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I am in the process of phasing into a paleo lifestyle and am very motivated to do so. I am simultaneously working on treating (self-diagnosed, but very likely) candidiasis. I am using probiotics (acidophilus now and have ordered ThreeLac), drinking kombucha, and have already completely eliminated all sugars, bread, pasta, and most grains.

I'm wondering if I'm trying to do too much at once. Has anyone had any experience with paleo and their candidiasis? What can I expect? Any suggestions?

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 +1 for a good question about a condition that troubles many and in my opinion, whose primary treatment is diet. – Atkins-witha-loincloth Jun 16 2011 at 21:21
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 Is there such a thing really? I always thought candida, and the rampant self diagnosis of it by many health food store employees, Coop members, and general goateed individuals, was space cadet talk. Is it real? – ben61820 Jun 16 2011 at 23:23
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 @ben: Quite real, and frequently allopathically diagnosed in the face of, especially, bgttime antibiotic treatment and very common in immunocompromised people (think, HIV+AIDS.) Most common manifestation in women: vag yeast infections. In immunocromp often throat/mouth/digestive/rectal. Can be very painful. Also, common in throat/mouth cancer radiation tx pts. Sometimes swelling is awful and eating very painful. HOWEVER, it is also true that there has been a rash of "hoobajooba healthstore-eveything-is yeast" crapola. So, quite real and also crap in the hands of "everything = yeast ppl." – Atkins-witha-loincloth Jun 17 2011 at 0:09
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 @olivia: Yes, except that I would not indict all alternative medicine. There are brilliant alternative medicine practitioners who know their stuff, just like there are highly competent allopaths and quite the opposite. Healthstore sales people oviously fall in a category of their own, though, there are even exceptions there. Ex: In my state, there's no lic. for naturopaths.A briliant naturopath runs the single health treatment store in the area. HE SHOULD be practicing. IMHO, just because it aint allopathy doesn't automatically = woo/bunk. I've practiced with MD/homeopaths who tx with both. – Atkins-witha-loincloth Jun 17 2011 at 0:28
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 @Scart, i feel yr pain, babe. [And really Dr. McCombs?? So like 99% of americans have "systemic fungal candida"?! Sorry doc, that's a bit much for me to swallow.] Yet, MY MIND REMAINS OPEN on the issue. For me it boils down to whether or not the Candida label is useful. I'm not sure. But I think the one thing we can all agree on -candida or no- is that HEALTHY GUT FLORA is extremely important; certainly one of the most important factors relating to overall health. That's where I'm putting my energy. – g. Jun 17 2011 at 19:03
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7 Answers

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I found cutting out all sugar completely (including fruit) and remaining VLC has been super helpful with what I used to think of as possible Candidiasis infection. Some of my symptoms come back with sugar, so I reckon I'm not "healed", even after all these months (6-ish?) Frankly, I'm kind of on the fence about whether or not Candida is "real". I guess now I sort of think of it as a way to talk about a cluster of problems that may be related to yeast and to each other. Problems that may be mediated through promoting a healthy gut environment. Call it Candidiasis if that works for you.

Anyhoo, fwiw, and since another poster brought it up -- be wary of kombucha. I definitely have problems with it. In fact, it gives me what could be considered Candida symptoms (which is a ginormous umbrella, really). One of the most annoying and confusing things about all the stuff you read about treating yeast/candidiasis is the recommendation to avoid yeast, [b/c it supposedly "feeds" the Candida (??)], but to drink kombucha, which is a yeasty fermented beverage. Go figure.

It took me a while to even consider that kombucha was working against me - I'd been brewing my own for a few years - loooved it. Since I figured it out, I've come to realize that I'm intolerant of (allergic to?) foods that have yeast in them (i.e. most fermented things). Does that mean I have Candida? Shrug. Dunno. Maybe I'm allergic. Maybe I have a leaky gut. Maybe I can't tolerate histamines. Maybe it's candida, and I'm having a "herx" reaction (I'm not buying that, yet). In any case, I avoid yeasty foods/bevs. Of course, YMMV and I hope it does.

