do anything about it.
In a Candida overgrowth, however, Candida “takes over the body” instead of giving it a balanced function. When this imbalance occurs symptoms such as lethargy, inability to concentrate, eczema, fatigue, headaches, bloating, recurrent yeast infections, and even carb and sugar cravings that seem out of control, may result.
*Note, I am not a medical Dr and cannot scientifically prove these facts. I am simply reporting what I have read. You will have to research this yourself and arrive to your own conclusions on the matter.*
In addition to the medical causes, frequent alcohol consumption, poor diet, and sugar also contribute to a candida overgrowth. In fact, sugar helps candida (yeast) multiply. Just check out what happens the next time you make some bread. Add some sugar to your yeast/water mixture and watch the reaction between the two!
How do I get rid of it?
There are two ways to take care of a yeast overgrowth.
1. Do a partial cleanse*. This way less harsh and shocking than a full out detox, and consists of putting healthy bacteria into the body (also known as pro-biotics, something that is getting alot of attention in the food industry right now. Think Jamie Lee Curtis and Activia commercials!), drinking plenty of water, incorporating grapefruit seed extract into your diet (this helps kill yeast), and going easy on foods laden with sugar, including fruits. Garlic is also considered to be a yeast inhibitor although I personally haven’t been able to consume this on a daily basis yet.
You can put healthy bacteria in your body by buying pro-biotic supplements at your local health food store --or you can eat yogurt and drinking kefir on a daily basis as well More on making kefir at home in future posts)
2. The second way to get rid of candida is to undertake a complete yeast detox. Doing this involves following the above steps as well as purposefully avoiding all wheat and dairy products. This includes avoiding cheese -- tthough goat cheese is acceptable. Carbohydrates, such as potatoes, are also discouraged since the starches from the turn into sugar. Very strict detox diets will also discourage carrots and corn due to the sugars in them. During a yeast detox ,alcoholic beverages are also to be avoided.
This type of complete detox can be costly due to having to buy special pastas and breads and grains that are gluten and yeast free, not to mention buying foods to maintain a carb and dairy free diet. Ultimately, it goes help speed up the ultimate goal of ridding the body of excess yeast however.
Depending on the amount of yeast in the body, a candida detox can take anywhere from one month to six months.
What to Expect During a Yeast Detox
Detoxing is not going to be fun if you have alot to detox--and if you have to detox, chances are, there is alot of overgrowth in your body!
I have not done a strict detox and yet, even with the little I have done, I have gone through almost a month of nausea and even vomiting. Some may experience additional side affects such as headaches accompanied by mental fog, more fatigue than usual, and extreme cravings for sugar. Remember, yeast needs sugar to thrive. As you starve it, it’s going to want what it needs to keep from dying off. The cravings, though annoying, are actually a good sign that the yeast detox is working.
You may also observe a cloudy film in your bowel movements and after urinating. This is the body sloughing off the excess yeast. It can be disturbing to observe, but be encouraged, it's another healthy sign that something is happening.
I actually started did my first detox in December 2008. The first month was the worst, but then I discovered I had more energy than I have ever had! My stomach also became flatter than it had been pre-pregnancy! The never-ending bloat was gone.There was also a huge reduction in the amount of sugar and bread cravings. I also lost weight due to cutting down my sugars and carbohydrates.
As 2009 progressed, I kept sugars and carbs to a minimum compared to what they once were, but once again, reached a point where I relaxed consumption of healthy bacteria. Around November and December, I gradually added more and more sugar into my diet. :-( So, as 2010 has arrived, so has a mini detox. Not a drastic one, but one in which I'm once again drinking water with grapefruit seed extract and using kefir and yogut in my smoothies.
I really want to detox so fully that I find relief from my allergies and asthma (a spring/summer issues). I need to stick with keeping carbs and sugars out of my diet completely this coming year and eating healthy bacteria on a daily basis (via smoothies). Time has already proven to me that it's worth the effort and it does get easier to keep this excess candida out of my body--it's just a matter of getting rid of it to begin with. Hopefully 2010 finds that process easier than 2008 did!
*As always, before starting any new diet or detox program, please consult your family doctor — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or diabetic!
Additional Resources:
The Candida Cure: Yeast, Fungus & Your Health: The 90-Day Program to Beat Candida & Restore Vibrant Health
Candida Albican Yeast-Free Cookbook, The : How Good Nutrition Can Help Fight the Epidemic of Yeast-Related Diseases
, about how getting rid of yeast helped her son's body, it finally convinced me that this whole candida argument might have some validity to it. I was on the fence about this candida thing before reading her book but her first hand account left me full convinced it's a real issue and perhaps the cause of my own health-related issues.I first heard of yeast overgrowth when I read The Diet Cure
for the first time. It made sense to me in some ways, but in other ways I wondered if it was just another fad-thing out there in the diet and nutrition world. It intrigued me, but not enough to do anything about it. What in the world is Candida?
We all have yeast in our bodies, which is Candida. In a healthy body system, this yeast works along with other microorganisms and helps keep a healthy balance in our body's functions, especially the digestive tract.In a Candida overgrowth, however, Candida “takes over the body” instead of giving it a balanced function. When this imbalance occurs symptoms such as lethargy, inability to concentrate, eczema, fatigue, headaches, bloating, recurrent yeast infections, and even carb and sugar cravings that seem out of control, may result.
