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Hi,

I've been diagnosed with candida, and want to follow a very-low-carb paleo diet as long as possible. I'm getting so thin now, it's not normal anymore. I'm often afraid of food.

The only things I could add to the diet are more eggs and avocados to get some calories, but I'm concerned that that isn't healthy. I'm a student and currently live with my parents, and they constantly tell me I shouldn't eat more than 1 egg a day. But they also tell me I shouldn't eat more than 200g of meat/fish a day, and preferably not eat fish more than 3 times a week. They would also get annoying if I eat 5 avocados in a row.

Are there any good solutions to this?

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 No offence to you or your parents, but I find it really disturbing that you are underweight and they restrict your food intake. It's not like you are asking to eat 5 chocolate cakes in one sitting. I would be glad if my child was underweight and had cravings for good food. – Uggla May 27 2011 at 16:21
Are they not wanting you to overeat, or are they afraid of fat and meat in particular? I.e. maybe the problem is they need re-education about nutrition? – Ambimorph May 27 2011 at 21:01
They want me to eat, but they're afraid of egg consumption (4 eggs a day is insane for them), they don't want more than 200g meat/fish a day), they want me to eat 'in moderation'. I asked them what 'eating in moderation' meant, they couldn't answer me. I only need to be really strict for 2 weeks, then I can introduce things like low GI fruits or quinoa or sweet potatoes (I know, non-paleo, but at least it gives you a lot of calories in one sitting). They know nothing about nutrition (didn't know what slow sugars are), and think bread is the best food. – Korion May 28 2011 at 10:27
Maybe you should make them read some information about your condition and about paleo health benefits? – Uggla May 28 2011 at 11:46
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 The internet is full of lies, but books aren't necessarily better. If books are persuasive to them, though, you should definitely get them a copy of Gary Taubes' Why We Get Fat. I understand you aren't fat, but the book goes into detail about why fat is not bad for your heart, and related issues. It's very readable without being short on logic or evidence. – Ambimorph May 28 2011 at 19:58
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6 Answers

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I think everyone who has answered thi has totally misunderstood the OP. their parents, as far as I can see, are not trying to restrict their food intake so much as stop them eating what they deem too high in fat, cholesterol, mercury or whatever. Or simple excessive- and yes, five avocados would be probably too much of one thing! It sounds like they're not wilfully trying to keep you underweight, they just think you should eat a diet higher in carbs (which is the same as eating less animal products).

Basically your parents are questioning the premise of paleo, or the anti-candida diet, whichever. Like many others they might not "believe" in candida. Have you explained it to them? Have you found hard evidence as to why more than one egg a day isn't going to send your cholesterol skyhigh, and evidence as to the same for meat and fish?

If you have tried to explain and they refused to accept it, then you have to move onto taking control of your own idea. I thought I had candida last year. I am no longer sp sure, but I was 100% convinced and extremely stubborn about it at the time. People suggested that it didn't exist and that only terminally ill patients have it, and I refused to believe them, insisting that my symptoms matched. I want to know who diagnosed you and what symptoms you have, but I am not going to tell you that you don't have it or that it doesn't exist.

I can really empathise however with the "fear" if food as I thought that anything could make me sick- even carrots!! I think the stress over worrying about "candida causing" foods only exacerbates whatever is up with you, and particularly your digestion. So firstly, try to chill out a bit and don't go madly hunting on the Internet for the million candida diets that are out there.

What you CAN do is try to keep yourself nourished. That is number one with candida or similar ailments. do your parents buy all the groceries? Is that another reason why theyd be upset if you ate a lot of protein and avocados? Assuming that you have some money of your own, invest in some virgin coconut oil (it's antifungal and anti parasitic as well as being high in calories and very good for vitamin absorption). Buy canned fish, your own eggs, whatever it takes. Even if you live with your parents and they refuse to agree with your diet, you can implement it yourself. Eat butter-slathered vegetables. Other dairy products and nuts are not great for candida-like symptoms so focus ok animal fats and coconut oil. Good luck.

