How long does it take?

[maeg]

Hello everyone, I hope we all had a good weekend.
Let me just start by saying that I have been on the board for about 6 weeks now. When I first started induction, I wasn't doing it properly, I was eating nuts and berries, and of course I lost no weight (although I did feel great). After I cut out those foods, even though I lost only a few pounds, I lost quite a few inches off my waist. Since then I have lost a total of ten inches off my waist and 20 pounds, and it feels great, but it took a lot of hard work - I just never seemd to have the results that others were boasting of, and the energy boost was, well, not as spectacular as when I tried atlkins four years ago. I've always wondered wether or not I had a yeast problem. Foggy, unclear thinking, bloating, constipation, I have a white tongue (not to sound like a teenager, but it's so gross), and my husband can DEFINITLY attest to the mood swings.

So this morning, I took the spit test, and the results were of course what I suspected. Because I felt this would be the outcome, I've spent the last week putting my energies into giving up coffee - I never thought I could do it, but there you go. I'm over the headaches and other complaints, and it feels good to know that I have kicked yet another destructive habit. But the yeast is still there, so I plan on following the book to the letter. I will do it for the six weeks, and I am sure the yeast will be taken care of. But how do you reintroduce resricted foods to your diet? Is six weeks long enough? How will I know that they are gone, just by doing the spit test again? Has anyone else killed off the yeast in their body, only to have it return? I know I will never, ever return to a lifestyle that includes flour, sugar, refined carbs, processed foods, but will that be enought to keep the yeast at bay for good?

Any advice would be great, thanks so much,
Maeg

[runnwme]

Re: How long does it take?

Hi Maeg,I did the yeat diet for a couple of weeks and relly struggled with it. I did the spit test after two weeks and it was still there, but not nearly as obvious as the first spit test. So, I think I did improve the situation a little. Then we went on vacation and I fell of the wagon. I had great intentions going in, but since we were trying to cut costs, I couldn't buy portions for a week for the rest of the family and then all separate things just for me. Anyway, I'm back on induction now for a few days until I get into ketosis again. I don't know if I have the fortitude to do the strict yeast cleanse diet.

Please post again and let us know your results on this diet. I am really interested.I alos noticed there are not a lot of posters here onthis topic, so the more info the better.

Good luck!! Maybe I'll try it again soon and really try to kick the yeast beast's butt. I have the same questions as you!

[Cello Chick]

Re: How long does it take?

Hi. I am doing a yeast cleans myself. When I first did it the tentacles were scary looking. I had a really white coated tongue.I did an experiment with garlic (which I fortunately love) and slowly chewed a clove of raw garlic and let it sit on my tongue for 5 minutes or so and then swallowed it. I looked at my tongue and it was a lovely pinky normal color...no white at all. I plan to include a lot of garlic in my diet. Anybody ever heard of garlic enemas? I discovered them on the internet and am curious.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: How long does it take?

I was on antibiotics by mouth for close to a year. Then, I was in the hospital for over a month with drip antibiotics around the clock. Then I had surgery and antibiotics by mouth for another month. My tongue looked like it had a white fur rug on it. I had cracks in the corner of my mouth, an itchy (you know), my bowel movements were foamy and floated, it itched like crazy around my anus, had gas and bloating and a host of other nasty symptoms.

First, I tried going by Dr. Atkins yeast-free diet and I took probiotics. I bought Monistat cream for the itchy parts. It helped some, but when I added cheese and vinegar back in, it came right back.

Then, I got the book "The Yeast Connection" and followed the strictest version of the diet for two weeks and it was completely gone. It stayed gone until I was craving blue cheese dressing and ate a whole bottle in about three days and I made and ate blue cheese burgers. I'm sure my "Yeastie Beasties" were craving the moldy cheese. Back came some of the symptoms.

So....I did the diet really strict again for 14 days and then slowly added back coffee and chamomile tea. So far it has been gone for several months.

These are the foods that will prevent the yeast from dying, so you should give them all up for at least 14 days.

All dried and ground food products contain molds including:
Coffee
Tea, including herbal
dried herbs and spices (including pepper)
cocoa powder

All vinegar and products made with vinegar or fermented including:
soy sauce
bottled salad dressings and marinades
mayonnaise
mustard
pickles
olives

All dairy including:
Milk
cream
cheese, especially moldy cheeses
cream cheese
sour cream
cottage cheese

Any and all sugar, including fruit
All grains, breads, crackers
Mushrooms


It's actually easier to say what you can eat: All Atkins legal fresh and frozen veggies, as long as they are washed really well and don't have blemishes. Fresh and frozen meats of all kinds. Oils, butter, coconut oil and lard for your fats.

You can use fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice to make salad dressings. I didn't think I would like them, but I never went back to bottled dressings since I started the yeast-free diet.

As soon as food starts to cool, molds start to form. Some people can't eat leftovers at all. Try not to make too much food ahead.

Coconut oil is anti-fungal, so I took 3 tablespoons a day by mouth. Garlic is anti-fungal, as well. Chamomile tea is a strong anti-fungal, so I drank a lot of strong chamomile tea every day after the first few days. Take double probiotics.

