I’d like to thank Chris and Danny for a very enjoyable podcast. Thanks to the great hosts and the great questions submitted by the audience, I think it came out really well.
Chris gave our book a great recommendation even before it was published and really introduced us to the blogosphere; we’ll always be grateful for that.
A little note about our posting schedule: We didn’t do a food post on Sunday because Shou-Ching is away at a conference. Food posting will be back next Sunday. Also, I’ll be continuing our Low Carb Diet and Thyroid series shortly; it should be a very interesting series.
Thanks, Chris and Danny!
via this link:
Thanks for responding so quickly Paul! đ
One follow up question, how would I go about resolving a disseminated fungal infection, are there internal medications that are safe to use, what about herbs? Sounds like changing my diet isn’t necessary.
Thanks again!
AnGela
Hi AnGela,
Generally fluconazole is the safest systemic antifungal, the main concern is liver damage, so take NAC to support liver health while on it.
Herbs are good at shaping the gut flora but not so good for disseminated infections. Vegetables in general are good, spinach is good, onions and garlic are good. Try to add in extra vegetables.
Hi Paul,
I was wondering how long it would be wise to take Fluconazole for in the case of systemic candida infection (candida probably overgrown for 15-20yrs on and off – in nose, mouth, deafness probably also attributed to it…list goes on)?
There are a few websites saying, that Fluconazole will clear it but make it come back worse than ever afterwards. I wonder if that is only if standard diets are adhered to and not the PHD.
Are there any potent enough natural alternatives for systemic infections, like raw garlic or herbs, or is traditional medicine more effective in your opinion?
Thanks so much, I have learned so much this week from re-reading PHD plus just about every accessible page on here. Just finding out everything I can for my plan of attack.
Thanks,
Claire
Hi Claire,
I think fluconazole is a risky enough drug that I have to leave specific advice to a doctor.
Hi Paul,
Just been on Mark Sisson’s website and saw he recommends your website with regards Candida info. It linked to this page. I have your Perfect Health Book.
I have type one diabetes and candida, which seem to go hand in hand. Just starting on low carb and am a little confused as to where to strike the carb balance – I am happy on 30g per day as I have done this before, but am afraid of making candida worse. I have a dairy intolerance I didn’t know about hence I ended up back on carbs.
I have Bernstein’s book recommending 30g per day. You say candida thrives from ketones, so less than 400 carb calories will cause ketosis they feed on.
Where would you pitch it to begin with, in the presence of candida and diabetes? Is 100g carbs the way to go to begin with?
I am pretty carb and insulin sensitive as I am slim. All information welcome, thank you very much for your time (and book!)
Thanks,
Claire
Hi Claire,
Diabetics are prone to high ketone levels and ketones do tend to promote Candida growth, so yours is a common problem.
The issue of carbs is a little easier to address for type II diabetics, as they generally have some remaining pancreatic beta cell function and handle carbs better than type Is. For them I would typically recommend ~400 carb calories as this will usually work better for them than lower carb diets by helping to suppress appetite, improve immunity, and improve insulin sensitivity.
Type I diabetics would normally benefit from lower carb consumption, more along the lines of Bernstein’s recommendations, and higher protein. However, immunity to Candida will tend to be optimized around 400-600 daily calories from carbs.
I don’t know what’s optimal in your case. I think you have to experiment. It will probably be somewhere inbetween 30g and 100g carbs per day, but I don’t know where.
There are other variables to tend to. Eating more protein may help you. Generally speaking, eating more vegetables and low-carb plant foods tends to help; green leafy vegetables, onions, garlic, tomatoes, berries, high-phenolic extra virgin olive oil, and many spices are good anti-Candida foods. Circadian rhythm tactics described in our book will help. Therapeutic supplements include NAC for glutathione.
Try to get carbs from starches and vegetables rather than sugary foods. Try to eat carbs with acids and fats as described in this post: http://perfecthealthdiet.com/2011/10/how-to-minimize-hyperglycemic-toxicity/
Let me know how things progress!
