My Juice Feast - Day 1

So I decided to try a 7 day juice feast. Initially I didn't think I needed the fast/feast but I've noticed more and more that I feel so much better after a juice versus and an actual meal. I'm also hoping it will put me on the fast track to alkalizing my body.  I've read a lot of mixed information online about whether or not juice fasts are good for those with Candida, but as I said before juicing has made me feel really good so far. Plus it should help to give my body a break while I'm on the Candida Yeast Answer program  by not having to work so hard to digest my food along with all the healing that needs to occur.

I am keeping the fruit minimal - only green apples and lemon. I am also continuing to use ground flaxseed for fiber while on the fast. It's crucial to have healthy bowel movements while fighting Candida and juicing removes the insoluble fiber from the fruits and vegetables.

Day one has not been too bad. Around 3pm I noticed a mild headache coming on that I still have but it's nothing too terrible. I had enough energy early in the day to do some yard work, but I'm definitely feeling tired now. I didn't having any hunger or cravings at all until dinner time came around. About 5pm I got really tempted to go out and get something to eat.

Luckily I timed this so that my boyfriend is out of town for the first four days of my juice feast. That way I don't have to watch or smell what he is eating while my body adjusts to not eating. I'm not sure I could do it if I had to watch him eat all the things I love while I just drank juice. That being said I really enjoy the taste of the juice, even the really green ones. They are definitely satisfying.

I prepared for this fast/feast by doing some major grocery shopping yesterday. I have a fridge full of vegetables including: kale, spinach, broccoli, parsley, cabbage, green apples, carrots, cucumbers, green peppers, celery, limes, brussel sprouts and ginger. Unfortunately the healthfood store was out of dandelion greens. I plan to track my expenses while on the juice feast to see just how much it really costs versus eating normally. Most of what I purchased was organic.

*I am not a medical professional and claim no medical expertise. Please consult your healthcare professional before beginning any diet program.

Benefits of Juicing - Part 2

Below is part 2 of my cheat sheet on the benefits of the fruits and vegetables I regularly juice. It is a continuation from part 1 where I covered parsley, cucumber, celery, kale and spinach.

Carrots - Organic

1. Rich source of vitamin A. Vitamin A is very helpful during pregnancy for fetal development.
2. Also contains B vitamins and foliate.
3. Great for eye health due to its abundance of luetin, beta carotene, zeaxanthin, antioxidants and phytonutrients.
4. Natural diuretic.
5. Boosts the immune system.
6. Reduces mucous from the ears, nose and throat, and clears away phlegm to aid breathing.
7. Cleanses and restores the liver.

Broccoli

1. Vitamins: C, A, iron and calcium.
2. Contains sulforaphane which prevents peptic ulcers and is also known to ease gastritis and indigestion.
3. Contains more calcium than milk per ounce.
4. Contains an anti-estrogenic compound known as glucosinolates which helps rid the body of excess estrogen associated with certain types of breast cancer.
5. High in antioxidants and lutien important for eye health.
6. Is thought to help prevent breast, colon, lung and stomach cancer.

*Juice away, it's impossible to drink too much broccoli juice.

Green Apples - Organic

1. Vitamins: A, B & C.
2. High in Pectin which can help lower cholesterol and prevent colon cancer.
3. High in Boron which prevents calcium loss and stimulates brain function.
4. Natural diuretic and laxative effects.
5. Apples also help to balance out the bitterness of dandelion greens and kale.

Ginger

1. Contains over 12 types of antioxidants.
2. Natural anticoagulant.
3. Natural aphrodisiac - better than viagra for S-E-X!
4. Soothes the symptoms of the common cold and cough.
5. Helps to relieve many digestive ailments including heartburn, nausea and indigestion.
6. Can be helpful for relieving muscle pain and soreness.
7. Anti-infammatory.
8. Can help lower cholesterol.
9. Helps to control diabetes.
10. Thought to prevent and slow the progression of cancer.

