This week I have been doing a little “Gut Cleanse” called the Candida Diet. When your yest/bacteria balance gets tipsy, it can be helpful to get rid of some of the things that can trigger the imbalance. How do you know if you have Candida??
Poor Overall Health
- · Poor endurance and weakness
- · Asthma
- · Bronchitis
- · A habitual cough that doesn’t produce phlegm
- · Postnasal drip
- · Hay fever
- · Headaches, including migraines
- · Fatigue to an incapacitating degree (especially after eating)
Recurring Infections
- · Recurring throat and/or ear infections
- · Recurring vaginal, oral, or skin (yeast) infections
- · Urinary tract infections
- · Athlete’s foot
- · Jock itch
- · Skin rash
- · Dry, brownish patches on the skin
- · Ringworm
- · Psoriasis
- · Low grade fever
- · Chronic sinus problems
- · Blisters on the tongue, in the mouth, or in the throat
Digestive System Problems
- · Poor digestion
- · Loose or constipated stools
- · Irritable bowel
- · Painful gas
- · Bloating
- · Nausea and vomiting
Sexual Problems
- · Menstrual difficulties
- · Male impotence
- · Male and female infertility
Mental & Emotional Problems
- · Anxiety
- · Panic attacks
- · Depression
- · Irritability
- · Paranoia
- · Poor concentration, or feeling in a persistent mental or Brain ‘fog’
- · Unexplained feelings of being ‘hung over,’ as if after an alcoholic binge
- · Feeling not in total control of one’s actions, often expressed as “I know the right thing to do, but I can’t do it.”
- · Schizophrenia and mental instability
Other
- · Arthritis-like symptoms
- · Joint pain, similar to that of having the flu
- · Cravings for carbohydrates
- · Chronic dental problems
- · White coating on the tongue
(www.howtocurecandida.com)
I have numerous symptoms on this list and so I decided to cut out the common trigger foods and see how I felt. List of what not to eat includes: Yeast, most grains, gluten, legumes, fruit, sugar, coffee, vinegar, starchy vegetables and chocolate. I kept the coffee because my 2pm caffiene headache is intolerable. But, with everything but unprocessed meat, dark veggies and almonds/walnuts tossed out, I have not had a tummy ache in three days!! My stomach is flatter and my skin is waay soft.
However,even after three days, my meals were getting boring. I needed to find something that had a little kick to it, so I went to the kitchen, donned my apron and started cooking! This soup is full of amazing flavor and goodness that will make any tummy say YAY!
Creamy Kale Soup
4 servings
Ingredients:
1 Leek
1 tablespoon Olive/Coconut oil
2 cloves of garlic
2 cup kale, chopped
1/3 cup sundried tomatoes
3 tomatoes (fresh or 12 oz can)
1 can coconut milk (I used the light version from Trader Joes)
1 1/2 cup low sodium chicken/vegetable broth
1/2 pound ground beef/turkey
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon coconut flour (or arrowroot powder, cornstarch or flour for thickening)
Directions:
In a large saucepan, add oil and heat up. Wash and cut the leaves and roots off of the leek. Slice lengthwise and cut into little horseshoes. Add to oil and saute on med/high heat for 3 minutes. Add in minced garlic.
Next, add in chopped kale, tomatoes and milk/broth. Let simmer while you brown whichever meat you use in a separate pan. Add browned meat to soup.
Mix in chili powder, ginger, coconut flour, salt and pepper. Let simmer on low/med heat for about 10 minutes until kale is softened. 
Garnish with parsley or goat cheese for a delightfully filling lunch or dinner!
And what is a healthy lunch without a little treat?? Enter Amazing Macaroons!
Amazing Macaroons
Borrowed from Candida-Cure Recipes. Makes 12
Ingredients:
3 large egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon dried powdered stevia leaf (I used 3 packets)
1½ cups dried, unsweetened, fine shredded coconut (the finer the better)
¼ teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325F (180C)
Whip egg whites and vanilla until glossy peaks form.
In a separate bowl stir together the coconut, stevia leaf powder (cinnamon or cocoa) and sea salt.
Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet, just until well combined.
Let mixture sit about 5 minutes.
Make drop cookies, placing them on a sheet of unbleached parchment paper on top of a cookie sheet, using about 2 teaspoons of the mixture per cookie. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until outside of the cookies are lightly browned.
Remove from oven and let cool – if you can resist – on the baking sheet to room temp. Store in an airtight container if you actually have any remaining at the end of the day. These are incredibly delicious and light!!
I hope this special Tummy Trouble edition is helpful! Let me know if you have any questions about Candida Recipes!
