Archive for the ‘Natural Remedies’ Category

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry #15 – Colon Hydrotherapy

Friday, April 20th, 2012

April 20, 2012, Day 20: Greetings friends! So, 20 days into this thing! Time certainly flies when you’re eating spirlina. Isn’t that how that saying goes? ;)

Today I went in for a colon hydrotherapy session. Colonics are used as part of the cleansing / healing process to remove debris and impacted matter (i.e. feces) from the large intestine (colon). I was probably abnormally excited about it, but people who “know” will get it and understand just how exciting the process can be. For those of you who are not familiar with what colon hydrotherapy is, I will try to explain it in the cleanest way possible. :)

During a colonic, the colon is basically flushed with pure, warm water via a tube that is inserted into your rectum. As you “fill up” with water you start to feel pressure on your belly and experience a very “full” feeling. The more you can take, the better and more effective the treatment is, but it is slightly uncomfortable and feels as though your belly may burst, lol! Don’t worry–it won’t! Once the flow of water stops, things should start to move out of the body.

Most of us (even the healthiest of eaters, and work out fanatics) are not truly clean on the inside. Stuff gets built up over time, just as plaque on your teeth does, and becomes hard, impacted and fermented. The colon is approximately 5 ft (yes, that’s right) in length, all bundled up inside your body, so it’s no surprise things don’t always make it out and flow peacefully.

During the process, you can see everything that is flowing out of you via a see-through window where everything goes to be disposed. If the colonic is going well and doing it’s job, the water is usually brown in color and you should see particles of feces making their way OUT of your body (yay!). There is no smell, and it is a 100% professional atmosphere. Colon hydro-therapists are licensed and the one I worked with today has been doing her job for 11 years!

So, get this: I actually SAW CANDIDA!! Yes! The therapist pointed it out to me. She said it looked like it had been sitting in my gut for a while. There wasn’t much, but then again, this was only 1 session. It’s recommended that you go once/week for 4 weeks. The sessions are typically between $75-90/session, but they usually have some sort of package for a series of colonics. Insurance does  not usually cover colon hydrotherapy. And yes, there are at-home enema kits, but none will probably be as effective (or be able to fill up the entire colon) as effectively as an actual professional colonic session.

It is IMPERATIVE that you take a high grade probiotic after a colonic session because you run the risk of wiping out not just the bad bacteria, but the good as well. You better believe I brought my Dr. Ohhira’s with me!

After a colonic, you can expect to feel lighter and less bloated. Check and check. You have to keep your food light for the rest of the day in order to not put too much stress back on the colon.

Colonics can also help with food allergies, mood swings, constipation, IBS, food cravings, and skin problems. Remember, 2/3 of your immune system resides in your gut and if your gut is in bad shape, it can’t function as well as it should and this could leave you feeling pretty crappy (tee hee).

Some things to think about…

  • It is estimated that 100 million people in the United States suffer from constipation and that these people spend $700 million on products to relieve constipation each year.  It seems a shame, when constipation is easily avoided through diet and cleansing.
  • “Infirmity and sickness, at any age, is the direct result of loading up the body with food which contains no vitality, and at the same time allowing the intestines to remain loaded with waste matter.”  - Dr. Norman Walker
  • Each year over l00,000 people undergo a colostomy due to a functional breakdown of the colon.
  • Coronary artery blockage and strokes, cancer, neurological diseases, dementia, depression, are initially caused by the retention and accumulation of poisons and toxins in the body. Most often this retention and accumulation is caused by a sluggish colon that just doesn’t properly remove the waste from our body. - Dr Richard Schultze
  • Jesus, according to “The Essene Gospel of Peace” emphasized internal cleansing: “Think not that it is sufficient that the angel of water embrace you outwards only. I tell you truly, the uncleanness within is greater by much than the uncleanness without. An he who cleanses himself without, but within remains unclean, is like to tombs that outwards are painted fair, but are within full of all manner of horrible uncleanness’ and abominations.”

Colon health is nothing to take lightly, especially with colon cancer being the third most common cancer in this country. Sadly, I lost my grandmother to colon cancer. This actually helped catapult me into a life of nutrition education (love you grandma). Friends,  colon cancer is fully preventable with FOOD and CLEANSING. Think about it…

If you need more information on how to keep your colon healthy, just ask!

