Candida Cleanse - Conclusion

Have you learned a few health tips through this blog series?  I hope so...and I hope you will take and apply them to your day to day life: Add more water (and less sugary drinks), drink a green smoothie in the mornings, reduce refined sugar, and if you have any silver fillings consider getting them replaced!

Today I want to share one final health tip, something that's been a big part of my life for the past 2 years....Running!!!  

Columbia Gorge Marathon!
 

Ok, I'm sure just hearing that word makes some of you want to "run" all the way to your bedroom and hide under your covers right?!!  You can probably list a million other things you'd rather do than run (or walk).  Running isn't all that fun when you are gasping for breath, your heart is beating a thousand times faster, and you feel like you are going to die...and that's only 2 blocks into your run!!

But here is the thing...you got to get off the couch and get moving if you want to be healthy!  Exercise and nutrition go hand in hand.  Running (or whatever you choose to get moving) is going to change your life!  It's not going to be fun...initially.  In fact, it's going to be ALOT of work.  But keep at it, don't give up, set small goals, do it with a friend so you have accountability, and you are going to be amazed with the results!! 

There are so many benefits to running: lose weight, tone muscles, healthy heart, reduce stress, improve mood, burn calories, get outside and enjoy nature, helps fight anxiety/depression, gives you more energy, helps prevent high blood pressure, overall mental health, joint strength & stability, better sleep, develop new friendships, and be able to set personal goals and have satisfaction in accomplishing them.  And remember it doesn't matter how fast or slow you go, you are not in competition with anyone but yourself!

So moving onto week 6 of the Candida Cleanse....

Honestly, 6 weeks or longer is a long time to do any kind of a strict cleanse.  In the midst of this cleanse I have found myself facing a very stressful situation in my life that is entirely out of my control.  I have contemplated multiple times giving up on this cleanse but have kept pressing on...determined to see this through.  However, I made a decision today that it's in my best interest that I do not continue to the full extent at this time.  I will continue with the anti-fungal supplements & probiotics but am going to give myself a little grace in the area of diet.  I have tremendous peace about this decision.  Does this mean I go back to old habits?  Nope!  I am committed to incorporating all that I have learned into my daily diet...with a little allowance for some things I haven't been consuming on the cleanse!

I feel incredibly proud of all the discipline and determination I have exemplified for the past 42 days.  Even beyond this past 6 weeks, this entire past year, has brought about an immense amount of life changing knowledge.  I made a decision to not just settle for having adult acne, digestive issues, headaches, fatigue, and anxiety but to be proactive with my health, get to the root issues going on inside my body, and find healing.  In fact, I have been so inspired by my own journey to health over the past year, that I hope to someday (sooner than later) become a certified holistic nutritional consultant!  I am currently looking into several distance learning programs and praying to see if this is what the Lord has for my life.

I hope my decision to end the cleanse prematurely does not deter anyone from doing this cleanse if you feel that this is something you need to do.  It's a huge commitment and takes a lot of will power and focus...but is worth the sacrifice as you gain back your health and learn so much beneficial information.

Blessings to each of you who have taken the time to read through this blog series!

Here are the links if you missed my previous posts for the Candida Cleanse series: Intro, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, and Week 5.

 

*I am an affiliate for some of the links included in this blog series, which means, if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a commission.

 

 

 

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Candida Cleanse - Week 5

I have met a few families or individuals over the years who didn't/don't consume refined sugar (or if they do it's very little).  I use to wonder two things: why and how??  Why would anyone not want some sweetness in their life and what is wrong with sugar anyways?  I thought they were very "strange" people!  (I use to think runners were crazy too but hey I've joined in on the craziness).  It may have taken me far to long to catch on, but I can honestly now say, "I get it!!"

So, reducing refined sugar, is the little tidbit I want to share this week for improving health.  Refined sugar, an ingredient that you will find in so many foods beyond cookies, candy, and ice cream, is more detrimental than most realize.  There is a very long list of health issues linked to refined sugar....including cancer. 

 

The average adult in the United States takes in 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day, or a whopping 150 pounds a year, while teens pile in 34 teaspoons a day.  The American Heart Association recommends 6 teaspoons of sugar for women and 9 for men (1 teaspoon of sugar has about 4g of sugar). 

I could write an entire blog post on all the ways sugar can and is ruining the health of so many peoples lives, but instead I will provide you with a few good resources: "Toxic Sugar", "141 Reasons Sugar Ruins Your Health", "The Most Toxic Food You Can Eat", "Organic Authority", "Is Sugar Toxic? ".

So my encouragement for anyone who wants to take steps to reduce sugar intake would be to start reading labels.  As much as possible, choose the option which doesn't have added sugar.  Also remember 4 grams = 1 teaspoon of sugar.  If you want to limit your intake to 24 grams or 6 teaspoons of sugar per day (for females) then you might want to think twice about that can of soda that contains 43 grams of sugar!! (There is always the option of water!)

 

I know...but it tastes SOOOOOOOOOOOO good!  Well there are many natural sweeteners that you can use in place of refined sugar such as: stevia, organic raw honey, yacon syrup, maple syrup, organic black strap molasses, coconut palm sugar, dates and organic brown rice syrup.

To watch a great video on overcoming sugar addiction, click here.

Now onto week 5 of the Candida Cleanse...

After doing the spit test 3 days in a row, it was apparent that my spit is still sinking to the bottom.  This is a huge indicator of candida overgrowth and one reason I started doing the candida cleanse in the first place.  It felt a little disappointing but I know it's a process and I am committed to seeing this through to the end.  I have to trust the journey.   