Beets - Organic

1. Loaded with vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C. The greens have a higher nutritional content than the root so be sure to juice them as well.
2. The greens have a higher iron content than spinach and are also high in chlorophyll.
3. Also an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, copper phosphorus and sodium.
4. Blood purifier and blood builder that helps with the creation of red blood cells.
5. Dissolves liver, kidney and bladder stones.
6. Increases the production of glutathione which helps the body detoxify cancer-causing agents.
7. Regulates blood pressure.
8. Protects against stomach and colon cancer.
9. The cellulose beets contain helps to relieve constipation.
10. Contains choline, making it an excellent liver detoxifier.
11. Prevents varicose veins.

Dandelion Greens - Organic or from your yard if you don't use chemicals.

1. Ranked in the top 4 of all green vegetables and listed as one of the top 50 power herbs.
2. Vitamins: loaded with K, A, potassium and calcium.
3. Rich source of lutein and zeaxanthin - important for eye health.
4. Natural diuretic.
5. As good as milk thistle for liver detoxification.
6. Controls blood pressure.
7. Contains hormone balancing elements called taraxerol and taraxasterol. Can help to alleviate PMS.
8. Contains taraxacin which triggers the gall bladder and liver to create bile and stimulates the digestive system.
9. Thought to help treat indigestion, hepatitis, depression and irritability.

I try to buy organic fruits and vegetables as much as possible to reduce the amount of pesticide intake. It can get expensive but if you try to juice foods that are in season it helps keep the cost down. I also grew my own zucchini, beets and cucumbers in my garden this summer. 

*I am not a medical professional and claim no medical expertise. You should always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any diet.

Benefits of Juicing - Part 1

I keep looking up the benefits of all the vegetables I've been juicing and then promptly forgetting them and having to look them up again. So I decided to make myself a cheat sheet and share it with everyone. Please note that these are just the points I felt were important to me and is not all inclusive. I've also noted to the side which ones I think are important to buy organic based on pesticide load and conventional farming processes.

Parsley

1. Vitamins: B12, K & C, beta-carotene, chlorophyll, essential fatty acids, folic acid and iron.
2. Natural diuretic and laxative effect.
3. Breath Freshener.
4. Commonly used for anemia because of it's high iron concentration.
5. Kidney cleanser and liver detoxifier.
6. High antioxidant content and cancer fighter.
7. Anti-inflammatory.

  *Parsley juice is very potent and you should not drink it on its own or more than 2-3 ounces at a time. It should not be juiced by pregnant women or those taking blood thinners. It should also be used with caution if you have kidney disease.

Cucumber - Organic

1. Vitamins: C & A, foliate, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, silica, sulfer and lesser amounts of B complex, sodium*, calcium and phosphorus.
2. Regulates blood pressure.
3. Regulates body temperature.
4. Promotes hair growth.
5. Skin clarifier.
6. Supplies electrolytes necessary for hydrating cells in the body.
7. Strengthens connective tissues, dissolves kidney stones and alleviates arthritis.

*It should be noted that the natural sodium contained in fruits and vegetables is not the same as table salt and the two should not be confused. The organic sodium found in fruits and vegetables is necessary for our bodies to function properly. Organic sodium is essential for calcium uptake, digestion, fluid balance, bile production and the proper functioning of all major organs. Most Americans are actually deficient in this good type of sodium. And unlike table salt, if there is an excess of organic sodium in your body, it is easily excreted.

Celery - Organic

1. Vitamins: B1, B2, B6 and C, potassium, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and essential amino acids.
2. Regulates and calms the nervous system, it is known to help alleviate insomnia.
3. Fights cancer and prevents free radicals. Specifically stomach and colon cancers.
4. Natural laxative aiding in healthy bowel movements.
5. Natural Diuretic.
6. Reduces cholesterol.
7. Helps regulate blood pressure.
8. Eliminates and prevents kidney and gall stones.
9. Detoxifies.
10. Reduces cravings for sweets and aids in weight loss.