Question of the day:

Would you ever get a colonic? 

Posted in Ailments & Dis-ease, Blog, Candida, Energy, Featured, Foods That Serve You, Healthy Lifestyle, Immune Health, Natural Remedies, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry #13 – Staying Strong

Monday, April 16th, 2012

April 16, 2012, Day 16: I am an awesome girlfriend. No seriously, I am. Who else would make their man vegan mac ‘n’ cheese (while she simply cannot partake) with such love? :) Vegan mac is kinda like my fave meal. I do miss my quinoa pasta, but I sound so silly running around complaining that I miss this or that. I was at a party last night (surrounded by tons of bad influences) and was discussing my diet with someone and we were speaking about nutritional yeast and I said I missed it and I said, “yeah, and I also really miss…” total blank. There isn’t much I am completely dying over not eating. Sure chocolate crosses my mind once in a while, and yes of course while I am making the man his mac ‘n’ cheese, I am a teensy bit tempted to take a small large bite, but truly, I am FINE.

Today I ate much of my usual; raw buckwheat cereal for breakfast, avocado/chickpea mash with fresh cucumber, red and yellow peppers for lunch, almond butter, sludge smoothie (okay, I kinda do miss bananas–they truly do make a smoothie!), and for dinner I had some quinoa with roasted Brussels sprouts and kale. That was super yummy!

I made a cool connection today. I have noticed over the last week or so, that my hair has been fuller, longer and healthier looking. A little while back I got a terrible hair cut (that I shed a lot of tears over) and I was just praying for it to grow back fast. So just about a minute ago, I realized that my hair probably looks so delicious because I have been taking diatomacious earth! One of its pluses is that it helps hair growth! Sweet, right?!? I have been taking it in my smoothies every day!

Okay, so check this out. I have not done this myself (yet), but I think it may be interesting to try…I found a test you can do at home to see if you have Candida or not from a site called Candida Yeast Infection Relief. If you try it, comment and let me know how it went! Or comment on their site here:

How To Tell If You Have Candida  -  The Free and Accurate Candida Spit Test.

THE TEST: In the evening, put a clear glass of water by your bed. First thing in the morning, briefly rinse your mouth, swallow, then gather some saliva in your mouth and spit into the glass of water (be sure to spit out saliva, not mucus). Keep an eye on the water for half an hour — especially the first few minutes. If you have candida overgrowth, you will see one or more of the following:

1. Strings (legs) hanging down from the saliva.
2. Heavy-looking saliva at the bottom of the glass.
3. Cloudy specks suspended in the water.

Spit Test

If, within three minutes after spitting into the water, you see “strings” hanging down, cloudy specks showing up in the water, or “debris” sinking to the bottom, you most likely have extensive overgrowth, which will require more candida-fighting action on your part.

If it takes longer than a few minutes for anything to show up, the candida is not as serious.

If the saliva just floats on top and the water stays perfectly clear, you most likely don’t have candida overgrowth.

The logic behind the test is simple.

If you have candida overgrowth, it will show up in the saliva, a friendly environment for yeast. When you spit into the glass, the aerated saliva is lighter than water. However, candida is heavier than either. Whether it sinks as “legs”, falls to the bottom, or floats around in the water, all are indications of candida. The more you see, and the faster you see it, the more systemic the infection.

Candida concentrates in saliva overnight, so this test is most accurate first thing in the morning.

I suggest rinsing out your mouth first, because, if you happen to be sleeping in a room with mold, you may have mold in your mouth from the room, and that could show up in the saliva too.

Again, I have not done this, because I am pretty sure I have a Candida overgrowth, and even if it’s not “official”, one can stand to go without sugar for a while to clean out, don’tcha think? :)

I have to share that the highlight of my week is going to be my colonic! I know, I know… TMI again. But, it’s an important part of this process as well and it is really helpful for keeping the colon clean and healthy. Colonics are designed to remove impacted feces and toxic debris from the colon. After treatment, you can expect to feel lighter, less bloated and more energized. It is not recommended to do too many colonics though because they can upset the healthy balance of good bacteria. This is why it’s important to take pro-biotics directly after a colon hydrotherapy session. I can’t wait to post pics! Kidding. ;)

If you enjoy reading my updates, please let me know! I love comments and promise to reply in a timely manner! Show some love and engage! I write this stuff for YOU, my HTFers! I’d love to know what you think.

