Raw Versus Candida?

[holistica]

I've been hearing and reading a lot about candida lately...

I know there is a "candida diet," that's very restrictive that some people go on to get rid of the stuff... How does the raw diet effect this systemic pest?

I have heard and read that even at my thinnest, my belly was still round and not flat because I had candida. Does this ring a bell? Are there any other reasons my belly might have stayed round even when I weighed 135 pounds (5'8" tall)? I'm nervous about this potentially being in my system, but I'm also worried about being scammed into spending hundreds of dollars on fancy probiotics. Any help would be appreciated.

[Psychalone]

I've been hearing and reading a lot about candida lately...

I know there is a "candida diet," that's very restrictive that some people go on to get rid of the stuff... How does the raw diet effect this systemic pest?

I have heard and read that even at my thinnest, my belly was still round and not flat because I had candida. Does this ring a bell? Are there any other reasons my belly might have stayed round even when I weighed 135 pounds (5'8" tall)? I'm nervous about this potentially being in my system, but I'm also worried about being scammed into spending hundreds of dollars on fancy probiotics. Any help would be appreciated.

What Dr Doug Graham has to say about candida
(summary)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsmcYRSvwGM
(more in-depth)
(pt.1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMjcX...eature=related
(pt.2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDlA...eature=related

What Dr Brian Clement has to say about candida.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPFmBme8PaI (fast-foreward to 5:40)

Alot of other raw foodists say that green juices/sprouts are the way to go as candida cannot thrive (over-produce) in an alkaline environment.


Personally I can attest to probiotics fixing that "pouch" on the lower stomach. I'm 5'9 and roughly 130lbs and I too had that issue. What I used to heal myself doesn't fall within the label of "raw vegan" so I can't mention it on this site or it'll probably get deleted, HOWEVER I can offer an easy at home test to make sure you're getting REAL probiotics. When it comes to micro-organisms like probiotics, algae and enzymes you have to have a valid test to make sure they're still alive and active. Many generic supplements are in-fact dead and thus useless. Here's an easy test:

http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2009/...active-at.html

Also the introduction of fermented/predigested foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, rejuvelac, etc can also help, however be careful with certain fermented foods as they can have the tendency to be slightly acidic.

As to reasons why your belly may be round, the only real reason (to my understanding) is inflammation. Could also be gas now that I think about it. Here's the real test. Try fasting 1 or 2 days on water and maybe some veggie/fruit juice and see if it gets rid of it. If it does then it's just bloating due to indigestion and enzymes will do the trick, if it remains that way even while on liquids then it's likely due to an imbalance in the gut flora.

Hope all works out for you!

[Katterin]

I have the same problem and its driving me mad. I don't know if I do have candida but it sounds like I have the same symptoms as you.

I have been eating raw, but elimination has been a problem. Even when I do go its not often, I'm suffering from gas and bloating and its awful

I really dont know what to do. I have just bought a juicer so am going to try some green juices instead of smoothies (fibre).

It's making me really miserable and I don't seem to be finding help easily. I am taking probiotics and digestive enzymes (when i remember) and also ELiminex which contains FOS (good sugar) - that can make give you gas though too ...

[Psychalone]

I have the same problem and its driving me mad. I don't know if I do have candida but it sounds like I have the same symptoms as you.

I have been eating raw, but elimination has been a problem. Even when I do go its not often, I'm suffering from gas and bloating and its awful

I really dont know what to do. I have just bought a juicer so am going to try some green juices instead of smoothies (fibre).

It's making me really miserable and I don't seem to be finding help easily. I am taking probiotics and digestive enzymes (when i remember) and also ELiminex which contains FOS (good sugar) - that can make give you gas though too ...

Green juices are usually easier to assimilate and cause less stress on the system as the plants fibers cannot be broken down by the body due to lack of the digestive enzyme cellulase, any good digestive enzyme should have cellulase. Also have you tested your enzyme and probiotic supplements to make sure they're active? Are they plant based?

There's a few means of checking if enzymes are active or not. the first 3 are examples given in the book "Survival in the 21st Century" by Viktoras Kulvinskas. "1" tests fat digestion, "2" tests protein digestion and "3" & "4" tests carbohydrate digestion.

1.) "In 2 cups of body temperature water, add 1 Tsp of oil. Open a cap of good quality enzyme, sprinkle on the oil spill in one of the cups and watch it disperse and disappear. By taking enzymes between meals, many of the enzymes get through the intestinal tract and end up dissolving blood vessel deposits, excess cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels disappears. In obese individuals weight loss is accelerated."


2.)"Prepare Jello as is directed as per the instruction except pour the Jello-to-be liquid into two separate containers. One container will be "the experiment" and the other container will be "the control". (Don't you feel like a scientist by now?!) Let both containers that are filled with unjelled Jello to cool down to body temperature. In the experimental container, mix in the powder from one capsule of plant enzymes. Refrigerate both containers. The container with the enzymes will not solidify into Jello because the gelatin protein has been digested by the action of the protease protein enzymes in the capsule. The last step in the experiment is to throw out the Jello because it is a junk food!"

