January 21, 2025
My gawd – a whole year has gone by since my last entry. I essentially eliminated gluten and I was still having digestive trouble. Went back to the functional medicine practitioner to discuss and do more tests and research. Test showed high levels of candida so I have been working on that. Candida is a normal fungus in the body, but can grow out of control and cause issues. Often after a round of antibiotics. Excess candida in the gut can cause a food sensitivities since your gut is compromised. Did the candida cause my Gliadin IgG tests to be so high? If I get control of this candida, will I be able to digest things better, including gluten? Time will tell. Although I have totally gotten used to little to no gluten. I can’t imagine even going to Jersey Mike’s on the regular. Anyhoo, I have been taking pharmaceutical and herbal anti-fungal meds, a bio-film buster and have decreased sugar and carb intake to treat the candida. It’s been about 2 months and feel great – no tummy issues and no migraines.
I go back to the gastroenterologist tomorrow. I never had an appointment after my endoscopy a few years ago, which showed “slight gastritis and esophagitis” and no celiacs. I’d like to hear his best practices for a gal who prioritizes preventative measures over symptom relievers. I hope he doesn’t blow off my interest in nutrition and my conferring with a functional medicine practitioner. I’m sure he won’t – I feel like Western doctors acknowledge how important lifestyle is to health. Maybe they over-subscribe meds because everyone wants a quick fix. People want to be comfortable and get on with life as they are used to. But I can’t even with short term comfort at the cost of long term issues. For example daily Advil harming organs.
Alcohol update: The Candida Diet recommends zero alcohol, at least for a month or two during the initial strict phase. I did it! I ditched it for about a month and a half. Now I may drink a modest amount once a week. I target French or Italian wine, thinking it likely has less additives and pesticides. Or something like vodka soda with lime. It took about 3 weeks, but I truly have no cravings anymore. Just needed to change the routine and expectations at 5:30pm…I’m stoked. I know the World Health Organization and Surgeon General have updated their warnings and recommendations about alcohol based on more recent studies.