The candida is completely throughout your digestive system, starting with the mouth. Baking soda is a strong anti-fungal, so I brushed my teeth three times a day with baking soda and swished it around my mouth.

When done right, the yeast die-off was worse than induction flu. I felt horrible for the first few days. Then, the bloating started to leave and I started to feel better. The white furry tongue started to lose the coating in chunks, leaving sore places.

After a full 14 days, all symptoms were gone. All the itchy stuff and my bowl movements were solid and heavy once again.

The other thing that happened was that some cracks on either side of my nose and mouth went away, as did some crusty, scaly skin beside my lips. I didn't even know that these skin problems were yeast related.

I still can't use much dairy, but I have been back drinking tea and coffee and using vinegar and condiments and eating mushrooms, pickles and olives with no problem. I think moldy cheeses like blue cheese are off my menu forever.

I just consider it the Boot Camp Uber Atkins Induction Diet! All fresh, unprocessed foods for two weeks. It wasn't fun, but it works and so many aspects of my health are better, so I will do it any time I have a problem.

Sunny!

[Mrs_S]

Re: How long does it take?

awesome post sunny. always so helpful!

[sallyseachange]

Re: How long does it take?

Great post Sunny!

All the best Maeg. You can do it!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: How long does it take?

I'm glad to see that it actually posted. I am having severe problems with my internet service provider and just as I clicked to post this one, I lost my internet connection and didn't get it back until this morning. I was so relieved to see that all that typing had not gone out to cyberspace never to be seen again!

[nobodyknowsme]

Re: How long does it take?

Hey,

So is tea allowed or not allowed? Earlier you said no tea allowed, but then said you drak chamomille daily.

[SunnySmile501]

Re: How long does it take?

The first time I did the strict version, I did not drink chamomile tea. After surgery and more antibiotics I had to do it again, and since I had read that chamomile tea was a powerful anti-fungal, I did drink it the second time. I still got rid of the yeast.

So...the answer is that tea is not allowed, but I made the executive decision that since chamomile is a powerful anti-fungal, that it was okay to drink for me in small quantities. I also ate some coconut oil before drinking it, which is also a powerful anti-fungal.

I will say, though, the overgrowth was not near as bad the second time.

[JaLiliFer]

Re: How long does it take?

Sunny,

I know you posted this two years ago, but thank you for sharing!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: How long does it take?

Sunny,

I know you posted this two years ago, but thank you for sharing!

The original was posted two years ago, but my post was from last August. I have been fighting yeast for the last year.

[JaLiliFer]

Re: How long does it take?

The original was posted two years ago, but my post was from last August. I have been fighting yeast for the last year.

Ack. I'm tired and I'm confusing myself! I've put "The Yeast Connection" by Crook on hold at the library, but I'm not sure if they still have a copy...it says it is shelved, that one other person has it on hold, and that there are no copies. I'm thinking that just doesn't add up! So I'm going to swing by the bookstore and see if they have it.

When I take on-line assessments, I score quite high; and this is a subject that I've discussed with my NP in the past...she thinks that my chronic sinus problems could be yeast related.

In any event, thank you so much for sharing your experience!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: How long does it take?

I lucked out and got a copy of the Yeast Connection at a Friends of the Library sale for a dime. Can't beat that.

My sister had a horrible sinus infection for over a year and antibiotic after antibiotic didn't do a thing. She also had a severe reaction to any household cleaning chemicals. I got her to go on the strict yeast-free diet and all of it went completely away. She had completely lost her sense of smell, and it is back, too.

My library system, Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro has several copies. They even have a newer 2006 edition. Mine's mid-90's.

[FLGIRL1234]

Re: How long does it take?

Sunny, What order and time of the day are you taking your antifungals & probiotics? I started the yeast diet Monday so I'm only on day 2 but I am unsure if I should be starting with them right away or wait a week or two after doing the strict food diet first for a week. I used coconut oil to stir fry my chicken and vegetables in last night and have been using a olive oil / acv dressing for my salads. I don't feel any different so I think maybe I should start the anti fungals and probiotics. What are your thoughts? Thanks

[SunnySmile501]

Re: How long does it take?

Sunny, What order and time of the day are you taking your antifungals & probiotics? I started the yeast diet Monday so I'm only on day 2 but I am unsure if I should be starting with them right away or wait a week or two after doing the strict food diet first for a week. I used coconut oil to stir fry my chicken and vegetables in last night and have been using a olive oil / acv dressing for my salads. I don't feel any different so I think maybe I should start the anti fungals and probiotics. What are your thoughts? Thanks

I never used any anti-fungals except natural ones like coconut oil, baking soda (to brush teeth and apply in a paste for skin yeast) and olive leaf extract. I took proboitics right from the first day. Three times the normal doseage.

You should not use apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is why you can't use mayo and mustard. Use fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice for the tart flavor of salad dressings.

It might take more than two days to start to feel the yeast die-off. I felt worse for about a week and a half, then started feeling better near the end of the second week.