Kale - Organic

1. Vitamins: K, A, E & C, calcium, manganese, copper, potassium, iron, magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, B1, B2, B3, protein, foliate and phosphorus.
2. Rich source of lutein, an antioxidant important for eye health. I prevents and heals sun damage from UV rays. It is also thought to improve your skin.
3. Excellent detoxifier due to its high content of flavonoids and carotenoids.
4. Lowers the risk of bladder, breast, colon, ovarian and prostate cancer. And possibly aids in the treatment of cancer as well.
5. Anti-inflammatory.

*Use kale with care if you take blood thinners or have kidney or gallbladder problems.

Spinach - Organic

1. Vitamins: K, A, C & E, manganese, foliate, calcium, potassium, iron, riboflavin, copper, magnesium, copper, zinc, omega 3 fatty acids, selenium and niacin.
2. High in chlorophyll which increases the oxygen intake in blood and neutralizes free radicals.
3. Natural laxative.

*Spinach contains oxalic acid which requires exercise to be metabolized. Too much oxalic acid in your body can cause you to actually loose nutrients. However, it takes 1lb of spinach to make 4 ounces of juice so a couple of handfuls in your juice each morning shouldn't be a problem for most people.

To be continued...

**Please note that I am not a medical professional nor do I claim any medical expertise. You should always consult your healthcare professional before beginning any diet.

A Cure for the Common Cold

Every cold I've had for the last 5+ years has lasted at least 10 days and has twice turned into bronchitis. Because of this I've become quite the germophobe. So needless to say when I woke up Monday morning with a sore throat after being on vacation I was not a happy girl. I was especially irritated with the sniffling, sneezing family in front of me on the airplane. I had been hoping that using Biotic Silver as part of the Candida Yeast Answer program I might be lucky enough to avoid the cold and flu altogether this winter. But while on vacation I was unable to take it for a few days.

Biotic Silver is a natural, full spectrum antibiotic. While most antibiotics only kill a handful of disease causing organisms, Biotic Silver is known to kill around 650 organisms. And unlike most antibiotics it does not harm the good bacteria. Organisms are also unable to mutate and develop resistant strains against it based on research I've read. Sounds to good to be true right? Well the literature that came with my program included a section on using Biotic Silver to treat colds and flus. Since I had plenty on hand I thought I would give it a shot against my cold. Please note that if you choose to do your own research on Biotic Silver make sure you don't confuse it with Colloidal Silver, they are not the same thing.

Now to be clear this wasn't just a little sniffle and sore throat. By Tuesday morning I was miserable. I was completely congested, coughing, sneezing and my muscles and joints were aching. I never took my temperature but I was definitely warm to the touch so I suspect a fever as well. I also had a massive sinus headache.

When using Biotic Silver on the Candida Yeast Answer program, I take 1 teaspoon mixed in 8 ounces of water three times per day 1/2 hour before meals along with the Candicyn and Defend as per the instructions. When treating a cold or flu they suggest using 1 tablespoon every two hours up to 6 times per day until your symptoms are gone. I was concerned that at that high of a dose I would have some major die off symptoms and didn't want to add those on top of how bad I already felt. So I adjusted to 1 tablespoon 4 times per day. After only 2 1/2 days I noticed my symptoms began to substantially subside and by day 5 I was completely over it. I suppose it could be a coincidence but that is half the time it normally takes me to get over a cold.

Because I was already so sick it's hard to say if I had any die off symptoms from upping the dose. I did feel worse on the 2nd day, but that's common for me when I'm sick.

* Please note that I am not a medical professional and I claim no medical expertise. The things that I feel help me may or may not work for you. You should always consult your healthcare professional before starting any supplement or treatment program.

Week Four Update

Wow, I actually can't believe I've already been on the Candida Yeast Answer program for a month now. The first two week were a rough, but after hitting the two week mark things seem to have taken a turn for the better. I've definitely been noticeably less itchy. I also just have a general sense of feeling better, stronger and having more energy.

I did take a four day vacation. While on vacation my diet wasn't so great and I wasn't juicing. I noticed a difference in my energy levels on the days I didn't juice. I missed the boost of energy I get right after drinking a juice.