I am starting my 3rd time around on a 16 day anti-fungal rotation.  Once I am finished, I will move onto phase 2 of the cleanse.  So instead of a 6 week cleanse, this might be an 8 week or even 10 week cleanse.  I'm ok with that!  I have moments here and there where I really want to eat something sweet...I will usually make me some Coconut Almond Balls or Coconut flour lemon cake (both candida friendly recipes)

 

 

Cheers to health!  Remember it's a process but it starts with one simple change, then another, and another over the course of days, weeks, months, and years.  What change are you going to make today for your health?

Here are the links if you missed my previous posts for the Candida Cleanse series: Intro, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3 and Week 4.

 

*I am an affiliate for some of the links included in this blog series, which means, if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a commission.

 

 

 

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Candida Cleanse - Week 4

I am writing this blog post from the beautiful Oregon coast.  Enjoying some much needed time away with my girls and parents.  I took a lovely run on the beach this morning, followed by a 1 1/2 hour massage.  It was AMAZING!!



Photo taken from high up on a cliff-Pacific City, OR

This past week I finally had something done that I have been waiting to do for several months now....I had my one and only silver (amalgam) filling removed and replaced with a composite filling.  Amalgam fillings are comprised of 50% mercury.  These fillings are so hazardous to your health because there is a constant supply of mercury vapor making its way from your mouth into your body.  Here is a quote from Mercury Free Now:

"Mercury is the most poisonous, non-radioactive, naturally occurring substance on our planet. There is no safe level of mercury because even one atom of it in your body is doing some harm to it. There is no debate about the toxicity of mercury and every knowledgeable scientist and health professional understands how poisonous mercury is. Yet even today the American Dental Association (ADA) and pro-amalgam dentists who support its insane, logic defying position, continue to say that these fillings are perfectly safe and are not a health hazard."

I received my filling back in the spring of 2011.  I felt like I was talked into something I knew I didn't want in my mouth.  It was in the spring of 2012 that I started battling fatigue, followed by anxiety, adult acne, and some other health issues.  Were these all the result of mercury poisoning from one tiny filling in my mouth?  Maybe not, but I wanted it out once I learned the truth about silver fillings.  You can check out the Mercola, IAOMT, or Dental Wellness website for more info regarding mercury poisoning from silver fillings!

I learned something very important in the midst of researching about having my filling removed...you MUST go to a dentist who will follow a very safe protocol for removing the filling WITHOUT exposing themselves or you to breathing or ingesting mercury vapor or particles.  I chose Dr. Williamson of Centerpointe Dental, who follows the IAOMT safety protocol (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology).  If you have silver fillings that you would like to have removed you can find a dentist in your area who follows the IAOMT safety protocol by clicking here.

 

This is what my dentist and assistant wore to protect themselves from inhaling any toxic vapors!  You don't see that everyday!

 

Below is a photo of my mouth.  Up at the top of the photo is the oxygen mask I wore to insure I was breathing in clean air.  The blue sheet is called a "rubber dam" and is a protective measure so that you don't ingest any particles during the removal process.

 

 

Everything about my experience with Dr. Williamson was great.  I am so glad to have the filling out!!

  

Now onto week 4 of my Candida Cleanse....

 

Today marks 4 weeks since I began this 6-8 week cleanse!  I have to retest my spit over the next 3 days.  This morning there was some slight sinking but definite improvement.  In the case of my saliva still sinking, I continue with my anti-fungal rotation for another 16 days before moving onto phase 2.  In phase 2 I will stop the 4 anti-fungals and switch to a product called Candicid Forte.  I will also switch my probiotic to OrthoBiotic.  There are some other suggestions in the cleanse as well for adding in products to help heal the lining of the gut and additional support for adrenals. 

 

I am looking forward to being done with this cleanse, but honestly, I will probably stick to eating very similar to this 80% of the time...and the other 20% is room for some special treats and of course my all time favorite...Thai Food (which is known to be high in sugar if eating out).  Also I absolutely can not wait to begin putting a frozen banana back in my smoothie....I am convinced that is what makes a smoothie taste so good!

 

Here is what a typical day on this cleanse might look like for me:

• First thing in the morning - drink my sludgy "cocktail" of bentonite clay/food grade diatomaceous earth mixed in water each morning.  Followed by another glass of pure water.
• 8am - Drink a green smoothie (almond milk, spinach, blueberries, chia seeds, flax seeds, coconut oil, pumpkin seed protein powder, Vitamineral Greens, Gelatin, and some water).  Take my anti-fungal supplement.
• 10am - This could vary from leftovers, to a few slices of lunch meat (sugar free), to some organic Applewood turkey bacon with some eggs.
• 12pm - An organic Applewood turkey burger, sweet potato, and some sautéed veggies.  Take my anti-fungal supplement.
• 2 pm - a handful of Beanitos chips and almonds/cashews
• 5:30 pm - Brown rice pizza crust (sugar free/yeast free) with organic pizza sauce (sugar free), organic pepperoni (sugar free), spinach, & bell peppers.  Take my anti-fungal supplement.
• Bedtime - take my probiotics (Saccharomyces Boulardii)

**Notice I specified "sugar free" by many of the foods I listed above.  Sugar is in everything so if you are trying to limit/avoid it you really have to READ LABELS!! 

 

I am pressing on and entering my 5th week of this cleanse.  Looking forward to sharing with you again next week!

 

Here are some great videos to check out: 48 second test for candida, Blog talk Radio or The Whole Journey.

 

Here are the links if you missed my previous posts for the Candida Cleanse series: Intro, Week 1, Week 2, & Week 3.

 

*I am an affiliate for some of the links included in this blog series, which means, if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a commission.

 

 

 

Please Subscribe here if you don't want to miss upcoming posts or find me on Facebook!