I will leave you with a question:

Do you think it would be harder to go without sugar or coffee?

 

 

Posted in Ailments & Dis-ease, Blog, Candida, Energy, Featured, Food / Recipes, Healthy Alternatives, Natural Remedies | 2 Comments »

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry # 12 – Caprylic Acid

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

April 15, 2012, Day 15: Sometimes it truly blows my mind how fast time flies. It’s been 15 days of super clean eating! I am definitely experiencing more and more die-off symptoms. Just yesterday, I fell asleep on the couch at around 3:30 in the afternoon after just running a couple simple errands. I am pretty lethargic sometimes. I have read that when the Candida start to diet off, they release more than 79 toxins into your body, thus creating many unpleasant reactions. I am mostly dealing with feeling tired/lethargic, bloating/gas/constipation (TMI, but hey, just tellin’ ya what to expect when you decide you want to heal), mild cravings, and minor mood swings. The cravings have not been super intense, which I am grateful for. I am finding plenty of tasty things to eat, so I don’t really focus too much on what I can’t have. The most awkward part is being out in the world or going to social functions. We have a BBQ today, actually. Guess who’s bringing the kasha salad? ;) Would I love a glass of wine at this point? Sure I would! But would I cave in? No. I have never been “married” to drinking anyway, but I will admit, it’s nice to have a drink with friends once in a while. On the flip side, it’s also extremely empowering to be able to just be present and be sober and know you are treating your body with the utmost respect and love. :)

I wanted to mention something really cool! As if we all didn’t have mad love for coconut already, here is one more reason why it can be given another gold star. Caprylic acid. Sounds like something you’d use to treat acne, right? Well, capylic acid is why coconut oil is a popular and one of the most commonly used anti-fungals used to treat Candida overgrowth. You can take it by itself (as I am doing), or start using it to cook with (which I do as well). For treatment of Candida, you can take up to 5 tbsp per day (note: you work your way up to this and should start with 1-2 tbsp per day).

Caprylic acid can also be found in supplement form, but it’s one of the main medium-chained fatty acids in coconut oil, so why not take the whole food approach and get it from a natural source (unless you absolutely hate coconut)?

In addition to the coconut oil, I am taking grapefruit seed extract, which I can’t (and probably won’t ever) get used to. I am not going to lie; it’s gross.  But it’s also very effective and again, a natural, food based source. I purposely wanted to do this the natural way, as you would have guessed and was not really interested in taking any prescription meds for Candida. Nystatin for instance, is a synthetic drug which literally blows up the Candida, which can make the die off symptoms even more unbearable that they already are. No no, I prefer a slow and painful death for my Candida.

So let’s talk food, shall we? Today I am going to be bringing a buckwheat salad to this shin-dig because $20 says there won’t be a thing I can eat there! Want the recipe? I think I will just make it up as I go along, but it will go something like this…

Spring Buckwheat Salad

1 cup pre-cooked buckwheat (kasha)

1/2 cucumber, peeled and cut into chucks

5-10 cherry tomatoes, cut in half

1 small zucchini, cut into chunks

1/4 red onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 handful parsley, chopped

Sea salt to taste

Pepper to taste

Olive oil to dress

BOOM! Feel free to get creative with that one and don’t be intimidated by buckwheat if you have never cooked with it before. It’s just like brown rice and the ratio is 1:2 (1 cup grain, 2 cups water). As always, make sure to rinse your grains first and with kasha, you want to toast it a little first.

 Kasha is easy to get used to and you can even throw a little coconut oil into that as well! Use all of these foods more often and reduce your chances of Candida overgrowth!

Are you ready to get clean? Remember, you don’t have to be exactly at this level! I meet you where ever you are holding. Small changes amount to huge ones over time, so it’s important to start somewhere! I’m here to help and excited to be of service to you!