It's all but impossible to follow an anti-candida diet when you have to eat out every meal. I did the best I could and as soon as I returned I went back to my diet. I did take the Candicyn, Defend and probiotics as usual while I was gone but I wasn't able to take the Biotic Silver. So when I got back I actually upped the Biotic Silver dose to treat a cold I caught, probably from the airplane. I'll cover that further in my next post as I was very impressed.

I am not up to the full dose of the supplements on the program yet. I had to slow down a little due to die-off in the first couple of weeks. I should be at the full dose by the end of week five if all continues to go well.

* I am not a medical professional and claim no medical expertise. You should always consult your healthcare professional before beginning any diet or treatment program.

Dandelion Greens & Juicing

Today I added dandelion greens to my morning juice after reading about all of its benefits. Next to milk thistle, dandelion greens are one of the best liver detoxifiers out there. They are also thought to be a strong diuretic, improve bowel function, dissolve kidney stones, lower cholesterol and support gastro-intestinal health. Not to mention they are loaded with vitamins and minerals. One cup of greens contains 10% of the RDA for calcium. Other vitamins and minerals include A, C, E, K, B6, iron, zinc and copper.

I found them at my local healthfood store. You can use the ones growing in your backyard as long as you don't spray your lawn with chemicals/pesticides. You should also note that they don't last very long in your refrigerator so once you buy them they need to be used within a couple of days.

Below is a picture of all the items including the dandelion greens (on the left) I juiced this morning. Obviously I didn't use the whole bag of kale, only about 3 handfuls. The other items are parsley, ginger, 4 celery stalks, 1 green apple, 2 carrots and a beet.

All of the above makes about 1 1/2 glasses of juice (see below). If you have never juiced before don't be turned off by the color. It does actually taste good or at least not bad. This one was slightly bitter from all the kale & dandelion. I think next time I will replace the kale with spinach when using dandelion greens and also maybe add an extra carrot.

*Please note that I am not a medical professional and do not claim any medical expertise. You should always consult your healthcare professional before starting any diet program.

Week Two - Die-off and Milk Thistle

I made it through week two of the Candida Yeast Answer Program. This has been a tough week. I haven't felt great and work has been crazy.

I've had a lot of die-off or at least I hope that's what it is. My yeast infection still seems to be improving but I've felt weak, achy and had headaches on and off all week. Mostly I just want to sleep all the time. I usually feel pretty good for a couple of hours after my morning juice but it all seems to go downhill from there most days. Saturday was the worst day so far. I upped my dosage that day so I may need to stay at this dose a little longer than three days.

The diet has been rough. I have been really good about avoiding sugar and white flour. Avoiding cheese has been much more difficult and I've definitely eaten more than I should. One thing I've discovered is that plain low-fat yogurt is actually quite good. I've never been much of yogurt eater but it was mentioned and encouraged on the program so I gave it a try. A small bowl with a few blueberries is almost as good as ice cream.

I also started taking milk thistle this week to help with the die-off.  Milk thistle is considered to be one of the best liver detoxifiers out there. It helps support, protect and cleanse your liver which in turn should help it deal more efficiently and effectively with the toxins caused by the dying Candida. It's also thought to lower cholesterol levels, improve blood sugar levels and be a powerful antioxidant. I'm taking 300 mg a day for now.

*I am not a medical professional nor do I claim any medical expertise.  You should talk to your healthcare provider before taking any herb or supplement.

Insomnia

Personally I think the insomnia has been my worst symptom of all.  Not being able to sleep for extended periods of time will make you feel like a basket case and like your losing your mind.  During my darkest days there were times I only slept 8-10 hours in a week.  Luckily things have gotten better but it still seems to come and go as it pleases and faithfully appears for two or three nights right before my menstrual cycle begins each month.  Sometimes my insomnia is caused by my other favorite symptom...anxiety.  When my anxiety is high I can't fall asleep at all.  Other times I fall asleep okay, I just can't stay asleep.  Either way it's miserable and I've literally tried every drug, natural sleep aid and old wives tale out there to control it.  

