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By
Colleen
Huber
Candida's Fuel of Choice: Sugar
Yeasts, such as candida, feed on sugar. Women with recurrent vaginal
yeast infections may begin to feel as if candida is a permanent
fixture of their bodies, and indeed it can carry with us all our
lives. That does not mean, however, that candida has to be in control
of your life. John Parks Trowbridge, MD and Morton Walker, authors
of The Yeast Syndrome, are medical mavericks in their diagnosis
and treatment of yeast complications. These are the same complications
that their conventional medical colleagues insisted could not exist
because they had never been taught about them in medical school.
Yet, time has shown that Trowbridge, Walker and other health professionals
who have worked with candida patients have accurately identified
a relentless and ubiquitous pathogen in the common Candida albicans,
along with the many havoc-wreaking antibodies that it generates.
Trowbridge and Walker found that patients for the most part showed
complete improvement in about 10 days. But very tenacious cases
may require up to three years before displaying a complete recovery
of symptoms. Naturopathic physicians at the Southwest Naturopathic
Medical Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., have developed an eating plan
that deprives candida of its fuel of choice: sugar. Melons, mushrooms
and other foods are also limited for a time.
The duration of this diet corresponds to the severity of the symptoms,
varies somewhat according to individual needs and is generally followed
for as long as the patient continues to have symptoms.
Resisting the Sugar Urges
The hard part of this diet for someone with a heavy candida load
is eliminating sugar, since the candida in the body is screaming
for sugar.
Since eliminating sugar is a huge step in your life, it merits
advance planning and preparation. The first step should be modulating
your blood sugar by switching some sweets to complex carbohydrates,
including whole vegetables. Supplements such as glutamine (an amino
acid), fenugreek, chromium and other nutrients are used by naturopathic
physicians to help their patients eliminate sugar cravings.
It is best to use these while in the care of a naturopathic physician,
in order to choose the most appropriate of the available forms,
correct dosing and combinations.
Not all of these need be used. It is important remember when quitting
sugar that your body is fighting as hard to overcome these cravings
as a heroin addict feels during withdrawal or a smoker trying to
quit. (Nicotine is the most addictive of the three.) This also means
that the worst part will be the first 48 hours of abstinence. After
that, it definitely gets better.
The first two weeks will be a little less comfortable than afterward,
but the reward for persisting is that after two weeks you will feel
healthier in every way than you have ever felt.
Positive Affirmations And Sugar-Free Cabinets
Those who quit extremely addictive substances say that it is more
effective to affirm, "I will not eat sugar today," rather
than say, "I will never eat sugar again," which is too
daunting. Just affirm each day that you will not have sugar that
day. This will help break up your job into manageable pieces.
Also, henceforth, you are not allowed to own, borrow, taste or
have in your possession any sugar or sweets. Feel free to inform
any sugar-offering person that this is your contractual agreement.
To get through moment-to-moment cravings, you can massage all of
both ears, in order to cover the acupuncture points for addiction.
Also, take a few slow deep breaths. Greater success is likely if
you convince your entire household to take a sugar-free plunge with
you. That way you can keep temptation out of your house, which is
90 percent of the battle.
Finally, get involved in a new hobby or activity, preferably one
that involves the hands, such as art, music or gardening. These
activities will help you get through the first two days successfully.
 Colleen
Huber, 46, is a wife, mother and student at Southwest College
of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Ariz., where she is training
to be a naturopathic physician. Her original research on the mechanism
of migraines has appeared in Lancet and Headache Quarterly, and
was reported in The Washington Post.
Her
double blind placebo controlled research in homeopathy has appeared
in Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy, European Journal
of Classical Homeopathy, and Homeopathy Today. Her website Naturopathy
Works introduces naturopathic medicine to the layperson and
provides references to the abundant medical literature demonstrating
that natural medicine does work.
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