Take the preliminary Candida Quiz to see what Candida is,and if you have the Symptoms of this nasty Yeast condition affecting both women, and men.

…Previous Candida Journal Post

The Finish Line !!

The blood test confirms it.

The deed is done.

It took me 6 bloody months but I did what  I set out to do, and if I may take  moment to pat myself on the back and do my rendition of the ‘Charlie Brown happy dance’ as performed by Snoopy.-.I am celebrating with pizza?

I have learned much not only about Candida but also about myself as a whole and how the entire body came together to create the Yeast problem.

The body is synergistic and dominos have a cascading effect on one system
to another.  Now that I have my yeast in check I move onto adrenals, Liver Cleanse and getting the Lymph Glands healthy again.  It only took me decades to fudge it up so a little patience getting it on track is in order. ONE thing at a time.

You see there are multiple reasons why yeast takes hold. I am looking at the bigger picture now and not treating the Candida as a singular event.  It was a variety of things that led me here and I am determined not to slide back into old ways. I mean what’s the point of that?  Yes that means some changes must take place on a permanent basis but now that I am without severe cravings it will be a whole lot easier to manage.

That’s the good news.  Also, as a point of reference feeling good feels soooo much better than feeling bad so it goes without saying I want to stay in this zone.  Lastly I Lost Weight as I knew I would so it’s good to be able to access the side of the closet I thought I’d never see again.  I’m not overly vain but even so I appreciate wearing outfits that don’t resemble circus tents.

I didn’t know I was an ‘A Blood Type’ and so I did not eat properly for that type = lousy digestion.  I’d become Sedentary (OK all I did was sit on my ass in front of this computer screen) and so my lymp glands weren’t getting what they needed to do their job properly and as for the Adrenals…I’m a worrier by nature so stressing out comes naturally to me.

Apparently Mediation and finding a way to deal with my emotions would go a long way to solving that so Dr. Wayne Dyer (aka the ‘Dyer Dude’) will be making an appearance on my iPod soon.

I’d like to sign off by saying thanks for hanging out with me on this journey. I hope you found out something useful for yourself that may assist you on your own Candida cleanse.  Please feel free to Drop a Line and share any mind blowing insights that you think would be important for someone to know or check into while going through this.

…and good luck eh.

Image Credit: Monica Holy,  generationbass

Candida Cleanse: Day 109 ‘The Finish Line !!’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Take the preliminary Candida Quiz to see what Candida is,and if you have the Symptoms of this nasty Yeast condition affecting both women, and men.

…Previous Candida Journal Post

Me and my Dysfunctional Immune System.

Dear Candida diary,

I’ve made some amazing discoveries about my Candida issues as they relate
to my overall health picture by visiting the Nutritionist/Kinesiologist.

It is her opinion that in the question of what came first…the chicken or the egg….or in my case the candida and the symptoms that I experience…the answer is a domino effect beginning with….my Adrenal Glands.

In her opinion my adrenals are utterly run down, fatigued and this affected my over all Vitality, Immune Functions and ability to provide my organs of elimination with the building blocks (and energy) they required to do their job so my Liver in turn was over burdened with toxins to move out of the body, and was not keeping up with it’s job to do so.

She asked me (politely, diplomatically and very tactfully without directly coming out with it) if I was or had ever been a hard drinker, because apparently my liver needs some assistance to get healthy again.  Sadly I cannot claim I had ‘that’ good a time throughout my misspent youth or adulthood to have earned a messed up liver.  The toxins proliferated and created an environment conducive to …you guessed it….Yeast taking a foothold.

So my lack of energy, clarity and overall health does not stem from Candida alone. Rather my Candida stems from its host’s (me) overall dysfunctional immune system and low vitality.

Hmmm, interesting.  The goal now is to assist the liver, and reduce the stress AND improve the situation with the adrenals to in turn….(along with diet of course and lifestyle) get rid of the proliferating yeast.

I hope it works.  Getting to the bottom of this puzzle has been a challenge but I can only say that everything is interconnected so this theory is as good as any.

I’m heading into Vancouver (6 hour drive) to spend the next week with my sweeti and see all the good work the Earthship interns,  and Michael
Reynold’s crew have done on this Gulf Island Earthship Build.  I will not be on the air for awhile as the conditions are such that I will be ‘packing in’ everything I need and that doesn’t include a computer.  I will do what I can to make the best choices I can while under very limited conditions for food so I expect it will be a challenge but c’est la vie non?