The drugs I've tried: 

Trazodone had too many side effects.

Lunesta did nothing.

Ambien put me to sleep for 4-5 hours and then left me with a hangover.

Prozac made my anxiety better but the insomnia worse, go figure.

Lexapro helped both the anxiety and insomnia but made me fat among other unpleasant side effects and I had to ween myself off of it after six months.

Buspar made my anxiety shoot through the roof which in turn made the insomnia worse.

Klonopin has been the only drug that helps without awful side effects for me. I use it very sparingly, like once or twice a month, as it can be addictive and as with most drugs it's hard on your liver.

The natural stuff I've tried: 

Melatonin did nothing.

Chamomile tea tasted good but no sleep.

Formula 303 has valerian root in it but didn't really help. 

NaturalCalm kept me regular but still no sleep.  I should note here that NaturalCalm is a great source of magnesium which most of us with Candida are lacking among other vitamins and minerals.  Even though it didn't cure my insomnia I still use it regularly for it's other benefits.  I like the original flavor best.

Chinese herbal tea from an herbalist just made me have to pee...a lot.

Bio-identical Progesterone Cream made me extremely depressed and fatigued but didn't make me sleep. Turns out Candida loves progesterone and many women with Candida react poorly to it.  Lesson learned the hard way.

5htp helped control my anxiety after I weened myself off Lexapro which in turn did help my sleep but it wasn't like I took it and half an hour later fell fast asleep like I've heard people claim.  I used it for about 18 months at 200 mg per day in time release tablets.  I used the Natrol brand which they sell at Costco.  I still use it for short periods when I'm under extra stress.

I also tried meditating, acupuncture, exercising, yoga, reading, practicing good sleep habits, giving up caffeine entirely, eating protein before bed, listening to calming music, keeping a fan on, a sleep mask, sleeping in different rooms of my house, sleeping at my parents house and probably several other things I can no longer remember but none of which really helped.  I have managed to get my anxiety under control with therapy, supplements and a treatment called NAET which I will talk about in a future post.  Getting my anxiety under control has gone a long way in reducing my bouts of insomnia but I don't think I'll ever really get over it until I get the Candida under control.

*A note about acupuncture: I love it, still do it and it has helped me with other symptoms, just not this one.

**I am not a medical professional and do not claim to have any medical expertise.  All of the above information is based on my own personal experiences and opinions.  The things that worked or did not work for me does not me they will or will not work for you.  You should consult with your Health Care Professional before taking any herb or supplement.

Flaxseed

Ground flaxseed has been a life saver for me.  I have been drinking two tablespoons of ground flaxseed mixed with water every morning for over a year.  It has been the only thing that really works to keep me regular if you know what I mean.  It's important for everyone to keep their bowels moving and regular but when fighting Candida it's critical.  It's the main way your body eliminates the dead Candida and removes toxins from your body.

Flaxseed tastes better, is easier to get down and healthier than psyllium husk in my opinion and for me it just plain works better.  As an added bonus it's also a great source of Omega 3 and is believed to have antioxidant properties as well.  The brand I currently use is Spectrum Essentials Cold Milled Organic Ground Flaxseed.  This is the brand they carry at my local healthfood store but I've been buying it on Amazon to save money.

I used to buy a brand sold at Costco that I can no longer recall the name of.  It was sold in a big yellow bag and it was also organic.  My Costco no longer carries it but if you are lucky enough to have a Costco that does I also highly recommend this one as it was the most cost effective.

* I am not being paid or receiving free product from the above company. I only endorse products I have used and believe in on this blog.

The Dreaded Diet

In my personal opinion, the biggest hurdle to curing Candida is the diet.  Swallowing herbs, supplements and probiotics is a piece of cake compared to following an anti-candida diet.  A strict anti-candida diet is incredibly difficult if not nearly impossible for most people, myself included, to stick with long enough for it to work.  For the record I don't believe you can cure Candida with diet alone.  Candida can lie dormant in you body for long periods of time and wait for you to eat something it can flourish on.

