The diet explained

My sister recently suggested to me that I try the Candida Diet, which she just finished. She has a lot of the same health issues I do, and they are all symptoms of Candidiasis, which is an overgrowth of a certain kind of yeast in the body. So the idea behind the diet is to not eat anything that Candida (yeast) eats, and to eat things it doesn't like to eat, and basically starve it to death. By doing this, you restore the natural balance of healthy bacteria in your body, and in theory, feel much better.

I thought I might write a little about the experience, just because I would find it interesting to hear about, and also I am hoping that some of my friends will help cheer me on, since I think this is going to be tough.

The diet is three phases as follows:
Phase 1
Food to eat:
Veggies (Asparagus, Broccoli, Avocado, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard greens, Cucumber, Eggplant, Garlic (raw), Kale, Leeks, Okra, Onions, Peppers, Radish, Seaweed, Spaghetti squash, Spinach, Summer squash, Swiss chard, Tomatoes, Turnip, Zucchini)
Dairy: Plain yogurt and a little butter, eggs
Meat: Beef, chicken, fish, lamb
Freshly cracked nuts other than peanuts and pistachios
Grains: Millet, Amaranth, Buckwheat, Quinoa, Wild and Brown Rice
Most spices and herbs, good oils especially olive, coconut, and grapeseed, and herbal tea
Stevia with no additives (this is a highly concentrated, completely natural sweetener - which I'm not fond of - but my sister says its the chemical additives I don't like, so if I buy one that is 100% pure it will taste better.)

Foods not to eat:
Fruit except a squeeze of lemon
Veggies: potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, peas, carrots, beans, beets, winter squash
Dairy: Cheese, milk
Caffeine, sugar, alcohol, artificial sweetener, preservatives, additives, nitrates, trans fats
High-mold nuts (peanuts, pistachios, and anything not freshly cracked)
Gluten
Mushrooms
Vinegar
Peanut, corn, canola and cottonseed oil
Soy
In general, the rule is that you are avoiding sugar and mold - so the less processed something is, the less opportunity for mold to be introduced.

Phase 2 (4 weeks) is the same but you can also eat:
Beans, potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, yam, beets, peas, parsnips, and winter squash, green apples, pears, grapefruits, and all berries, very fresh cheeses like goat or fresh mozzarella

Meanwhile in Phase 2, you also begin to take natural antifungals, which include Aloe Vera, Black Walnut, Caprylic Acid, Cloves, Garlic, Goldenseal, Grapefruit Seed, Olive Leaf Extract, Oregano Oil, Oregon Grapes, Pantethine, and Pau d'Arco. You don't have to take them all, just see what works for you.

Phase 3, you can start eating other foods again, but one at a time so that you can identify if something causes you indigestion or whatever.

Tonight I'm headed to the natural foods shop to get a few pantry staples I will need. I will have to shop often I think as this diet is going to be high in fresh veggies and meat, but for tomorrow I'm going to go buy coconut milk, almond milk, Stevia, buckwheat flour, and some grains (I have brown rice and quinoa). Also brown rice pasta and nuts.