Detoxing and the Anti-Candida Program

This post continues the recent theme about health, diet and supplements.

In the early 2000s, I had gone through a spell where I hadn’t had particularly good health overall, my weight had ballooned for no apparent reason, and my energy levels and sharpness, focus and mood were all at rock bottom.

My aunt suggested having my allergies tested and she put me in touch with a doctor she knew who did allergy testing.

At the consultation I got given a list of all the things that had shown up on the tests, and I was also told that I had a serious yeast overgrowth in my digestive system, which was giving rise to the severe bloating and weight gain.

I also got handed a typewritten sheet that looked like something out of the Ark containing information on how to treat candidiasis. I thought it would be worthwhile reproducing here, with its various typos corrected and punctuation marks inserted to make it easier to read.

(I have been unable to seek Dr. Allen’s permission as she was no longer living at the address I had; it is possible she may not still be alive as she was very elderly when I saw her in 2002.)

Anti Candida Diet – Some Hints on Candida Albicans

There are two major areas of consideration in the dietary pattern necessary to reduce the spread and activity of Candida. These are the elimination of all foods derived from or containing yeasts or fungi. The second is the reduction as far as possible of all carbohydrate rich foods in order to deprive Candida of its favourite nourishment, which as anyone who has made beer or wine will testify, is SUGAR.

Foods Derived or Containing Fungi and Yeast

The following list of foods and substances contain yeast or yeastlike substances and so should be avoided as much as possible during the initial stages of dealing with Candida infection. It is probably wise to maintain vigilance for these foods for at least three months, after which time a degree of relaxation can be exercised with the proviso that if such foods are reintroduced and symptoms which had become quiescent begin to become active again, a return to a stricter mode of eating for a time is called for.

The rationale behind such avoidance is that in practice these foods seem to aggravate a Candida induced condition, especially if allergic symptoms are part of the picture, as well as if there are symptoms such as bloating and intestinal gas.

Yeast Promoting Foods and Substances

The following foods contain yeast as an added ingredient in their preparations and are therefore undesirable, especially in the early stages of an anti-Candida program:

• Breads (non-yeasted whole wheat or corn bread is acceptable, i.e. Irish soda bread and gluten free bread)
• Cakes and cake mixes
• Enriched flour
• Buns, rolls and pastries
• Anything fried in breadcrumbs (fish fingers, etc.)

The following contain yeast or yeastlike substances because of the nature of their manufacture or of their own nature:

• Mushrooms
• Truffles
• Soy sauce
• Buttermilk and sour cream
• Black tea
• All cheeses including cottage cheese
• Citric acid (almost always a yeast derivative)
• Citrus drinks if canned or frozen (fresh citrus fruits are OK)
• All dried fruits
• All fermented beverages such as beer, spirits, wine, cider, ginger ale
• All malted products (cereals, sweets or dairy products which have been malted)
• All foods containing monosodium glutamate (commonly known as MSG, E621 or flavour enhancer)
• All vinegars whether grape, malt, cider or anything else – these are frequently used in sauces and relishes as well as salad dressings, sauerkraut, olives and pickled fruit

The following are either derived from yeast or contain elements that are:

• Antibiotics
• Multivitamin tablets (unless specifically stating that they are from a non-yeast source)
• B complex vitamins (unless specifically stating that they are from a non-yeast source)
• Selenium (as above)
• Individual B vitamins (as above)

Sugar Rich Foods

Sugar (sucrose) itself in whatever disguise is to be strictly avoided during the battle to control Candida. It means white sugar, black sugar and any other shades. It includes syrups, honey, fructose, maltose, glucose, sorbitol, date sugar, maple, sweets, chocolates and all soft drinks.

Other Foods to be Avoided

Smoked meats, smoked fish, sausages, corned beef, hot dogs, hamburgers because of substances added into them. Nuts other than freshly cracked ones should also be avoided.