I wonder if it is fear of exacerbating the candida rather than fear of eating or gaining weight itself- that's why it sounds like anorexia in the medical meaning of not eating rather than the pathological disorder of anorexia nervosa. Maybe.

Nuts amd dairy are usually contraindicated if you have candida as they are considered "dampening" foods. Coconut oil, however, you can have in spades, and butter is okay too, so go for that.

If it is your parents paying for the pod them perhaps that's another reason they don't want you eating so much meat etc. If they are unconvinced about candida try at least to explain to them the reasons why eating more eggs, meat and fish is not unhealthy. If you can buy your own food then do that- canned gosh for example and coconut oil would be a great place to start.

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I wrote this on my phone- I meant fish not gosh!! – sophie May 28 2011 at 3:56
Oh believe me, I want to eat! If I have to eat 7 avocados to get enough calories, I'd rather do that than not eat them. I should have given more information about my candida (if I indeed have it). I just have a mold allergy. I'm not sure about candida, but I get a red face after eating any sugary food except quinoa for some reason. I also get a red face after potatoes (baked or potato chips, but potato chips are less bad). I have low blood sugar level, and have big red circles on my legs. The doctor though everything would go away if I left my dorm (it did help, but not that much). – Korion May 28 2011 at 12:07
Thanks for taking the time to write all this. I do have money and do my own shopping (my parents don't buy organic stuff, I'm the only one in the family). Coconut oil is a great idea, canned fish too. I'm not a big fish fan but I'm learning :D I though gosh was a type of fish or something ^^ Again, thank you so much for your response! – Korion May 28 2011 at 12:14
That's exactly what I was getting at in the comments. – Ambimorph May 28 2011 at 19:55
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Since candida is a yeast type infection, I can see why you are leaning toward a lower carb or low sugar diet.

Higher fat/calorie dense foods that are healthy:

nuts

nut butters

coconut in all forms (shredded, flakes, oil, butter)

avocado

eggs

full fat dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream)

There are so many other things going on with your post though, that's it's hard to ignore those issues as well. Based on the fact that you tagged your question "anorexia", I think you know you have issues. I'm not sure your parents don't want you to eat or if you just believe that based on your own issues.

If your parents are actually keeping you from eating then you need to take advantage of time you have out of the house to eat a few of the things on the list. It would be pretty easy to get a pint of ice cream or yogurt and eat it before you get home. That seems ridiculous, but you need to do what you have to do to be healthy. If you are underage, you should also report them as Thomas mentions, but I know that can be a scary situation. If they are controlling enough to keep you from eating, then you probably have some fear of them or what could happen if you don't listen.

You should not ever be afraid of food. Food is fuel, your body needs it to live and thrive and flourish. Don't let food control you, learn to control the food. If you have to inch your intake up in baby steps, then do it. One week you have 5 macadamia nuts each day or 1/2 avocado, the next you take it up a notch.

Good luck. <3

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I made my parents look so bad! They're fine people, my father even proposed to go to a slaughterhouse as he believes they sell grass-fed beef at lower prices there (he does like the fact I eat meat again, I used to be vegan but it didn't help me a lot). They just want me to eat fruit and bread, but I know I'll never get rid of candida if I eat those things. Every day I don't eat sugar I look better, my eyes shine for some reason (they used to be quite dull and tired), I'm feeling calm, ... But I am getting too thin. – Korion May 28 2011 at 12:00
Thank you so much for your answer, I'll try to look for some macadamia nuts, but most nuts cause problems for me. I used to get calories from organic almonds, hazelnuts, brazilnuts and pumpkin seeds, but they all gave me problems. I saw one box of soaked hazelnuts from 2 days before today that had mold on it. It had been in my kitchen for two days, and already had that much mold, so I don't eat them anymore. I'll certainly use your advice! – Korion May 28 2011 at 12:02
We're 3 months later, I'm doing great now. Thanks for the help. I ended up eating tons of coconut oil and eating more eggs and meat. It was not as hard as I thought it would be. Thanks! – Korion Aug 20 2011 at 19:56
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1) Who diagnosed you with Candida and why?

