Getting ready to start a candida cleanse....

[koru]

....and I have a few questions!

My issue isn't too complex ~ chronic sinus congestion & post nasal drip that started a couple years ago after having pneumonia (requiring abx) followed by a sinus infection (requiring more abx). I've had allergy testing, eliminated dairy, colon cleansed, blah, blah, blah. I'm convinced it's candida overgrowth but haven't been able to stick with "the diet" for more than a few days in a row. So what I need to know is, how important is it to eliminate ALL foods that break down into sugars? I mean, the hard core diet is basically eggs, meat & some green veggies. I'm thinking about starting slowly, eliminating simple sugars, alcohol & grains along with taking a few anti-candida supplements (oil of oregano, pau d'arco, garlic, coconut oil). If I eliminate all root veggies & fruit & all dairy, too, I'll fail on day 3! So again, it seems like a gradual elimination with anti-supps should do some good, too....right? I mean, some of those little buggers have to die off if I cut back!

Experiences? Opinions?

[SuburbanHippie]

I'm pretty sure it's an all or nothing deal. You have to starve them off. So if you're still feeding them something they like, they will continue to live.

I feel you on the failing part though. The candida cleanse is hard! I caved at day 8 and ended up on Diflucan for a month. I'm not a person that does medications, but I just couldn't do any more of that diet.

[ameliabedelia]

I think cutting down gradually as long as you work up to the complete diet is fine. It might just take longer that way, but if your more likely to stick with it by doing it gradually, then why not?

[staceychev]

I'm doing a 21-day anti-yeast/fungus diet with the support of herbal supplements. I'm on day 7 and feeling pretty good. I'd be happy to PM you the supplements my doc prescribed if you're interested. You can get them all online.

Anyway, for mine, there's a strict avoidance of wheats, sugars, fermented products, fruits, mushrooms, dairy, peanuts, fried food. And of course, alcohol! You don't build up to it gradually, because there doesn't seem to be any point. You do the diet for 21 days and that's it. And, there's always the "well, I can do anything for 21-days" feeling.

ETA: my husband and cousins have all done this diet (husband for chronic sinus stuff, actually) and had major die-off symptoms around day 5 or so. So far for me, I've felt pretty good, but I think that might be because I was lower-carb before I started. I think that if you start slowly, you may get lucky in terms of that, and in terms of the psychology of what you're doing, but as SuburbanHippie said, you're still feeding the yeast. It'd probably a waste to be taking the supplements at that point.