I have recently suspected I might be suffering from candida overgrowth. Looking at the various forums and suggestions a diet devoid of all sugars seems to be the most favoured approach. I was intrigued however to read one persons post on this site that suggested fat may be the problem and not sugar. I have always eaten very healthily and have not ever over eaten sugars or fats, however I recently began eating dal. I would cook it myself from a fabulous Indian cook book and instead of using butter ghee I found a vegan alternative. After using this for some months i discovered that this vegan ghee was 100% palm oil. I stopped using it both for its ethical implications (the impact it has on the land and communities where it is intensively farmed)but also because of the negative effects of the oil which seem unclear. I don't believe that palm oil on its own may have caused candida but the quantity. With cooking the spinach in garlic and ginger paste you use 6 tablespoons (I may have been even more liberal, savouring the velvety texture of the oil rich dal!) and then the tempered spices which were poured on top, cooked in a further table spoon of oil.
I have since stopped cooking my dal in this way and cut out the hot spices such as the chilli. I have started to use coconut oil instead. It has been nearly a month and I have had a huge improvement. I have been taking antihistamines for the past 6 months to calm my skin condition, I think it was urticaria that my do for described as idiomatic (he didn't know what might be causing it) and prescribed keeping an eye on it and continue taking the antihistamines. I had my first real 'die off' last night which made me feel like I was coming down with severe flu and also diarreah and head aches. I went to bed early then woke up this morning with no symptoms and feeling better than I have in a long time. Now I know this, what I believe to be my main symptom is subsiding and my overall feeling is improved what other symptoms should I look out for? I am not overwieght, I am very fit. Is it possible that by eating excessive amounts of palm oil which coated my intestin tract and therefore impaired candidate natural function to escort sugars out of my blood system that I had a temporary candida overgrowth? Is it possible it is now gone? Or do I have to follow a strict diet for the next three months? Admittedly I have not had an official test (which I can't afford). Someone did tell me that if you spit into a glass of still water, first thing in the morning and your spit trails downwards in long lines then that is a sign of the candida overgrowth moving up your throat while you are sleeping.

Thanks for the reminder.. sounds like what I go through. I am going to try the spit test again. I am pretty much low carb, so if I have it then it was definitely from fat.

I am just as confused or I would help you out. I keep thinking that sugar is not for me.. but everyone is different.

what is your typical diet like? Do you eat vegetables that are relatively low in carbs as well? I know I was surprised when I added up all my sugar carbs from carrots, red peppers.. it was not as low as I thought.

Do the spit test!! I did it one year ago, and it was clear that I did not have it.. but since then I reintroduced some new foods, and I feel i have some symptoms of overgrowth.

Slos, It could have been just the oil that was making you feel bad? It is hard to tell though without some more info. I though am a firm believer that a lot of people have weak immune systems and therefore have yeast overgrowth, it's just that simple. We feed ourselves yeast EVERY day AND we have a weak immune system? there you go. People like Brian Clement understand this and you will never hear him say that this is okay to eat. If a person has cancer the last thing they want is to be fighting a yeast infection also. Seriously think about it, at least for me, I ate yeast my whole life every day sometimes three times a day! And I was a beer drinker! you do the math. Yeast is also very hardy, think about it, you can bake bread and yeast survives the heat of the oven! Bacteria and parasites would be killed with such heat I'm guessing. Not to mention the salt in the bread. See ya

Slos, Consider eliminating gluten from your diet as that may be a hidden cause for Candida. Gluten is in wheat, barley, and rye. Gluten could be in wheat grass, too.

Therese

slos, you ought to check out this youtube: How to become diabetic in 6 hours. It involve eating massive quantities of fat, which ultimately leads to high blood sugar. With high blood sugar, candida will flourish.

Slos,

Coconut oil is antifungal and anti-parasitic, so it may be that you unwittingly medicated an underlying condition. On the other hand, who knows what it could have been, even coincidence. I had "typical" symptoms of candidiasis--no strict diagnosis--and when I started eating low fat/high raw carb, I felt better very soon after starting the regimen.

I think it's important to focus on how the food you are eating makes you feel generally. You may love the taste of a richly prepared dal, but does your body love it, and derive nutrients and energy and stamina from it? I am becoming more and more conscious of this as I go on, and find that when I can answer "yes" to that question, it also means that I am not experiencing any of the symptoms of disease, such as "typical" candidiasis symptoms, either.

Thanks for all your comments.

My diet is pretty good,I think. And I was living a pretty much gluten free diet anyway,have been for some years now, with the exception of an occasional ale on a Sunday with the papers. I have also cut down alcohol to nearly just at weekends, and I work Friday and Saturday nights so its only really a couple of drinks even then.

I've decided to give it a try, the no sugar variety, eating alternately short brown rice, quinoa, and just vegetables. My Muesli in the morning I make myself from buckwheat flakes, brown rice flakes, coconut shavings, with sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and goji berries (can anyone advise if these are allowed on a no sugar diet? They get so much praise for all their antioxidants and goodness I was hoping they might be alright). I eat my Muesli with coconut milk and add a generous spoonfull of psyllium husk to help clean my tract. I read goats milk may be permitted. Can anyone recommend which milk is better. Also, what about vitamin supplements? I was advised by a Chinese doctor to eat lots of beef but I don't really eat meat. I've been taking Floradix (gluten free option) which is rich in iron. I ate a rare fillet steak though the other night which made me feel like I might have experienced a 'die off' the following day. It occurred to me that the introduction of red meat might encourage the production of harsher enzymes in the gastric juices needed to digest the meat but which would also in turn work in the yeast in my gut. Can anyone advise?

Ps. It's my birthday next week. If I have a drink and a slice of cake does that undo all my food work or can I catch up again easily?

Slos, with these issues it would be good to have a lifestyle change. No beer would be #1 and try to keep learning how to get better. Coconut oil is good for this but it is not advised to take to much or to often by Brian Clement. I don't think yeast comes up your throat at night. It is a systemic infection in a lot of cases so it is just in your saliva and loves to live in your mouth where it is warm and sugary lol Hasta