I've done the strict anti-candida diet twice in the past, once for 30 days and once for 90 days.  Both times I was very strict and did not cheat and both times I still felt just as miserable on it as off.  In fact by the end of the 90 days I actually felt worse.  I still had all of my same symptoms and my fatigue was worse than ever.  For me there was a very good reason for this...food and vitamin allergies.  I'll talk more about those in a future post.  For now I'd like to focus on my current diet.

When I started my current treatment program I also changed my diet.  No matter what any Candida treatment program or supplement tells you, if you currently eat a typical American diet you will have to make some changes to be successful in the long term.  What does this mean for me you ask?  Below is my modified anti-candida diet.

What I'm not eating:

1) No refined sugar
2) No honey, molasses, maple syrup, agave or cane juice
3) No artificial sweeteners, this includes aspartame, xylitol and Splenda
4) No white flour
5) No chocolate
6) No fried food
7) No alcohol or caffeine - this includes caffeinated teas
8) No luncheon meats, bacon, ham or sausage
9) No dried fruit
10) No melons
11) No peanut butter
12) No soda or processed fruit and vegetable juices

What I'm limiting:

1) Limited fresh fruit - currently one green apple per day for juicing
2) Sprouted whole grain bread - two or three slices per week
3) Whole grain crackers
4) Rice noodles
5) Dairy products - for me this is mostly small occasional amounts of cheese
6) Limited meat

What I'm consuming most of:

1) Fresh vegetables of all kinds - read my post on juicing
2) Fish - Specifically wild caught Alaskan salmon.  I'm avoiding Tuna for mercury reasons.
3) Seeds - Pumpkin are my favorite.
4) Almonds
5) Olive oil and coconut oil
6) Beans and lentils
7) Eggs
8) Lemons - Love to add these to my water for a little variety.
9) Apple Cider vinegar
10) Brown rice

Obviously the above is not an all inclusive list but I think you get the idea.  I plan to modify my diet as time goes on based on how I feel.  The biggest reason I'm choosing to follow a modified anti-candida diet is to keep my stress level in check.  Both of my previous experiences with the super strict anti-candida diet became very stressful, depressing and I had no energy.  Following that strict of a diet when you work full time and attempt to have a life makes it just that much harder.  In my opinion keeping your stress level low is just as important if not more so than the diet itself when trying to heal your body of anything.  Being constantly stressed about what you are going to eat next is counter productive.

I also think it's important to mention that if you follow any anti-candida diet long enough chances are you will fall off the wagon at some point.  But whether it be for one meal or a weekend the important thing is not to give up.  I believe that if your taking the correct herbs, anti-fungals, probiotics, etc for your body, you most likely will not have to start over at square one again as long as you get back on the wagon in a reasonable amount of time.  This does not mean I'm giving myself permission to cheat.  I just want to be realistic and not beat myself up if it does happen.


*Please note I am not a medical professional and do not claim any medical expertise.  The information above is based on my personal experiences, research and opinions.  You should consult your Health Care Professional before beginning any type of diet or supplement program.

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

Two days before I started The Candida Yeast Answer program I watched the documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead.  Coincidence or fate?  Who knows.  It's streaming on Netflix if your interested.  Wow, what an inspiring story.  Personally I was more fascinated and inspired by the truck driver than the main character but that's not really the point of this post.

I had already began planning my diet for my new treatment program and this movie gave me an idea.  We already had a $300 juicer (see picture below) sitting in our kitchen collecting dust.  It was one of the items my boyfriend got when he split with his ex.  In the two years we've been together it has been used once.  We've talked many times about how we should use it more but basically we've been to lazy to ever actually do it.  So I decided to incorporate juicing into my new treatment program.

