I
am asking the question whether the Candida diet really works. I have had a
sugar addiction throughout my life and a tendency to eat wheat because it is
the most convenient source of food in the UK. Pasta, bread, pastries, cakes,
biscuits and more. When hungry, I just reached for the nearest, most convenient
source of food. I have been munching at too many cookies per day and eating toast
instead of watching what I eat. This has been going on throughout my life.
The
Candida Experiment
Now
on my fifth day of a wheat, gluten and low sugar diet, I could say I feel
slightly less tired on rising, but have had days like these before starting
this diet. My eyes and mouth are slightly less dry. My tongue is still coated,
and I began to feel tired at mid morning. It seems my Candida symptoms come and
go at random throughout the day. I had private itching this morning, but eased
later. That is an issue I would like to say goodbye to forever.
Low
Carbohydrate Breakfast
Again,
I had a low carb, wheat free breakfast. Plain yoghurt with coconut flakes and
flaxseed. Some might find this bland and
unsatisfying, but honestly can’t say I want anything else, as my appetite is
shot anyway. Have experienced vague nausea, dry mouth with a stale taste. I am
also taking an acidophilus tablet twice a day (with breakfast and evening meal)
with a general vitamin tablet.
Candida
Free Lunch
 |
| Buckwheat and Besam Flour Dough |
My
main problem is finding something to substitute bread and biscuits when the
cravings or hunger pangs hit. This usually occurs around mid morning and in the
evening. At the moment, I am experimenting with flatbread recipes which do
satisfy.
Besam
(chickpea flour) is rather bitter and Buckwheat (milled seed) is rather dry and
grey. For this reason, I tried a recipe that combines both, and it worked
really well. I also discovered that so long as the dough holds together, you
don’t have to ‘fry’ the flatbread in oil, but dry fry it in a hot pan. Here is the recipe.
Besam
and Buckwheat Flatbread
Mix
half and half Besam and buckwheat flour to 4.5g
Add
a pinch of salt and pepper.
Add
a pinch of raising agent. I used baking powder.
Add
water and knead into a soft dough (somewhere between 100 to 200 mls)
Make
3 to 4 dough balls, and leave to stand for half an hour or so.
Flatten
into a pancake shape and dry fry on a large hot saucepan for around 2 to 3 mins
per side.
 |
| Buckwheat & Besam Flatbread Lunch |
The
result is a nice, creamy coloured flatbread that goes nice with anything. Here
I spread a little garlic and herb butter whilst hot and had a size garnish of
olives and salad.
For
a sweet snack, you can rub a little Stevia over the surface and sprinkle a
little lemon juice or spread a little Tahini (sesame seed spread) over the
surface. Nice with a cuppa tea.
I
am avoiding wheat, gluten and high carbs. I have Buckwheat flour and chickpea
(Besam) flour at my disposal, but will experiment with other flours during my
journey.
Dry
Eye Cure?
This
evening I noticed my eyes weren’t dry at all. They usually go dry at around 9pm
in the evening with an uncomfortable stinging sensation, as though the rims had
been doused in vinegar. It’s a horrible sensation, accompanied with blurred
vision. It gets to the point where I cannot watch TV or read. This is really
one of the key reasons why I am trying out this Candid diet...for my eyes.
I
went to bed without that chafing sensation of my eyes and eyelids. I read
somewhere that there appears to be a link between alleviating dry eyes with
taking probiotics. I am trying not to get exited, as I have had ‘good’ days
before embarking this diet. What I am looking for now is a sustained effect.
Will this continue? My eyes are particularly dry during menstruation. Blood
loss and dry eyes often go hand in hand in my experience. Time will tell.
