The Complete Home Guide todiHseerabsse, Nsatural Healing, and Nutrition

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proliferate. Visits to countries with very different standards of hygiene can

also instigate its appearance. Very often, allergic reactions to foods are

simply a sign that candida is present.

The symptoms include weight gain that will not shift (whatever the

diet or food restrictions); low blood sugar; alcohol intolerance;

constipation or diarrhea; premenstrual syndrome; depression; bloating

and gas; fatigue; irritable bowel; joint swelling and pain; itching and heat

in the hands and feet; reddish-pink blotches of varying sizes on the face,

torso, hands, legs, feet, or abdomen; anal itching and athlete’s foot; fungal

nail infections; night sweats; kidney and bladder infections; and pains

across the chest, mimicking angina. A blood test will conf rm whether

candida is present.

Weak digestion will cause chronic candidiasis, so refer to dietary ad-

vice for correct digestion.

Consume nothing that contains antibiotics — most meat and f sh do.

Choose organic meat and f sh.

Eat organic vegetables and fruit.

Cut out alcohol, tea, coffee, carbonated drinks, and tobacco.

Eat no fruit or sugar for a period of at least two weeks. Then have

occasional fruit, but no fruit juice initially, because the concentration

of sugar is attractive to candida fungus. Avoid fruit concentrates and

frozen juices. Instead, drink fresh lemon juice in plenty of water—two

to four quarts daily.

Consider leaky gut and other digestive weakness, as it may be the

initial root cause, and liver problems and bowel congestion or consti-

pation— and treat accordingly.

Eat food with plenty of uncooked, cool spices and herbs. Do not eat

cooked chiles or other hot foods. The heat will attract candida fun-

gus.

Cut out all yeasty or fermented foods, including mushrooms and Mar-

mite or other yeast-based spreads and sauces. However, practitioners

in Germany and recent trials in Britain have shown that shiitake

mushrooms actually help eradicate candida.

Avoid all ref ned carbohydrates— that is, any processed junk food.

Eat only whole grains and raw foods— vegetables, seeds, and nuts.

f Avoid the apple cider vinegar normally suggested for poor digestion

and low hydrochloric acid levels. Instead, take daily meadowsweet

leaf, gentian root, and others.

f Use two parts valerian root, one part chamomile f ower, and one part

Home Guide to Herbs - davies