Posted in Ailments & Dis-ease, Blog, Candida, Featured, Food / Recipes, Healthy Alternatives, Natural Remedies | 2 Comments »

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry #10 – Experiencing Die-Off

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

April 12, 2012, Day 12: My body is definitely going through a bit of a healing crisis, so to speak. The Candida are dying off and I am experiencing the typical symptoms you can find if you do a search for what to expect; fatigue, stomach discomfort, body itching and feeling super cold (in MIAMI). All morning, I felt like I was moving in slow motion and I did not know how I would make through the rest of the day. I especially didn’t know how I would have energy to teach my cooking class today. I read that water and vitamin C were recommended (among other things). I took 1,000 mg of vitamin C on my lunch break and it seemed to give me the boost of energy I needed to go be with children today. I was so glad! I also read that dry skin brushing helps rid the body of toxins, so I bought a pretty new brush. This should probably help a lot considering our skin is our largest organ and next to the colon, it is also an important waste management system. Dry skin brushing basically removes a layer of gunk so you can essentially sweat out more toxins. I’m excited to add this in as a bathroom ritual. A plus for dry skin brushing is that it also helps get rid of cellulite and what woman doesn’t like the sound of that?!?

I don’t know if I mentioned that I was (am) a big gum chewer. I know, I know. But I have just always liked gum and since I started this diet, gum was pretty much out unless I could find gum with xylitol (sans a bunch of artificial crap), and today I did! I found Spry! So, here are my new 2 favorite things I got today! Random, I know…but both make me really happy! :)

I also received my E3 Live Renew Me, which is a “blend of nutritional plant-derived MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane), spirulina, E3AFA™, certified organic cayenne pepper, wild-crafted South American camu-camu, E3 AFAMend™, E3 Phenalmin™, tocotrienol & tocopherol (Vitamin E complex), and crystalloid electrolyte sea minerals. These exceptional foods have been shown to boost the immune system and help your body eliminate toxins.” It’s in powder form, so I will just add it to my smoothie along with the 500 other things I drink! Here is the E3 Live Renew Me and I cannot wait to start taking this tomorrow! It’s supposed to really help with Candida! I have very high hopes!

I had that raw buckwheat cereal for breakfast again today. I absolutely love it and it’s so filling! For snack, I had a smoothie: almond milk, blueberries, Amazing Grass, chia seeds, diatomaceous earth and liquid stevia.

Lunch was this awesome kelp noodle salad with cucumber, red pepper, purple cabbage, green onion, avocado and raw sesame seeds with my favorite sesame dressing.

Dinner was AWESOME! I was actually kinda impressed with myself as it was getting late and I am a little less creative lately. I do admit, it takes a bit longer to get into my “groove” preparing meals. Let’s just say, never underestimate the power of SOUP. I threw together this super tasty black bean and quinoa soup with celery, onions, carrots (I haven’t been consuming many carrots), garlic, tomato, and it was seasoned with paprika, cumin, oregano, chili powder, sea salt and pepper and then topped with fresh cilantro. Man oh man, was it a winner! I will definitely be making that again. Sorry no pic.

So, with regards to the die-off, I think the symptoms are way worse in the morning. I have been taking my super high-grade probiotic right before bed (guarantees an empty stomach) and then again right when I wake up, so perhaps that is why. I have read though that the probiotics are not as intense as the antifungals, so I am not sure exactly what it is. All I know is, I think it’s working! :)

I can’t believe how quickly the time is going by as well. I am already 12 days into this thing and I can easily see myself not having much of a problem finding things to eat and lasting as long as I need to until I see changes and feel better. I just have to tell myself that it is okay to miss certain foods (like chocolate, honey and nutritional yeast) and that maybe one day I can enjoy them again. But right now, they are not serving me and I respect my body enough to do what serves it best; no matter how challenging that may seem!

 

Posted in Candida, Energy, Featured, Food / Recipes, Foods That Serve You, Immune Health, Natural Remedies, Raw Foods | 2 Comments »

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry #9 – More Fun Things to Eat

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

April 10, 2012, Day 10: I gotta quote Ice Cube and say “today was a good day”. I ate frozen blueberries today because everyone told me I could! Nee ner nee ner nee ner. They were DELICIOUS!   :p

As I have mentioned previously, there is a TON of conflicting info out there, so I am just trying to put my faith in a few trusted sources and friends. Otherwise, it gets way too complicated. So I think I am kinda getting the hang of this; you kinda have to learn fast. Ha.

This morning did not start off so great. My tummy was kinda pissed at me and the friend who recommended the Dr. Ohhira’s pro-biotic warned me it might take a day or so to get used to and it just means that they are working. I felt much better towards the middle of the day and have had much more energy all around.

