Hey guys we are in the dog days of summer and I know that it can be hard to stick to a diet or healthy eating regimen while doing the things we love in the hot weather i.e.. camping, day drinking at the lake and backyard bbq’s not to forget, my favourite, patio season! It can also be very frustrating if you are trying to eat foods you think are healthy and not seeing the results you want, even though you have turned down those smokies and margaritas. Before I became pregnant that was what was happening to me. Often I would be experiencing fatigue, bloating, brain fog, low moods and indigestion. After seeing Dr. Allana Polo at Polo Health in New Westminster I found out that I had quite a severe candida overgrowth as well as suspected food sensitivities that could be contributing to it.

Candida, which is a form of yeast that in small amounts is necessary to the body, can become overgrown and cause many of the symptoms I was experiencing. Dr. Allana also brought to my attention that sometimes the foods we think are healthy can actually be causing a negative reaction in our bodies and a simple blood test can test for these IgG food sensitivities. It is different with every individual how our immune system reacts to a food. For example, eating a banana could be very beneficial to one person and cause a lot of distress in someone else. This takes the guessing out of which foods you are sensitive to because often times with an IgG food sensitivity the reaction is not immediate and extreme like an IgE allergy, think someone having their throat close up from ingesting peanuts. Sometimes these IgG food sensitivities can be unaddressed for many years masking themselves as brain fog, headaches and fatigue which you may not connect to that “healthy” orange or apple you are eating.

After I learned of this new found knowledge, I started on an anti-candida diet that meant avoiding any processed sugars and fats (which feed the candida) as well as gluten, dairy and alcohol. I also got my results back as to what was causing IgG reactions in my body and started avoiding those foods. I given a few supplements to help speed recovery such as a digestive enzyme Digest Plus that I took before each meal as well as Cortisol Relief which I took at night to help control any added stress on my body from detoxing. Within a few days I started to feel so much better and finally after many months my brain fog was almost non-existent. Here is my daily supplement schedule before I was pregnant if you are going through the same types of issues that I was.

Here are the supplements I was taking and what they are used for:

• Cortisol relief for stress
• Digest plus as a digestive enzyme
• Progest essentials to help your progesterone
• Ribes Nigrum for your adrenals and cortisol that’s safe when pregnant

When to take the supplements:

• Cortisol relief 1-2 before bed
• Digest plus 1 before each meal
• Progest essentials 1 3x daily
• Ribes 2 spoonfuls a day

Of course avoiding these foods was difficult and I had to take time to meal prep but it was definitely worth feeling like myself again and actually having the energy to get the most out of my day. Candida can also contribute to a compromised immune system, hormonal imbalances, body odour, skin rashes and regular yeast infections. If left untreated it can also lead to malabsorption in the gut and mood concerns such as anger or depression. There are also many herbs that can help speed up the recovery process from a candida overgrowth such as oil of oregano, caprylic acid (found in coconut), Pau d’arco and olive leaf extract. I took a high quality probiotic everyday and highly recommend it to replenish the good bacteria in the gut to help fight the overgrowth.

I hope that this helps you if you have been having gut problems or experiencing any number of symptoms that I outlined at the beginning of the blog. I am by no means a doctor and only sharing what has worked well for me and I would recommend discussing this with your naturopath or health care physician before taking any supplements or embarking on a candida cleanse so that you know that it is right for you and your body.

Do you suffer from a candida overgrowth? As many as three-quarters of women do! What has worked for you? Would love to hear from you in the comments below!!

 

Thank you to Dr. Allana Polo and Polo Health for sponsoring this post, all comments and opinions are my own.

Photography by Brooklyn D Photography.

My outfit provided by Orb Clothing. Top, Blazer, Handbag.