Aloe Vera juice is very useful. It promotes a favourable balance of gastrointestinal bacteria. Take one or two teaspoonfuls twice a day.

Useful Hints

• Irish soda bread and gluten free bread.
• You may eat plain crisps (potato chips) that do not contain monosodium glutamate.
• Jacket potato with olive oil butter.
• Suggest garlic pill and spoonful of olive oil each day.
• Scrambled egg on rice cakes.
• Oatflake porridge.
• Bio live natural yoghurt.
• Heinz Weight Watcher tinned rice (no sugar).
• Sugar free jam.
• Eat fruit between meals.
• Eat often, e.g. 1 Ryvita every two hours.
• Patients having other allergies i.e. milk and wheat must avoid these too!

Supplement list for Anti-Candida

• Lactobacillus Acidophilus 2g one to three times daily between meals.
• Biotin (Vitamin H) 350 mcg with acidophilus three times a day.
• Garlic capsules (if fresh garlic is not being eaten prolifically). 3 capsules twice daily, morning and evening after meals.
• Olive oil, 2 teaspoonfuls three times daily with meals or separately.

To enhance immune system:

• Vitamin C, 1g once or twice a day.
• Arginine, 3g with water on an empty stomach before retiring. Take for one month only. (Do not take if you suffer with herpes.)
• Vitamin B6, 20-50mg daily.
• Vitamin B12, dosage as above.
• Folic Acid, dosage as above.
• Calcium pantothenate B5, 500mg daily, especially if allergy symptoms present.
• Selenium, 20-50mcg daily.
• Zinc, 50mg daily.
• Magnesium, 250-500mg daily.
• Vitamin E, 200 iu daily.
• Vitamin A, 5,000-10,000 iu daily.
• Vitamin F (Evening Primrose Oil), 1-2 500mg capsules daily.

Please note that it is very expensive if you buy vitamins individually. [Note: the original sheet contained a recommended supplier of high-strength multivitamins which contained most of the above supplements here. I can no longer trace this particular company. It is worth doing your own homework on vitamin suppliers.]

You will also need to take the following to help kill the bacteria: Mycropryl (Caprylic Acid), 680mcg twice a day for two months, and after 200mcg for a further two months. For mild cases 400mcg twice a day for two months and after that 200mcg for two months.

When you start on the Anti-Candida diet you may not feel very well to begin with. This is due to the die back of candida. If you wish to read more about candida, please buy the book Candida Albicans by Leon Chaitow.

[Dr. Allen also recommended at this point a brand of artificial sweetener specifically formulated for candida sufferers. I have examined the tubs of product and the ingredient is acesulphame potassium. It is very sweet – 200 times sweeter than sugar. I only use it in porridge as I can’t bear unsweetened porridge.]

Candida Albicans of the gut is a serious problem and it is necessary not only to treat the candida but the flora of your gut and stop the gut from leaking. Stress and psychological problems need to be treated as well. It is a long process but you will soon begin to feel the goodness. No cheating. It is not possible for you to treat yourself as there are many steps and various medications necessary as you progress. If you just treat yourself you could just be prolonging the process and keeping the candida just dormant. [N.B. An unsurprising disclaimer, since this was given me by a medical doctor.]

I put the following schedule together to keep track of what to take and when:

Candida Program Schedule

Breakfast:

1 tsp Aloe Vera
1 tsp olive oil

Mid Morning:

Acidophilus 2g
Biotin 350mcg
Evening Primrose 2x500mg
Caprylic acid 680mcg (see dosages above)

Mid Afternoon:

Acidophilus 2g
Biotin 350mcg
Olive oil 2tsp
Multivitamin

Evening:

Acidophilus 2g
Biotin 350mcg
Olive oil 2tsp
Aloe Vera 2tsp
Evening Primrose 2x500mg
Caprylic acid 680mcg

Before bed:

Arginine 3g

Please note this is for information only and does not constitute medical advice. However, if you find this program helpful, please post a comment and let us know! Thanks.

Read Full Post »