I was really excited to go to Whole Foods this afternoon because I wanted stock up on buckwheat (pictured below). Buckwheat is a gluten free grain that is safe to eat on the Candida diet (yay!). I really like buckwheat (or groats, or kasha) and I used to consume more of it so I am looking forward to reincorporating them into my diet. These can be consumed raw, if you soak them. So as we speak, they are taking a bath and I am looking forward to a delicious breakfast tomorrow morning. They taste amazing blended with berries and I will add a teeny bit of stevia.

I also made Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding using unsweetened chocolate almond milk, chia seeds (pictured), a pinch of raw vanilla powder and cinnamon (it’s SO yum!!!). Chia is AMAZING, if you don’t already know! Those teensy cute little seeds pack a powerful punch and are filled with awesome omega-3s, complete protein and fiber! If you would like to read more, you can check out a previous post I devoted all to the infamous chia seed here.

I am making this dessert thing work for me, friends! And it’s amazing how my taste buds  have changed. I find myself sucking on lemons and limes because they have become “sweet” to me, lol. I feel like I have just eaten “magic fruit”…you know, the one that makes sweet things sour and sour things sweet?!? Anyone ever tried that? It’s wild!

I think overall, this is going to be an uphill battle that I plan to win. It is hard and it’s funny because as a vegan, I thought I was already lovingly over-thinking my food choices, and now it’s like 100x’s more complicated! I am finding tasty foods though and in the end, this is going to be a really good thing. I choose to no longer be a slave to sugar and am appalled when I think back to how much I would consume throughout the course of an average day. Hey, agave and honey do count and I used it all religiously.

I hope that  for those of you who are reading, you will be able to feel that you can conquer Candida too and even do it as a vegan! It all boils down to priorities and self love. I know I am the only person who is 100% in control of me, so if I want to feel good, I have to be the one to do the work.

May you all be blessed with the strength and power to take your health into your own hands. That ability resides within you, I promise; just search for it and it will appear if you want to feel good badly enough! You will know when it’s time.  I’m here to help guide you if you should need.

Remember: “If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking”.  ~Buddhist Saying

 

Posted in Ailments & Dis-ease, Blog, Energy, Featured, Food / Recipes, Foods That Serve You, Natural Remedies, Raw Foods, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry #8 – I Kinda Messed Up

Monday, April 9th, 2012

April 9, 2012, Day 9: The cravings have been getting worse. They happen mostly at night, but I just try to ignore them. Funny thing is though, I don’t even know really what I would want to eat if I could eat anything. I just want SUGAR. It’s intense, man.

So, I kinda may have sorta messed. Okay, so even though people told me brown rice was not a good idea, I “cheated” and had it anyway. It’s frustrating for me to think about having only quinoa. I was eating brown rice cakes and even had a few crackers. I think these are going to have to be a no-no, just like my friend Nicole (and a few others) had told me they would be. Also last night, we went out with friends, and I tried to eat as “clean” as I possibly could and I had some sauteed broccoli and black bean soup, but that was a no-no as well. I believe the food may have been cross contaminated because even though this particular restaurant serves many vegan dishes, they also serve non-vegan ones as well. Going out to eat will most definitely have to be put on hold for a long while.

Now, I know some of you reading are probably shaking your heads thinking, “Well, shouldn’t she know all this?” but the truth is, I am learning as I go and I have made an agreement with myself to love myself through this entire process. This diet takes a lot of time to get used to and it’s flippin’ HARD. I may not be perfect off the bat. I think the main lesson I have learned is to keep it as simple as possible, no matter how boring, lol.

On a higher note, my Dr. Ohhira’s probiotics arrived today so I look forward to starting them! I am also getting my E3 Live this week as well from my co-worker, so I know that all that stuff will help.

I am going to start incorporating some buckwheat for breakfast. I have a really yummy recipe for buckwheat groats blended with strawberries, but I will probably sub with another berry such as blueberries. Everything I read says berries are okay. I am a little “iffy”, and honestly probably won’t consume them too often, but maybe in a smoothie or with the groats once in a while.  My friend some of you know as Baking Fairy turned me on to a pretty tasty looking website called choosingraw.com and I want to make these delicious looking buckwheat and quinoa pancakes with pumpkin cream (drool)!!

