What the Candida Diet taught me…
If you are thinking “what the hell is the Candida Diet?"!” it is basically a way of reducing the candida levels (yeast) in your body via your diet. It is not a diet like most would automatically associate with the word diet, as unlike the other diets you will know of, the purpose is not weight loss or a change to body composition, and it is not a diet in the same way you would describe the Mediterranean diet or a vegan diet. It is simply a “short term” prescription focused on improving health.
However, I suppose saying short term might be a bit misleading as some people will opt for a diet that follows the candida protocol for a longer time or even adjust it to their lifestyle. Those that are more susceptible to higher levels of candida growth will need to manage their diet and lifestyle long term to help keep the growth at bay. This doesn’t mean their life needs to be restricted or regimented, but a more conscious and mindful approach to their diet is necessary if they want to reduce the risk of excess Candida returning along with the effects it brings.
It is worth noting though: Candida is in everybody. It is normal and natural.
It is the excess that becomes problematic.
Some people follow the protocol for a month, some more, some less. I opted for a month, on the strictest form of the protocol, initially and I then entered the next phase, which we shall call the maintenance phase. I will some back to this is a short while.
When your Candida levels become too high you can get an array of different affects, including:
Fatigue
Brain Fog
Yeast and Fungal related infections
Genealogical problems
Painful periods
Skin issues
Digestive issues
Sinus infections / poor immunity
Food Sensitivities
Joint Pain
Low Mood
As you see, it can affect somebody in quite a lot of ways.
For myself, I had most of these symptoms in different degrees and had been struggling with them from quite sometime. I have struggled with some of these symptoms for most of my life (digestive issues, poor immunity, painful periods…) but after experiencing covid (which I had twice) more of these symptoms raised their head (fatigue and brain fog being the worst). I initially thought I was experiencing long covid and was referred to a long covid clinic. However with covid still being a relatively “new” thing at the time (and still is in some respects) I didn’t really get to a place that was particularly helpful or that improved my symptoms long term.
Fatigue was by far my biggest issue. It was stopping me from doing things that were a usual part of my day or week. The other symptoms were also tough, but honestly I didn’t really link them to the fatigue, or long covid, as like I said, I have experienced a lot of these symptoms consistently throughout the majority of my life, so I didn’t focus too much on the worsening of any of them as the fatigue was taking up most of my attention.
But I needed something to change. I needed productive help. I felt pretty desperate. And, as I am a firm believer in the fact our nutrition affects us more than we generally appreciate, and it is paramount to most aspects of our health, I searched for a nutritionist that specialised in chronic fatigue and autoimmune issues.
After working with her for around 6 weeks, she presented the Candida protocol to me; as a test pointed to me having excessive Candida. She warned me it was a pretty restrictive and tough diet to follow and so the choice was ultimately mine. Now, restrictive is not a word I like to associate myself with. It goes against everything I preach as a coach myself. However, I knew needed to try it, and be committed, as I was struggling with how things currently were; so I opted in and promised myself I would give it my all so I could be sure if it was helpful or not.
Being completely honest… I didn’t find it too bad. But I think this was partly down to my headspace at the time, my ability to commit from a time and environment point of view and the fact I was at the end of my tether with feeling how I had been feeling.
For the month I meal planned and prepped like a boss. This was an immediate positive that I found from committing to the protocol. I broke free from certain unhelpful habits around food and implemented a few more beneficial ones instead. Don’t get me wrong… I did soon get sick of being a Tupperware w***er, but getting me back into the habit of planning and prepping my meals was a definite win.
I also based most of my meals around veg. Of course I thought about my protein sources too and utilised fats in my meals, but I added a lot of varied veg into my week, that I hadn’t been opting for prior to the protocol, simply because you get into the habit of buying the same staple ingredients each week. The protocol made me think about mixing up my veg more, and even get excited over experimenting with different ingredients, herbs and spices, rather than mindlessly eating the same generic meals.
The fact I was cooking all the meals myself too was a big bonus. Home-cooking is a great way to improve your diet, but it is so easy to reduce the amount you make your own food and instead opt for the convenience foods that take minimal to zero time to prepare. Committing to this protocol allowed me to rediscover my enjoyment of cooking and experimenting in the kitchen.
My symptoms also dramatically improved. From my fatigue and brain fog to the symptoms I had been living with forever.
One of the most surprising improvements was around my period pains, specifically ovulation cramps. All of my life I had struggled with excruciating period pains but around the time of covid I also started experiencing pain around ovulation, stop-everything-your-doing-bend-in-half-agonising kind of pain. And the last couple of months have seen a reduction in this pain, which is pretty incredible. Sure, there’s a chance it isn’t a direct response to the change in my diet and reduction of Candida… but it also seems pretty coincidental. Either way, it is a change I am more than happy to experience.
I have been off the strict protocol for a month now and so far I am still reaping the benefits of the month prior (for one, I’ve started being able to exercise again as my fatigue has reduced significantly!). I have been adjusting into a maintenance phase whereby ultimately the goal is to eat a balanced diet that supports my health and reduces the risk of future overgrowth, whilst still enjoying and experiencing all life has to offer.
Ultimately eating a diet that is low in processed foods and sugar but not so restrictive that I have anxiety over socialising or not being able to meal prep every morsel of food I eat.
Noting my efforts at reducing my ultra processed food intake is not to demonised these foods, have you fear them in your own diet or to tell you that sugar is the devil (as some people would have you believe), but instead share my own experience and evolution of relationship with this food group.
A level of appreciation of what you put in your body and how it affects you is important. I know now that my body struggles with a high sugar, highly processed diet (which, to be fair, I do think is a standard for the majority of the population) and so I feel better physically and mentally when I limit these foods rather than allowing them to take up the majority of my diet out of ease, habit, comfort or mindlessness.
My time as a Tupperware w***er is over, however my time planning and prepping, being conscious of my overall food choices and prioritising my health is ongoing. The rigidity of going “all in” for a month was great for the short-term. I was able to commit to the process as I had a month timeline in my head, however the reasons most diets (whatever their purpose) fail eventually… is the longevity of a strict, restrictive, high pressured protocol.
The tough part comes from the maintenance, the sustainability, which is a big reason why working with a coach is a must when looking to make long lasting changes like this. So please don’t take my sharing of this protocol as my suggestion for you to try it, especially by yourself.
It has been super beneficial to me and has definitely opened my eyes to my own nutrition and dietary needs but I will be continuing to monitor and assess my progress and experience and relay anything else I find to be useful and or interesting.