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + multi vitamin + Herbals

Breakfast:

Carrot Soup with Plain Yogurt

Lunch:

Chicken, Egg Salad and Flatbreads

Dinner:

Thai Food (curry n’ rice, pad thai, ginger beef)

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 108 ‘Me and my Dysfunctional Immune System’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Take the preliminary Candida Quiz to see what Candida is,and if you have the Symptoms of this nasty Yeast condition affecting both women, and men.

…Previous Candida Journal Post

The new Herbal Crew.

So yesterday I went and had a Blood Sample taken to have a peek into the world of my body.  It would appear I am NOT done with this cleanse .  The yeast is till present in unsightly numbers in my blood stream.

On the other hand I have brought on board the assistance of a Nutritionist and Kinesiologist so together we might get there a little sooner.  My problems according to her stem from my Adrenal Glands being shot, placing undo strain on my liver which under load is losing the battle.

This allowed too many Toxins to proliferate in my blood stream thus creating yummy conditions for an over abundance of Yeast to proliferate.  In other words if I fix the adrenals and support the liver…the rest may clear itself up, including the Candida.

Here’s the new Herbal Crew:

Defen by Vitazan: is a tincture intended to bring more oxygen to my blood and assist my overall immune function.
Dandelion Root and Celery Seed: should help the Liver Detox.
Goldenseal: fights infection and inflammation.  It cleanses the body and strengthens the immune system.
Vitamin B Complex: helps a lot of things…including energy production which I could use a little more of, and it also helps with stress which I could use less of ?
Hemapro: is a multi vitamin which should boost my energy levels.

So together with some of my other herbals (gingko, femaherb, acidophilus, magnesium/calcium) I have a new plan to take this cleanse to the next level.  I also have some homework ahead of me as I embark on learning about the ‘A’ Blood Type which I did not spend a great deal of time finding out about under the misconception that I was an ‘O’ Type.  I learned my love affair with meat might have something to do with an iron deficiency and NOT becouse of being an ‘O’ type as I thought.

Ah well.  Live and learn.  I was wrong.  A little humility is good for the soul ?

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + multi vitamin + The Crew listed above

Lunch:

Cabbage Roll + Plain Yogurt

Dinner:

Japanese Style Hamburger and Rice Mixture + Cranberry Fizzy

Next Candida Journal Post…

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 107 ‘A Little Humility is Good for the Soul’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Take the preliminary Candida Quiz to see what Candida is,and if you have the Symptoms of this nasty Yeast condition affecting both women, and men.

…Previous Candida Journal Post

Live Blood Test and Adrenaline Exhaustion.

Today I had the Blood Work done with a nutritionist/kinesiologist. Very interesting.  It turns out that I’m an ‘A’ Blood Type not an ‘O’ which means a significant difference in eating habits according to the book   Eat Right 4 Your Type by Peter J. D’Adamo .

Further to that I discovered that the Candida is of course diet related but moreover the end result of a cascading effect starting with pure Adrenal Exhaustion, putting pressure on the liver which in turn is working overtime to do it’s job…the collective result made it easier shall we say for the ‘yeasties’ to have a wore down host with poor digestion and little overall ‘vitality’.

I must learn to manage my stress better.

Meanwhile I have decided to accept the advice given me (after Muscle Testing) as to what would assist the Liver and the Adrenal Glands to get back to a state of healthfulness.

I’m afraid I have a little homework ahead of me to learn the healthy eating habits of my Blood Type.  One thing that became evident from the muscle testing is to stay away from Wheat…ALL wheat including Spelt and Kamut, however RYE seems to be  A-OK  so I went out and picked up some rye flat breads by Ryvita AND 100% rye pumpernickel (sans yeast so it’s heavy as a brick) made in Holland.

I’m looking forward to seeing what a month of being on these new herbs and tinctures will do on my ‘Fuzzy Brain’ syndrome which seems to be creeping back in.   I’ll give you the exact list of what Herbals I’m on and what they are used for in tomorrow’s edition.

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + Multi Vitamin + Gingko

Breakfast:

Cabbage roll + Plain Yogurt

Lunch:

Mary’s Crackers with Guacamole + 60 Pepper Hummus + Cranberry Fizzy

Dinner:

Crackers with Egg Salad and Cranberry Fizzy

Next Candida Journal Post…

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 106 ‘Live Blood Test and Adrenaline Exhaustion’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Take the preliminary Candida Quiz to see what Candida is,and if you have the Symptoms of this nasty Yeast condition affecting both women, and men.

…Previous Candida Journal Post

Fuzzy Brained Parasites.