I must also share this video that my new Facebook friend James posted on my wall today for an awesome 70′s song by Tony Orlando called none other than “Candida!!” Check it out and here have a laugh. It’s pretty rad! Thanks, James!

I will keep you posted on my adventures with quinoa and buckwheat as well as the probiotics! If you’d like more info on what I am taking or what might be best for you, you can always contact me!

Thanks as always, for reading!

Posted in Blog, Featured, Healthy Alternatives, Immune Health, Natural Remedies, Raw Foods | 11 Comments »

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry #6

Saturday, April 7th, 2012

April 7, 2012, Day 7: So sorry I could not post yesterday. The Passover holiday took precedence. I was a little nervous about Passover this year since I was a misfit again and had to find somewhere to go for seder. I did not want to invite myself to someone’s house I barely knew and then not eat anything. It would appear so rude (especially to a Jewish cook, lol)! We were invited to my friend Paul’s house (or rather, I invited us, ha!) and Paul is sort of like the closest thing I have to family out here in FLA. We have been friends for 4 yrs now and he and his boyfriend are both veggies, so at least we were “kind of” in the same boat with the food thing. I asked if it would be okay for me to bring a couple things we could all eat and that was fine. It was a very non-traditional seder (surprisingly less formal than my own family’s back in Cali, which I thought was unheard of!). The non-Jews outnumbered the Jews and there was so much food! Since it was non-traditional, and I am not super strict on practicing, I brought a lentil salad (traditionally, Ashkenazi Jews do not consume lentils on Passover) and my version of an Israeli salad. Paul’s boyfriend made 2 different hummus recipes and they were fabulous! One had sun-dried tomatoes and the other had sesame oil, cilantro and parsley (I think). I ate them with a little matzah. Matzah is yeast-free and as I mentioned on my Facebook page yesterday, Passover seems like it’s the perfect anti-Candida holiday since it’s totally about omitting chametz, or leavened foods (things with yeast!).

Here is my Alternative Israeli Salad:

Here is the recipe:

1 cucumber, chopped

1 carton plum tomatoes, chopped

1/4-1/2 red onion, chopped

1 large handful of parsley, chopped

2-3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp. olive oil

Sea salt to taste

Chop up all ingredients and put into a large bowl. Add apple cider vinegar, olive oil and salt. Coat veggies well. Let stand in fridge for about an hour to let flavors mesh.

This salad is refreshing, simple and light! Enjoy anytime, really!

The other salad (the sacrilegious one) I didn’t get a photo of, but here is the recipe:

Lentil Salad

1 cup lentils (cooked and cooled)

1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 large handful parsley, chopped

1/4 red onion, chopped

Apple cider vinegar

Olive oil

Sea salt to taste

Chop onions and place in a large bowl. Cover with apple cider vinegar and let sit for a bit to soak. Chop up the yellow pepper and parsley and add that to the onion. Add a splash of olive oil and mix everything together. Finally, add the cooked lentils. You can add more oil if needed. Salt to taste.

To my surprise, both salads were completely gone by the end of the night and people kept complimenting me on them! I honestly didn’t think anyone would touch them except for us veggies, but it felt good to contribute something healthy to the mostly not healthy traditional Passover meal. :)

Paul’s boyfriend also made some roasted asparagus and Brussel’s sprouts (yay!), so I honestly had so much to eat. I hadn’t felt “full” in while, and it felt nice since that is how you are supposed to feel on Passover. You are supposed to feel so full that you have to lean to one side of your chair. ;)

Coincidentally, a woman I met at the seder had just been told by a friend that day that she should do the Candida cleanse! This woman had never even heard about Candida up until then and then meets ME?!? Talk about divine intervention!

I have been trying to do my smoothie that I was used to having every morning, but I have to be honest; without banana, it’s just not the same. I am typically blending up the following currently:

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 scoop almond or sunflower seed butter (unsweetened, of course)
  • 1 scoop Amazing Grass powder (this is naturally sugar free as well)
  • 1 tsp hemp seeds
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 oz. raw nuts such as almonds or pecans (I really miss cashews)
  • 1 scoop diatomaceous earth
  • 1-2 drops liquid stevia
  • Vietnamese cinnamon
  • 4-5 ice cubes

That seems to be palatable, but it’s nothing I am dying over. At least it’s got a ton of nutrients in it!