Candida Overgrowth: How it Occurs
The regular yeast living in one’s body often grows out of control through the frequent use of antibiotics. Some books also caution that the use of birth control pills can lead to an excess of candida within the body, since progesterone stimulates the growth of yeast.*Note, I am not a medical Dr and cannot scientifically prove these facts. I am simply reporting what I have read. You will have to research this yourself and arrive to your own conclusions on the matter.*
In addition to the medical causes, frequent alcohol consumption, poor diet, and sugar also contribute to a candida overgrowth. In fact, sugar helps candida (yeast) multiply. Just check out what happens the next time you make some bread. Add some sugar to your yeast/water mixture and watch the reaction between the two!
Candida Overgrowth Quiz
The Diet Cure has a questionnaire to help determine if there is a yeast overgrowth in the body or not. If you aren’t interested in purchasing an entire book in order to determine if this is a problem, there are several online questionnaires you can make use of.How do I get rid of it?
There are two ways to take care of a yeast overgrowth.1. Do a partial cleanse*. This way less harsh and shocking than a full out detox, and consists of putting healthy bacteria into the body (also known as pro-biotics, something that is getting alot of attention in the food industry right now. Think Jamie Lee Curtis and Activia commercials!), drinking plenty of water, incorporating grapefruit seed extract into your diet (this helps kill yeast), and going easy on foods laden with sugar, including fruits. Garlic is also considered to be a yeast inhibitor although I personally haven’t been able to consume this on a daily basis yet.
You can put healthy bacteria in your body by buying pro-biotic supplements at your local health food store --or you can eat yogurt and drinking kefir on a daily basis as well More on making kefir at home in future posts)
2. The second way to get rid of candida is to undertake a complete yeast detox. Doing this involves following the above steps as well as purposefully avoiding all wheat and dairy products. This includes avoiding cheese -- tthough goat cheese is acceptable. Carbohydrates, such as potatoes, are also discouraged since the starches from the turn into sugar. Very strict detox diets will also discourage carrots and corn due to the sugars in them. During a yeast detox ,alcoholic beverages are also to be avoided.
This type of complete detox can be costly due to having to buy special pastas and breads and grains that are gluten and yeast free, not to mention buying foods to maintain a carb and dairy free diet. Ultimately, it goes help speed up the ultimate goal of ridding the body of excess yeast however.
Depending on the amount of yeast in the body, a candida detox can take anywhere from one month to six months.
How do I know if I'm Candida Free?
One way to determine whether or not you have fully detoxed yeast out of your body is to eat a yeast laden product, such as bread. Measure your reaction to this food in the hours after eating it. If you feel gassy, bloated, and sluggish within an hour’s time and lasting up to 12 hours, chances are you’re still dealing with too much yeast in your body.What to Expect During a Yeast Detox
Detoxing is not going to be fun if you have alot to detox--and if you have to detox, chances are, there is alot of overgrowth in your body!I have not done a strict detox and yet, even with the little I have done, I have gone through almost a month of nausea and even vomiting. Some may experience additional side affects such as headaches accompanied by mental fog, more fatigue than usual, and extreme cravings for sugar. Remember, yeast needs sugar to thrive. As you starve it, it’s going to want what it needs to keep from dying off. The cravings, though annoying, are actually a good sign that the yeast detox is working.
You may also observe a cloudy film in your bowel movements and after urinating. This is the body sloughing off the excess yeast. It can be disturbing to observe, but be encouraged, it's another healthy sign that something is happening.
I actually started did my first detox in December 2008. The first month was the worst, but then I discovered I had more energy than I have ever had! My stomach also became flatter than it had been pre-pregnancy! The never-ending bloat was gone.There was also a huge reduction in the amount of sugar and bread cravings. I also lost weight due to cutting down my sugars and carbohydrates.
As 2009 progressed, I kept sugars and carbs to a minimum compared to what they once were, but once again, reached a point where I relaxed consumption of healthy bacteria. Around November and December, I gradually added more and more sugar into my diet. :-( So, as 2010 has arrived, so has a mini detox. Not a drastic one, but one in which I'm once again drinking water with grapefruit seed extract and using kefir and yogut in my smoothies.
I really want to detox so fully that I find relief from my allergies and asthma (a spring/summer issues). I need to stick with keeping carbs and sugars out of my diet completely this coming year and eating healthy bacteria on a daily basis (via smoothies). Time has already proven to me that it's worth the effort and it does get easier to keep this excess candida out of my body--it's just a matter of getting rid of it to begin with. Hopefully 2010 finds that process easier than 2008 did!
*As always, before starting any new diet or detox program, please consult your family doctor — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or diabetic!
Additional Resources:
The Candida Cure: Yeast, Fungus & Your Health: The 90-Day Program to Beat Candida & Restore Vibrant Health Candida Albican Yeast-Free Cookbook, The : How Good Nutrition Can Help Fight the Epidemic of Yeast-Related Diseases