I am Going in for Testing.

I made the call today to go in tomorrow for a Blood Test which should (among many other things also) give me an indication of what’s going on inside me..including Parasites etc.

I’m a little Fuzzy Brained today which surprises me.  I’m having a hard time holding onto a thought or finding ‘names’ at the moment. I hope this isn’t related to a little spill I took out of the shower stall a couple days ago resulting in a Smack on the back of my Head.  Aside from the bruise and the humiliation I feel fine.  Still I’d like to know if this is connected to my cleanse or the falling down-go boom incident. (lol)

I’m looking forward to the results of that test.  If I’m done I can head straight into maintenance, and if I’m not…well I wouldn’t want to quit two inches from the finish line.

Cheers!

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + multi vitamin + Herbal Remedies

Breakfast/Lunch:

Brown Basmati Rice with Japanese Hamburger Mixture + coffee

Lunch:

Guacamole + Rice Crackers/Chips

Dinner:

Cabbage Roll + Plain Yogurt + Cranberry Fizzy

Next Candida Journal Post…

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 105 ‘Fuzzy Brained Parasites’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

…Previous Candida Journal Post

NHL Final Game Between Canuks & the Bruins 2011.

Disappointment underscored…but no one can say we/this Canadian doesn’t have grace even in defeat.  Good game boys…Boston you earned that cup.  See ya next year.

It’s been about a month since I ran out of Gingko so I picked some up today at the health food store.  I’m hoping to regain a little more mental clarity and acuity so I can get my writing assignments done.

Lately I’ve been unmotivated.  Guess I’m missing the other half a little too much as we round the corner into the 4th week apart.  I’m grateful
she’s off learning the A – Z of Earthships on the Gulf Island build with
Michael Reynolds’ crew…but this is the longest we’ve been apart ?

On another note I picked up the phone number of the clinic that takes a Blood Sample to determine if I still have Candida or not.  I think at this juncture I’d like to know where my body is at and if I can move straight into ‘maintenance’ or not.  The summer is teeming with activities and honestly I’d like to have a wee bit more variety with my diet although I have no intention of diving right back into the old lifestyle.  I’m feeling  much better and I’m not willing to give that up for a mouthful of something.

I’ll let you know what the test is man-yana ..and of course when it all goes down the results.  Cheers…and Congratulations to Boston.

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + multil vitamin + Herbals

Breakfast:

Sauted onion/green pepper/celery omelette with fresh herbs and soya cheese

Lunch:

Brown Rice Pasta with Spaghetti Sauce

Dinner:

same as lunch + Cranberry Fizzy with vodka shot

Snack:

Dragon Boat Nut Mix

Late night No No:

Basmati Rice with leftover Spaghetti Sauce

Next Candida Journal Post…

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 104 ‘Live Blood Test and the Stanley Cup’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Take the preliminary Candida Quiz to see what Candida is,and if you have the Symptoms of this nasty Yeast condition affecting both women, and men.

…Previous Candida Journal Post

Checking in with my Strawberries.

Funny how ‘Routines’ must be established with plants and gardens. In particular, they require a daily gander to see how they are coming along.

Are they in the right place getting enough sun?  Did it or will it rain –do they need water?  Is someone a hungry boy (feeder) and needs an extra dose of fertilizer?  Who is poking up and needs to be hilled up today?  Is someone in need of a mulching?

I suspect that the routines I’ve set for myself during this Cleanse will have to be maintained to a large degree too (such as minimal Dairy in my life) or I can expect the symptoms to creep back in just like those weeds vying for a place in my garden bed.

As it turns out….I’m a tenacious Weeder. (grin)

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + multi vitamin + Herbals

Lunch:

Japanese Hamburger Rice Mixture

Dinner:

Vegetable Dippers and Guacamole + Brown Rice Chips + Coffee/almond milk

Next Candida Journal Post…

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 103 ‘Weeds Vying for a Place in My Bed’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Take the preliminary Candida Quiz to see what Candida is,and if you have the Symptoms of this nasty Yeast condition affecting both women, and men.

…Previous Candida Journal Post

Upside Down Plant Pots.

Have you seen these things on TV?  You plant your Strawberries or Tomatoes upside down so it’s easier to care for and supposedly they grow better?  Well I’m always curious enough to give something a shot and decide for myself, so I got one of each and transplanted some seedlings a few days ago.