I went for an awesome 5 mi run today and afterwards, I was craving quinoa, so I whipped this up:

This is rainbow chard, kale, red pepper and yellow pepper sauteed in coconut oil, coconut aminos and garlic. I served it over my quinoa and topped it with raw sesame seeds.

So all in all, I am finding more ways to “spice up” my meals. It does take a bit of patience and creativity. I feel good though! Are any of you feeling inspired to do this with me yet?? Just say the word! If you aren’t ready for quite this much challenge, just remember little changes add up to big ones, so we can start small. I’m here to help and am honored to answer the call! My philosophy has always been to meet my clients where they are holding and to never push my personal beliefs about food on anyone. So, don’t be intimidated! We can work as a team and I can meet you where ever you are comfortable! I’m ready when you are!

Posted in Blog, Candida, Energy, Food / Recipes, Foods That Serve You, Natural Remedies, Raw Foods | No Comments »

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry #5

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

April 5, 2012, Day 5: I kept saying to people that the best way to describe how I felt today was “I feel good and bad at the same time.” When I woke up this morning, I felt like I had the best sleep I have had in a long while. I had also felt like I got hit by a Mack truck. My head was clogged and my sinuses felt all congested. I also um, had to go to the bathroom a lot (TMI?). My body is definitely detoxing, I can tell you that much. ;)

I was at work and my awesome friend came in and brought me a sample of E3 Live and some food grade diatomaceous earth. You can read all about E3 if you click the link, as I wrote about it a while back. I took the E3 at work right away and I think it actually made a huge difference because I felt much better all day long.

I am anxious to try the “D.E.” (diatomaceous earth)!! It sounds AMAZING! It is said to be beneficial because it is made up of mostly silica. It’s really good for removing bacteria, fungi, viruses, pesticides, etc. from the gut. It can also dramatically help with skin issues, lower blood pressure, help make you regular (no problems there), stimulates metabolism and keeps hair and nails lookin’ good! My friend suggested I put it in my tea or a smoothie.

I feel like I had cabbage all day today! At lunch I had this tasty cabbage and hijiki (seaweed) salad with green onions, hemp seeds, and sunflower seeds. I made a sesame dressing (which used to be my favorite) of 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tbsp. sesame oil, 1 drop liquid stevia and red pepper flakes.

I had an AWESOME dinner (sorry, no pic)! I created a “peanut sauce” out of 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter, 2 tbsp coconut aminos, 1 drop liquid stevia, 1/4 cup water and cayenne pepper. I then sauteed some kale, red pepper and purple cabbage (told ya!) in coconut oil (also had a teaspoon of coconut oil this morning raw–it’s an amazing anti-fungal) with shallots and garlic. I threw the sunbutter sauce on the veggies and had it over 1/4 cup brown rice. Joey (my bf) and I both really liked it! I think I am going to have to stock up on that sunflower seed butter and those coconut aminos since I see a ton of them in my future.

I am however, a little frustrated because there is so much conflicting info about killing Candida. Books, websites and friends all tell you different things about what you should and shouldn’t eat, what supplements to buy and how you can expect to feel. I have to admit, I was never “diagnosed” with having Candida. I am just listening to my body and for a really long time, I have known that sugar (and gluten) were not serving me. This is the best way to weed them out and although it is challenging, I sense the results will be worth every cupcake I have to turn away and every drop of agave I had to replace with liquid stevia.

I am ordering the E3 Live because I believe in its benefits and I also ordered a very high grade pro-biotic another friend swears by called Dr. Ohhira’s as this is vegan and it resonates with me. I will let you know how all that supplement stuff goes.

For now, I am looking for anyone who has gone on an elimination / Candida diet before and who has done so as a vegan. I’d love to hear about your experiences, what you ate, how quickly you got rid of the Candida, etc. Please leave your comments below and again, thanks so much for reading!

 

Posted in Blog, Candida, Energy, Foods That Serve You, Healthy Lifestyle, Immune Health, Natural Remedies, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry #4

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

April 4, 2012, Day 4: Today I felt a little tired. I think the Candida is getting pretty pissed off at me and may be getting a little hungry. I am not giving in and am taking no mercy on their little fungus-y souls.