Best, Paul
Hi Paul,
Why do say ketone bodies promote Candida growth? Do you have any evidence to back up that assertion or is just a hunch? I’ve been scouring the internet trying to find a shred of evidence to support this and I just can’t find anything.
My symptoms seem to improve on a ketogenic diet, so I assumed that it was because I was eliminating the glucose from my blood, but by your assertion, I should get worse because Candida prefers ketones.
Can you bring any clarity to this?
Thank you very much for your swift reply, Paul. I will start the experiment and keep you posted. I think going in at 100g carbs is a good idea and I’ll work my way down.
I have just read the post your recommended, thank you. It makes a lot of sense to slow absorption.
I have one other question, I hope you don’t mind. Your website has been the best source of information I have found.
What is best to take for low blood sugars – which do happen unfortunately, even on Bernstein’s tight plan. Bernstein says take dextrose tablets. I wonder if candida will low this far too much?
I can make pretty much anything bring my levels up – just depends how low it goes and the urgency. Is there something fast acting that may not exacerbate things at the times when lows happen?
Thanks again,
Claire
Hi Claire,
I think dextrose tablets are pretty good. They’ll be good in the case of Candida because they’re quickly absorbed in the small intestine, leaving little for the Candida.
You could also try honey.
Thank you, Paul. I was just looking at your products and thinking honey or rice syrup.
I never realised dextrose is from corn.
I’ll give them all a whirl. Had success today already with white basmati rice, olive oil, apple cider vinegar and salmon – great blood sugars even with exercise thrown in the mix.
Thanks again,
Claire
Hi Paul,
So should Candida sufferers avoid things like swiss chard which ferments in the colon and just stick to easily digestible starches?
Thanks,
Des
‘low’ was meant to say ‘love’ (second to last paragraph). Oops!
Thank you.
Hi Paul ,
When counting your carb count .. Does this include counting your non – starchy vegetables in your count ?
My recent diet only counted .. starchy vegetables or grains , fruits , etc.
I am have great difficulties finding a healthy level count for carbs ..either to weak from under eating them or get inflammation from having to much .
Been battling candida for to many years to count … Due to over whelming amount of food & supplement sensitivities .. can’t take much to help battle it.
Sacromyes boulardii has actually given me more issues.. and not talking die offs either .. literally gave me more yeast symptoms .. I had taken it 2 different time frames of years apart .. Both times of taking it was the worse thing I ever did . Yes and I did give it plenty of time talking months .
I am hypoglycemic but not a diabetic ..
So tired of all my researching only to not find my solution .. Found your site today looking for answers again.
You got my attention on your knowledge … Hoping your my answer .
Thank you for your time .
Gina
Hi Paul,
i’m trying to determine what defines a systemic yeast infection vs a gut infection. would eyelash and scalp dandruff (on me) and persistent cradle cap on toddlers be considered systemic? how about when yeast affects the bladder? (eg. bedwetting and incontinence)? thanks!
kelly
Do all coconut products promote ketones or just the oil? Thanks!
I’m wondering if you can help.
Just today I’ve some of my reoccurring symptoms I suffered from last year are reappearing (despite not having these symptoms for over 6 months now).
I have been having tight chest, feeling a bit crampy in my tummy and possibility of UTI/cystiitis developing (this is how it always started in the past- but no urine infection ever found). I checked my urine and found high ketones and high density.
Not really sure what to do. I’m wondering if this is a flare up of a yeast infection or possibly a flare up of Klebsiella p. (this was found in a stool test last year).
Seeing the high ketones (in evening urine) I’m wondering if this is a protective thing my body is doing or perhaps that I should drink more or could it be the reason for a possible yeast flare up? I haven’t been trying to fast though, and do eat potatoes or rice with meals.
Not everyone has mercury poisoning or mercury fillings, I’ve never had them