I've never done an actual juice fast like they do in the movie nor do I plan to do one at this time.  I'm not overweight and I'm prone to hypoglycemia so it's probably not a great idea for me right now.  I have however replaced my breakfast with a juice and ground flaxseed.  I started this the same day I started my treatment program and so far I am loving it.  It really has given me a noticeable boost of energy in the mornings which I desperately need.  I've also noticed it seems to help curb my cravings for sugar and carbs and helps me to eat healthier for the rest of the day.  Plus what an easy and tasty way to alkalize your body!  Below is a sample of my typical juice:

2 handfuls spinach
1 beet including the greens
3-4 stalks celery
1/2 cucumber
1 handful carrots
1 green apple
parsley
small piece of ginger

I know most anti-candida diets say no fruits and even frown on carrots, however, The Candida Yeast Answer program allows for carrots and limited fresh fruits as long as they do not make you feel poorly.  I have limited my fruit intake to one apple a day for now.  I have also incorporated zucchini, broccoli, bell peppers, kale, swiss chard, lemon, cabbage and arugula into my juices.  I prefer to use produce that is organic or from my own garden.  Despite how it may sound or look they really are very tasty.

If any of you other juicers out there want to share your favorite recipe please feel free!

The Candida Yeast Answer

I've decided to try The Candida Yeast Answer program from the Candida Wellness Center in Provo, Utah.  I first heard about this program while sitting in the waiting room of my Naturopathic Doctor about a year ago.   I was chatting with another patient who claimed that after many other failed treatments this was what finally worked for her.  She warned me it was an intense and expensive program but worth looking into if other treatments did not work for me.  She felt finally being Candida free was worth the cost.  I googled their website when I got home from my appointment, took one look at the price and forgot about it.  But here I am one year and many failed treatments later.

I read their entire website and downloaded the online booklet.  I also took their Candida Questionaire.  My score was 118 which put me in the range of a having a "serious condition of Candida" on their scale.  I decided to order a two month supply of the Biotic Silver, Candicyn, Defend and both probiotics in order to receive the 10% discount.  It was still over $1000.  I know your probably thinking I'm either completely crazy or incredibly wealthy.  I assure you I'm not wealthy but maybe a little crazy and desperate to be healthy again.  To be sure their was and still is a part of me that is scared it won't work and I've just flushed hard earned money down the toilet.  But based on my research and speaking with the people that work at the center I feel like this is the best option for me right now.

I began their "Basic Accomplishing Program" on September  17th, so today is officially the one week mark.  I started with the recommended beginning dose and remained on that for the first three days.  I plan to increase the dose every three days until I get to the recommended maximum dosage as long as the die-off remains manageable.  If all goes as planned it will take about 30 days to get to the maximum dose.  I've also changed my diet which I will detail in a future post.

Results so far...

I've had some die-off symptoms including mild headaches, feelings of low blood sugar and weakness, achy joints, irritability and feeling overall icky for brief periods.  But so far it's been manageable and not anything worse than what the Candida itself has caused.  On a positive note, not to over share, but my vaginal yeast infection seems to be clearing up.  We'll see what happens once I ovulate as that's when it always gets worse but so far I'm encouraged.  This has been one of my more aggravating and frustrating symptoms.


 *Please note that I am not being paid or receiving free product from the Candida Wellness Center.  The above statements are based on my personal experiences and opinions.  Whether or not it works for me does not mean it will or will not work for you.  You should consult your Health Care Professional before beginning any treatment program or supplement.  I am not a doctor nor claim any medical expertise.

Why I'm Doing This...

I've been struggling with Candida for several years now and I'm determined to get rid of it once and for all and get my life back.  Like many others with this issue I have tried a million different things, some of which helped and some of which did nothing but none of which have truly solved the problem up to this point.

I decided to start this blog for many reasons.  I hope it will be a good way to track my progress.  I also think it will be a great way to vent and share my story with others.  I hope it will help others or at least let them know their not alone.  It's hard to really talk about all this to family and friends.  They don't really understand how I feel and they haven't done the research so most of the time they look at me like I'm crazy.  I figure at the very least writing this blog will be therapeutic even if no one else ever reads it.  
So here I go...