Candida Diet Considerations
Polly: In this book, we will explore how to support the immune system with diet, and how to heal the intestines. Unfortunately, this book cannot give you one ultimate diet that is right for everyone. This book will, however, give you many things to think about, and a place to start. To heal, most people focus on eliminating yeast and Candida from the intestines. However, we need to take a broader perspective and realize that the immune system allows the Candida / yeast to grow. We also need to respect the role that intestinal bacteria, parasites and viruses play in altering digestion and immunity.
Since most people have had success with restricting dietary sugars and carbohydrates, try this first. Give it at least three weeks to determine if sugar is a factor or not. You might not be able to tell immediately because during the first couple of weeks, you may be experiencing die-off symptoms. Look for foods that are not far from what nature provides. Then try different things mentioned here, and observe your body closely. Your body will decide what is right in your diet at any given time.
Keep a diary, and observe what helps you and what doesn’t help. Also, learn what you can from other people’s experiences and thoughts. Try to keep an open mind and choose what makes sense. Be willing to give up your present diet, even if logically you consider it an “ideal diet.” Your body is the ultimate master. Pay attention to how it reacts. Also be aware that the diet which is best for your body will change as you heal.
Meal Preparation
Mrs. Generic: I quit making myself low carbohydrate meals because so much cooking was involved. I have a high stress job, and little time for this. Is there some way to minimize the amount of time spent cooking?
Dhyan: I am afraid I will be of no help in giving you quick food ideas, but I would like, if I may, to express myself on food in general. In this culture, we have funny ideas about food. We cannot take the time to prepare it, which implies it is of low worth to us, but then we will pay large sums in fancy restaurants and such for others to do the work for us and serve us the rich and poorly combined food that promotes our illnesses. We tend to put our jobs, our leisure, our relationships ahead of food, something without which, none of those things would be concerning us. I see at least a part of the struggle with candidiasis as a healing of our relationship to food — the thing we do not live and breathe without. There is nothing anymore important than this, nothing, yet we want it fast, furious, and deadly.
I too have a very busy job at a university and have stresses as well with which to deal, but until I began putting nutrition first and healing my relationship to food, I made very little headway with this affliction. Now, in spite of how busy I am or all else that needs being done, twice a day, I find a way to tie on my apron, cease all else, bow low, and enter my kitchen to prepare my “medicine,” my food. There is no more beautiful thing in my life. These meal-makings have become sustenance for me in more ways than one — both physically and spiritually. This may sound very silly, but my kitchen has become my temple, for in it, I find nutrients for both the body and soul. The more I give over to each meal experience, the more I receive. Healthy food made with attentiveness and appreciative wonder tastes entirely different from food made in distraction or haste.
I hope this does not sound too silly to you, but this is very much the case for me. As I mentioned, until I gave myself permission to forsake all else, suspend all other worries and take whatever time is needed to eat healthy everyday, my progress was fitful and slow. I cannot tell each and every one of you how to make time for this. Each has to first understand its importance before you can understand that you CAN unseat your career, your stresses, your leisure and your relationships from top spot of energy draw, and in their place, place food, without which you do none of these things anyway. I meant not to discomfort you with this soapbox (nor did I mean to soapbox!), but everyone here shares their successful ideas, and this one is mine. Make as important as your life the living things you eat, and wonderful healing can come about on more levels than just one.
References for the Intestinal Health and Diet EBook
1. Baker, Sidney, MD, “A Clinician’s Perspective on the Interventions that Work Best plus Listening to Parents”, Lecture at the Dan 2000 conference.
2. Divi RL; Chang HC; Doerge DR, “Anti-thyroid isoflavones from soybean: isolation, characterization, and mechanisms of action,” National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA, Biochem Pharmacol, 1997 Nov, 54:10, 1087-96 3. Fort P; Moses N; Fasano M; Goldberg T; Lifshitz F Department of Pediatrics, “Breast and soy-formula feedings in early infancy and the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease in children.” J Am Coll Nutr, 1990 Apr, 9:2, 164-7
4. Carvalho NF, Kenney RD, Carrington PH, Hall DE., “Severe nutritional deficiencies in toddlers resulting from health food milk alternatives.” Pediatrics. 2001 Apr;107(4):E46.
5. Somersall, AC, PhD, MD, Breakthrough in Cell- Defense, GOLDENeight Publishers, Smyrna, GA, phone (800) 501-8516
6. Marin ML, Tejada-Simon MV, Lee JH, Murtha J, Ustunol Z, Pestka JJ., “Stimulation of cytokine production in clonal macrophage and T-cell models by Streptococcus thermophilus: comparison with Bifidobacterium sp. and Lactobacillus bulgaricus,” J Food Prot. 1998 Jul;61(7):859-64 mentioned in a keep hope alive article at http://www.execpc.com/~keephope/report18.html
7. Paul, S, PhD, “Take a Hint From Those With Lactose Intolerances” Limite Problem Foods From Your Diet” Townsend Letter, August/September 2002
8. Paul, S, PhD, “Take a Hint From Those With Lactose Intolerances” Limit Problem Foods From Your Diet” Townsend Letter, August/September 2002
9. Wallach, J, “Live Doctors Do Lie!” tape http://www.drjwallach.com
10. Truss O. “Metabolic abnormalities in patients with chronic candidiasis: the acetaldehyde hypothesis.” J Orthomolecular Psychiatry 13:66-93, vol. 13, no. 2, 1984
11. Folkers K, Shizukuishi S, Willis R, Scudder SL, Takemura K, Longenecker JB, “The biochemistry of vitamin B6 is basic to the cause of the Chinese restaurant syndrome,” Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem 1984 Mar;365(3):405-14 and Ebadi M, Gessert CF, Al-Sayegh A, “Drug-pyridoxal phosphate interactions,” Q Rev Drug Metab Drug Interact 1982;4(4):289-331