Expect to think more clearly, feel much better, and have decreased food cravings. Yay to that! ...But also expect to find yourself increasingly sensitive to foods you never really thought about before. Best advice is to keep a journal of the stuff you eat and anything you notice physically/mentally. Good Luck, I hope it works out!!

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Hm, a downvote. I would love to hear your Candida story, whoever you are. I'm interested in solving this problem! – g. Jun 17 2011 at 13:48
grenadine, hope youre reading all the other comments in this thread. there are different levels of management, just as there are different strains of candida, fungus, and bacteria. i recommend everyone to get one or more of the tests listed at the mccombs site i posted above.then go from there with diet "tao of eating by bob flaws", then choose a multi-pronged cleansing method that you feel drawn to. i use chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture currently and may be doing the mccombs plan soon. need to figure out the sauna part first. i will of course post my results in the months to come. – dsohei Jun 17 2011 at 16:07
yes indeedy, dsohei, i got my eyes on this whole thread, fosho. I've been working for a year on getting my health/diet straightened out, and gut health is my pet issue. I don't put all of my eggs in the Candida basket, (or any one basket, actually) but my ears are open. I'm interested in hearing about any successes regarding improved health and ditching candida-ish symptoms. – g. Jun 17 2011 at 19:10
Great response. – BTCHLPS Jul 21 2011 at 23:14
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My elimination of overwhelming yeast issues, primarily in the form of chronic vaginal yeast infections, came pretty rapidly doing low carb, which included all of your stated elimiation plus all starchy vegetables and fruits.

I had other serious health issues which were also cured or at least put into total remission over time. The yeast issue was the most dramatic/rapid cure. I'd say within a month and no greater than 6 weeks (this was back in 2000, so hard to remember exact amount of time) it was GONE.

I also used pau d' arco herb, which I had used previously with very limited success. I have gone all these years since with no return of infections, unless I engaged in a greater than couple day planned cheat, which included high sugar deserts. Since this is a great rarity for me (once happened on a cruise, for instance,) in all these years, I've had only, maybe 3 mild bouts, in direct and rapid response to "forbidden food" intake. Starches remain very occasional treat foods for me and on this basis, seem not be be an issue. But I have no regular intake of starchy carb foods, though high intake of non-starchy carb veggies. And I only eat low glycemic fruit and only on occasion, not as regular fare. They remain more a "treat" food as well.

Best to you in your eradication efforts! The response for me was incredible!

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No expert here, but I'm wary of kombucha. Wonder if it could contribute to your issues, since it's a fungus too - ?

Good luck.

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I'm also trying to get rid of yeast issues and steer clear of kombucha for that reason! – CulinaryCaveGirl Jun 17 2011 at 1:09
I've heard that kombucha balances the pH in the gut in such a way as to lessen both harmful bacteria and Candida, but the idea that I'm fighting yeast with yeast is, in fact, pretty weird. I think I'm gonna cut out the kombucha until I get this dialed in - or hear convincing evidence otherwise. – Scart Jun 17 2011 at 14:08
all fermented foods are bad for me as well. in TCM candida is a yin fire condition creating damp heat in the lower burner, and they recommend to eat a "bland" diet. check out the tao of eating by bob flaws for more info – dsohei Jun 17 2011 at 14:09
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In Sept 07, I got what I thought was another sinus infection. I took various different antibiotics and it never went away. Not only did it not go away, but things got worse. I had chronic headaches, low fevers, and then developed fatigue, joint pain, and body aches. I was then diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (helpful? not really) I turned down all drugs offered to help my CFS. I saw a nutritionist who put me on a candida type diet (I've learned over the years that there are many different versions of anti-fungus diets). I've tried a variety of different diets. For a while, I was following Doug Kauffman's antifungal diet which is no grains, no sugar, no yeast, no vinegar etc, but you can have yogurt, butter, sour cream and heavy whipping cream, starchy veggies- carrots, parsnips, nuts- almonds, walnuts,etc and fruit- berries, grapefruit and green apples. I did feel a little better on that diet, but I would still have my symptoms. I somehow decided to continue with that diet and take out dairy (I've always been lactose intolerant and didn't feel great after eating dairy) and so at that point I became paleo and didn't even realize it!