3.)"Take one cup of cooked rice and blend it with just enough warm water to make it into a cream. Let the batch cool to room temperature (or just below 110F) and pour into 2 bowls. Open one capsule of plant enzymes, pour the powder into one bowl and stir. Let sit for about 20 mins. You will discover that the rice that had the enzymes added to it will turn to sweet custard. This is the action of the amylase in the capsule on the starch in the rice. The amylase enzymes transform the starch into several forms of simple sugar. In your body, taking food enzyme capsules with a meal of cooked rice will produce the same results in your stomach"

4.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVuaYznhdhU

Have fun and hope things work out better for you!

[green goddess]

Wow, these are some interesting-sounding experiments! I'd like to learn more about testing the body's own digestion abilities!

I read some years back about testing the body's general digesting abilities: make straight beet juice, drink it, and see how long it takes to show up as colour in pee. I don't remember what an ideal length of time is, or even if ideally there should be no colouration (indicating all the beet has been absorbed and digested), but these kinds of things are fun!

[BeingK8]

I can't give any empirical insights here, but I am particularly intrigued by Adya Clarity since Angela Stokes-Monarch's testimonial that it cured her Candida problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD5wm6pPgz4

[wannabehealthy]

Wow, these are some interesting-sounding experiments! I'd like to learn more about testing the body's own digestion abilities!

I read some years back about testing the body's general digesting abilities: make straight beet juice, drink it, and see how long it takes to show up as colour in pee. I don't remember what an ideal length of time is, or even if ideally there should be no colouration (indicating all the beet has been absorbed and digested), but these kinds of things are fun!

i ate a big beet the other day at like 2 or 2:30 pm and my urine was pink like hours after. i mean like about 4 hours. i was like wowwwwwwww. what does that have to do with candida though?

[mcster]

Easy, effective, cheap and quick fix to candida and parasites...raw apple cider vinegar.

Take one tablespoon diluted in water once or twice per day. Note that you may experience detox so while some feel a positive change immediately, others may experience nausea, dizziness etc. before they feel better.

[mcster]

[U]Also the introduction of fermented/predigested foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, rejuvelac, etc can also help, however be careful with certain fermented foods as they can have the tendency to be slightly acidic.

I agree. However, I just want to add that some people are so afraid of acid that they focus entirely on alkalizing foods and avoid acid like the plague. Optimum health happens when your body's PH is in balance...not when it's alkaline. We NEED acid in our diets. Again, I don't disagree with the above, it just provided a good opportunity for a badly-needed public service announcement. :)

[wannabehealthy]

Easy, effective, cheap and quick fix to candida and parasites...raw apple cider vinegar.

Take one tablespoon diluted in water once or twice per day. Note that you may experience detox so while some feel a positive change immediately, others may experience nausea, dizziness etc. before they feel better.

ummm, how does the yeast come out? you don't vomit it up do you???? omg heck no!!!!!

[sport]

ummm, how does the yeast come out? you don't vomit it up do you???? omg heck no!!!!!

The die off comes out the other end. If there is a lot you should see it (if you care to).

[Psychalone]

also there's a user on a forum by the title "RawDad" who apparently had Candida pretty bad and cured it through an alkanalization process. He posted on a fermentation thread which I just referenced.
http://www.giveittomeraw.com/forum/t...%3A1070761&x=1
to quote the post...

Reply by RawDad on July 11, 2009 at 8:25pm
the fermented vegs i make always leave my gut feeling quite well. I am off them for now - will start again in a month or so.

I normally femented cabbage, carrots and onions. It's easy and relatively inexpensive.

Far as Candida goes... I had it... BAD... focus on alkalization - get some pH strips... and start alkalizing your body.... i was able to make more progress drinking molasses lemonade than when i was on a candida diet....

Get the acid outta your lymph fluids.. and the Candia will flee the scene.

So there's that perspective and account as well. Perhaps if you're curious you could contact him and ask for more information of his experience. Usually testamonials from REAL people are much more valuable than tampered studies to promote products ;)

[Tenuviel]

I'm just going to throw this out there, as it hasn't been mentioned by anyone yet. It seems to me that almost everyone thinks they have candida overload, especially if they have a rounded belly, but are still thin everywhere else. Just wondering what kind of symptoms people have to believe they have candida overgrowth anyway... it just seems like it is very popular these days lol. usually you get allergy type symptoms from foods you eat, as candida causes leaky gut, malnutrition, vomiting especially if it is located in the upper digestive tract, rashes and itchy skin, oral thrush, nail or vaginal infections, bloating (which can be caused by so many other things)
scalp sores/rashes/hairloss, and a yeasty bread like smell (my boyfriend has this! actually smelling like sourdough bread) If you really want to know if you have it, you can get a stool sample done. probiotics and adya clarity did not help my pouch. The only thing that helped me was strengthening my back abs and legs, and also correcting posture. most of the time a rounded lower belly is caused simply by having weak abdominal muscles.

oh, also, if you do indeed have yeast overgrowth, restrictive diets don't really help much, as eventually when you have to go off said diet, the yeast just grows right back. creating a healthy diegestive tract with the prebiotic fiber in fruits and veggies will eventually balance itself out.. it just may not happen overnight. I noticed raw ACV as a possible cure, which may work for some, but it made my candida much much worse, I think due to the yeast content in it. The bridge of my nose swelled up really bad and it always gave me a rashy face, and stuffy and phlegmy after using. Refined ACV never does it, so it must be the yeast in the raw stuff