I keep eating variations of the same foods I am limited to. Lots of veggies, minimal complex carbs, nuts and seeds. Tonight I decided to make elbow shaped quinoa pasta with sauteed broccoli and rainbow chard (see me nibbling on it in pic) in garlic and olive oil. Being the awesome girlfriend that I am, I still made my boyfriend (vegan) mac ‘n’ cheese. Sigh. I just wanted one bite! But no. I must stay strong! You can’t even give in a little bit when it comes to Candida. Anything sugar related or that turns into sugar will feed Candida and cause it to reproduce and take over.

I have been reading through The Candida Cure and it is truly enlightening. If you think you may have Candida, this is an excellent book to pic up as there are questionnaires to help you demystify Candida and figure out if symptoms you are experiencing are related. 20 bucks says they are. Mostly everything can be traced back to Candida. It’s SO annoying!!

Still on the hunt for the *perfect* anti-fungal as the one I mentioned my ND recommended is unfortunately not vegan. :( Good thing I have plenty of friends who have gone through this before and who can make suggestions about what to purchase. I am leaning towards getting E3 Live or Dr. Ohhira’s pro-biotic. Perhaps both? I am currently only taking grapefruit seed extract (YUCK!!!) and milk thistle as this helps to cleanse the liver. Oh, and of course, I use coconut oil religiously as well! We all know this is the ultimate anti-fungal and one of my favorite things to talk about.

All in all, I do feel pretty good. Besides feeling a bit tired, I feel like I have a clearer head, a smaller belly and I am in a much better mood. I am really anxious to see (and feel) how this all turns out! Thanks again for stickin’ with me and please feel free to email me at healingthrufood@gmail.com with any questions you may have about my current diet or if you want guidance with yours!

Posted in Blog, Featured, Food / Recipes, Healthy Lifestyle, Natural Remedies | No Comments »

Candida Cleanse Journal Entry #3

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

April 3, 2012, Day 3: First off, I have to share that today was a very exciting day at work because my co-worker who is a very feisty (yet extremely lovable) Colombian woman with diabetes who admits to having to lose 70lbs started a JUICE CLEANSE!!! This is not a person who you would EVER expect to be on board with solo el jugo if you know what I mean, but she is trying. Fingers crossed for her and wishing her tons of success!

So, what did I eat today, you ask? I wanted so badly to make this amazing kale/avocado smoothie I love (with bananas and apple juice) and um, let’s just say it didn’t taste quite the same missing the banana and apple juice.  I blended up avo, kale, psyllium husk, flaxmeal, spirulina, stevia…and water. Bleh. Okay, okay, it was drinkable. But barely. I’m not complaining though. :) I’m trying to kill Candida here. No one said it was going to be pretty!

I grazed the rest of the day on garbanzos, cucumbers, celery and sunflower seed butter,  had 1/4 cup brown rice with broccoli and my coconut aminos for lunch and then as a snack I had these awesome seaweed snacks!

For dinner, I made a gigantic salad and had a small amount of squash. I added tons of seeds (hemp and pumpkin) to my salad in order to get some protein. I made a very simple dressing of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, liquid stevia and water. The boyfriend even liked that! Score! I cooked up some hijiki (seaweed) as well, but am going to use it for a salad tomorrow! Can’t wait!

I am anxious to thumb through this cookbook I ordered online (pictured above) called The Candida Albicans Yeast-Free Cookbook. It’s not specifically a vegan cookbook so I will have to modify and focus on mostly the veggie recipes. To be honest with you, there are not a ton of vegan friendly, yeast free, Candida cookbooks out there. Perhaps I should write one? :)

Thanks all for your support and for following along. The days are just flying by and I swear I don’t even miss bananas, tomatoes, sprouts, carrots, Bunnie’s cakes… Not. One. Bit. ;) Again, not complaining. Truthfully, it’s not that bad and I like the feeling that I am doing something pro-active and good for myself. Sugar (and products that turn into sugar) can cause some serious problems. I don’t want any of them! So, I will march on, kale in one hand and cabbage in the other! Anyone want to join my army? I’m here to help if you need! Contact (323)905-4HTF for help NOW! Candida Busters are standing by to take your call. :)

 

Posted in Ailments & Dis-ease, Blog, Featured, Food / Recipes, Foods That Serve You, Healthy Lifestyle, Natural Remedies, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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