2) Why do you believe that Candida is an issue?

3) Eat

4) If your parents won't let you eat, drop a dime and report them to Child Services. Sorry, I am a parent and I know it's not easy and you make mistakes, but your parents are abusing you. Don't put up with it.

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 Maybe before Child Services, you should ask another family member (an Aunt, a grandmother, etc) to intervene on your behalf. – Thomas Seay May 27 2011 at 16:30
1) Went to a doctor, got a blood test, but he seemed to say I just had to avoid rooms with mold (like my dorm at the university, where I get acne on my left cheek because my bed is contaminated and I sleep on my left side). I know my doctor didn't say I have candida, but he did say I have low blood sugar, a mold allergy, a grass pollen allergy, and a vitamin d deficiency. Yep, I've been living pretty unhealthy at the university for only one month, and got all those things. He didn't say I have candida, but I've been away from my dorm for 2 weeks now, and I get problems with sugary foods. – Korion May 28 2011 at 10:38
2) I know candida is overdiagnosed, but the fact that I have a mold allergy, big red circles (that come from mold said my doctor) on my legs and don't tolerate high-sugar foods or high-GI foods well says enough. It's not that bad, I just need to go on a strict low-carb diet for 2 weeks - a month and get some antifungals and probiotics. But the only low-fat foods that are cheap and easy (I'm in exams) are avocados and eggs. I need calories to get better, then later I could add quinoa, sweet potatoes, low-GI fruits, ... to make it easier. – Korion May 28 2011 at 10:41
3) Haha, yeah, I will, I'm just concerned : do you think 5-6 avocados, 4 eggs, 200g meat/fish a day is unhealthy (remember, I'll only do it for 2 weeks, and if all goes well it might take less time before I tolerate apples again)? I eat a lot of broccoli, cauliflower, onions, ... – Korion May 28 2011 at 10:42
4) I made my parents look real bad, did I? My parents are under the impression that bread is the best food of all, you can't go wrong with bread. They like to see me eat fruit, bread, starchy foods, ... They are happy I eat healthy but think I know nothing about nutrition. Believe me, I know quite a lot now (been reading things since january, loved the paleo diet from the beginning, but when I ate meat I got acne, now I know this is because of poor food combining, by combining high protein intake with fruit, quinoa, ...). – Korion May 28 2011 at 10:45
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How old are you? Moving back home after being on your own is certainly an adjustment, and I also find that when you are on such a strict diet people are always watching and judging...especially parents who mean well but dont always sound that way. It sounds like its a bit of an adjustment for all of you.

If you feel you are underweight I'd definitely look for ways to add calories while keeping on your low carb diet. As people have suggested already, full fat dairy, nuts, nut butters, coconut in all forms are great ways to add good fatty calories. Eggs are good protein sources but one gets tired of them quickly-organic eggs you can eat unlimited, but the regular may not be as good for you (perhaps again thats what they are thinking but not properly expressing) I'd make sure you cover all the protein sources, eat a few more ounces per day gradually increasing until you feel you are getting enough.

From another perspective maybe they are saying no more than 3 servings a week/fish/seafood due to concerns for mercury or some other contaminant if they aren't getting good fish in your area? Perhaps theres a reason that you aren't aware of, its a good idea to just talk to them and find out whats going on here.

I personally didn't get the vibe from you of abuse going on/more likely annoying constant critiques and comments, but indeed if thats the case, perhaps its time to get out on your own, if over age. A uni student can find on-campus housing/dorms or share a flat with a fellow student.

As for your food issues, at least you are looking for more food, thats a positive step!

If I sat down and ate 5 avocados I know someone around me would be concerned. You do have to try not to overeat one food, you might have tummy issues later from it. If they are giving you difficulty over that I'd be in agreement with them as well!! Too much of a good thing is not always good!!