So far so good.  The berries are budding and seem to enjoy our daily chats.  They say Classical Music is healthy and stimulating for both little kids and plant life.  If that is true why do dogs hate Mozart so much? (only kidding)

I’m enjoying the process of watching things grow.  It’s a simple pleasure and I obviously can’t take the credit for such a miracle as life springing from a single seed (hey give it up for God…it/he/she/they did a superb job on that bit of creation) but I will take a bow as the caretaker. So far I haven’t killed anything and that is a very good sign my ‘Ungreen Thumb’ years may be behind me.

Of course there is the rest of the growing season to prove me wrong. (grin)

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + multi vitamin + Herbals

Breakfast:

Vegetable Omelet (green pepper, yellow onion, garlic, cilantro, celery) with Soy Cheese and Cranberry Fizzy

Lunch:

Chicken Pieces (2) as Road Food

Dinner:

Chicken Thigh + Rice Crackers + Hummus+ Raw Vegetable  Dippers

Late night:

Cranberry Fizzy with  Vodka

Next Candida Journal Post…

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 102 ‘Upside Down Plant Pot’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Take the preliminary Candida Quiz to see what Candida is,and if you have the Symptoms of this nasty Yeast condition affecting both women, and men.

…Previous Candida Journal Post

Lasagna gardening on the hill top.

I’m enjoying the fresh air and physicality that goes into gardening (although the bending part..not so much).  My landlady commented the other day that I am slimming down and looking healthier so other people are observing the impact this cleanse has had on me as well.   It’s good to have confirmation that it’s not just in my head.

Between raking grass clippings and shoveling dirt my co-gardening experience with a friend on her property is going very well.  I decided to ask someone with an abundance of land if they would like to share in the work, expense and bounty of a garden and Fruit Orchard.  Happily they loved the idea so her ‘space’ and my ‘truck’ make very good partners in this project.

We live in a Zone 2-4 area high up on a mountain plateau approximately 4000 feet above sea level.  The ground is Clay and the season is very short so ‘building up’ a crumb made more sense to us rather than trying to till down into madness and mayhem.

Do I think I could have been up for this a year ago?  Mmmmmmmmmmm…no.

The cleanse is working.  I have Energy, a Passion for something and am Clear Headed enough to figure out planting schedules and Companion Planting needs.  If  I can figure that out I can do formulaic algorithms next.

Yeah…I’d say there has been a change.

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + multi vitamin +  Herbals

Breakfast:

(4) Chicken Thighs

Lunch/Dinner:

Japanese Style Hamburger Mixture and Brown Basmati Rice + cranberry fizzy

Snack:

‘Dragon Boat’ mix of nuts

Next Candida Journal Post…

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 101 ‘Slimming Down and Looking Healthier’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!

Take the preliminary Candida Quiz to see what Candida is,and if you have the Symptoms of this nasty Yeast condition affecting both women, and men.

…Previous Candida Journal Post

A Mecca for Brassicas.

Eating for your zone?

I know you must be getting sick of the gardening analogies by now, but I can’t help but see the correlation between eating what works for your body (to be healthy) and growing what works for your Growing Zone.

You see I want tomatoes, peppers, and pole beans.  All the stuff we could grow back on my parent’s Hobby Farm in Ontario.  The challenge of course is that I now live in a zone 2 through 4 which is Mecca for Brassicas (the cabbage family) who adore the cold.  Repeatedly I have been warned that without a Green House it is a fool’s errand to plant tomatoes in the ground out here…which is why I’ve hung mine up.

Yup I bought one of those ‘Upside Down’ Planters so if frost threatens I’m taking my babies indoors for the night. Aside from the occasional stubborn streak I am quite reasonable….when I’m not being resourceful and a little rebellious ?

I think it can be said that extends to my Cleanse as well.  After all as I am now in the second and soon to be third phase of my cleanse I have
‘expanded’ my palette to include occasional things like Caffeine, Vodka, Cranberry Juice and Nuts.  I understand there is no going back to the way things were unless I want all the nonsense that accompanies it (and I don’t).   Happily indulging a little helps me stay on track a lot….so if I have a minor rebellious streak I think it’s ok. ?

Pre-Breakfast:

Acidophilus + multi vitamin + Herbals

Breakfast:

Cabbage Roll + Plain Yogurt

Lunch:

Pork Ribs

Dinner:

Cabbage Roll + Plain Yogurt + Cranberry Fizzy

Next Candida Journal Post…

Image Credit: Monica Holy, newagecrap

Candida Cleanse: Day 100 ‘A Mecca for Brassicas’ is a post from: Middle Earth Home, written by 2 girls 100 miles from anywhere!