I feel so much better when I eat a strict paleo diet. I had sugar after one year of not eating it to celebrate my birthday and I felt horrible the next day (like I was hungover). My husband used to say that my health was not connected with my diet, well when I went off of it for a few months this fall.. it was crystal clear. Eating paleo hasn't cured my yeast issues or CFS but it makes me feel a TON better. I no longer have body aches, fevers, joint pain, brain fog,etc. I still have fatigue but I have more energy. Today I didn't even need to take a nap!

I do encourage you to work with an integrative doctor. My doctor had me take a stool test. It showed that I have LOW amounts of beneficial bacteria and small amounts of yeast. She put me on probiotics and an herbal blend with pau d'arco and oregano oil in it.

Also, I'm not so sure about Threelac. I would stick with using oregano oil (very powerful!!), extra virgin coconut oil (antifungal, anti viral, antibacterial), and lots and lots of probiotics! Also, if you think you could have digestive issues like I do, I'd even follow the AI protocol for paleo. (I currently don't eat nuts, eggs, nightshades, fruit, or starchy veggies along with no dairy, sugar, grains or legumes.) I really feel like this has helped me.

Hope that helps! I could ramble on forever and ever. I've done a lot of research on this topic. I've been trying to cure myself of my issues for 4 years now.. Eating paleo will definitely put you on the right track. LOW CARB!!

Good Luck!

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Don't things like oil of oregano (evco isn't that strong) cancel out the probiotics? It doesn't make sense... there are so many paradoxes like this in the treatment protocols for candida - i just gave up on the idea. For now i'm staying VLC, avoiding stuff that makes me feel bad, and drinking bone broth. shrug. – g. Jun 17 2011 at 1:38
I didn't mean for that to sound negative. It's frustrating for me to read that your doc gave you anti-microbials along with some microbes. I think pau d'arco is just anti-fungal, but i'm pretty sure OOO is a total wipe-out. No? – g. Jun 17 2011 at 1:43
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 Through my research, I have learned you want to get rid of the bad and get more of the good. Therefore, you need to take an antifungal to kill the root of candida. I space out my anti-fungals and probiotics more than 2 hrs apart. It's highly possible that I'm wrong. I'm just basing this on all of the research I've done. Natural antifungals won't kill off good bacteria. I don't think one should rely on nystatin or diflucan. No OOO is not a total wipe out. It's a great antibacterial. curingherbs.com/wild_oregano_oil.htm – CulinaryCaveGirl Jun 17 2011 at 1:57
I also agree that VLC is helpful. I also drink lots of bone broth. What foods do you eat/not eat? Are you on an AI protocol? – CulinaryCaveGirl Jun 17 2011 at 1:58
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 Another helpful site:healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/anti6.php – CulinaryCaveGirl Jun 17 2011 at 2:00
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All this "no starch" stuff doesn't make sense against "Candida".... especially since according to Paul Jaminet of the Perfect Health Diet, who is probably more qualified in this area than most, says that the bodies immunity towards fungi and yeast requires glucose. Not something you want to be short on then is it?

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Exactly my thoughts. Can't wait until he elaborates a bit more on it. – ROB Jun 17 2011 at 2:00
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 +1 for a thoughtful observation. Consider that we are talking about an imbalance here - an overgrowth situation. This is not being recommended for people who are having no disagnosed yeast overgrowth issues. There are multiple factors and hormones and the changes in homeostasis that come about for a variety of reasons. Witness the fact that yeast overgrowth, experienced as rapidly recurring vag yeast infections are often rampant in peri and menopausal women. All contributing factors need to be looked at.And we are not talking about NO carbs here. We are talking carb specific, etc. – Atkins-witha-loincloth Jun 17 2011 at 2:15
+2 for mem's comment above – dsohei Jun 17 2011 at 16:26
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Yes it will help and yes it's real. It causes acne for a lot of people too. Fix your gut!

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Actually, natural antifungals like oregano oil DO kill off good bacteria along with the candida. Nature does not beneficially hand out things that magically kill only what we wish they would.

If you used a yogurt maker to yogurt using milk and some probiotic cultures, but added oregano oil to one of those containers in the yogurt maker, that container would not become yogurt. The other container, with only milk and probiotic culture but no oregano oil, will become yogurt. try it and see.

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