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Unfortunately nuts and dairy give me problems. I've not tested all seeds yet, though. I know that pumpkin seeds give me digestion problems (I soaked them and chewed them well, but they gave me green stool, sorry for the details). I think you managed to explain to me what my parents mean with 'eating in moderation'. I shouldn't overeat avodados, I should eat some grapefruits and eventually some quinoa. I just want this to be over as quickly as possible. I could easily stay energized and all with 1600 calories a day, but not for more than 2 weeks. – Korion May 28 2011 at 12:20
As I eat at least 200g of meat or fish, 4 eggs and 2 avocados a day, I already got like >1000 calories, I should just add some coconut oil, maybe some good probiotics like some types of yoghurt (though I don't like dairy, never ate it in my entire life unless I ate pizzas) or kefir, but those are probably not that calorie-dense. I'm probably make the amount of meat higher, add one avocado, and eat chia seeds 2 times a day (just arrived in the mail). Those all help with candida, so I can't go wrong there. – Korion May 28 2011 at 12:23
I was amazed at how supportive this forum is, your answer is amazing, this is great! I'm definitely gonna use this again. – Korion May 28 2011 at 12:24
Oh, and I'm 19 years old. The reason why I don't wanna get too thin is because I have a bit of an androgynous look (not that people are confused, but when I was a child there was an old guy who always thought I was a girl), I got long hair now, and if my face looks too thin I really look too much like a girl. I don't mind looking a bit girly, it has it's advantages, but I'd rather be normal. Last time an old woman asked me to help her because she couldn't read stuff, and when I did she said 'thank you girl', and while it cracked me up I don't want it to happen again hahaha. – Korion May 28 2011 at 12:29
definitely pumpkin seeds can be brutal even if soaked. I can't tolerate them either. I'd stick to soaked and dried nuts if you can tolerate them. I've also got a daughter in uni but she manages to eat well (they have their own kitchen). If you decide to add probiotics, you'll want something allergen free and something stronger than in yogurt, its not enough really to do much in small quantities. BUT start with a pinch for 3 days, up it every 3 days until you can tolerate a full pill. But if you dont need them there might not be a need (people with severe/chronic diarrhea generally need) – Kelly May 28 2011 at 17:44
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I eat eggs every other day...

ANd I eat Whey powder on the other days...

If you can identify more foods that you can eat then it seems like it will help out the situation...

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Whey powder give me really bad skin problems if I eat only a tiny bit of carbohydrates with it. Got an acne scar from it. You made a very good point :D, I've also e-mailed someone whose sun had the same problems as I had (mold allergy, sinus aches, problems with nuts, ...) and I'm awaiting her answer (she probably knows what things I'll probably tolerate well). – Korion May 28 2011 at 12:17
Best Wisshes to you! I am allergic to nuts as well. – Eric May 30 2011 at 16:33
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Definitely try macadamia nuts if you haven't already. In my experience, it is REALLY hard to eat enough whole nuts to fill in caloric gaps, so grind them into a nut butter and enjoy. Be very careful to choose macadamias not processed in a facility with other nuts! A jar of coconut oil or butter that you can just spoon thousands of calories out of will definitely help with weight gain. Learning to love full fat dairy would be a good thing, even for a little while, because the protein/carb combo will pack on pounds, or at least help you keep the ones you have. It's made to help baby animals grow, it's going to make you grow! If the lactose digesting to glucose is a problem, eat cheese. I'm an endurance athlete and have trouble eating enough calories in a day on a paleo diet so I personally fill in the gaps with cheese.

In the end, if you buy and cook your own food, your parents don't have to know what you eat. Are carbs especially detrimental with candida? I don't know too much about it. If they are, you've got to find scientific evidence, studies, showing your parents why you should not eat them. If you find evidence showing that carbs are not essential to ANYONE, you might even help improve their diet as well. As long as they (it doesn't sound exactly like restrict) but advise strongly against excess egg, meat, and avocado intake, keep eating supplementary foods (macadamias, coconut products, etc.). If they quit fearing meat, start adding more meat - Atkins got it right making "protein products" (c'mon, animals) his food pyramid base.

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