HIIT Intensive Exercise and Seaweed Trial to Boost Metabolism Day 11: Burning Fat Faster

The secret of great health has become a personal concern after suffering eczema, migraines, recurrent conjunctivitis and fatigue for most of my adult life. My blood results are normal, except for slight anaemia and vitamin D deficiency. But my symptoms would indicate a problem.

Thermogenetic Food and Activity

HIIT Boosts Metabolism

Convinced that systemic candida might be the source of my symptoms, I have learned after a 50 day trial on the anti candida diet, that diet alone will not kill the candida. Read about why I began the candida diet here.

Oral thrush, itching and tiredness would indicate a candida overgrowth in the gut, but after 50 days on anti fungals, probiotics and low carbs I have learned that nothing will work if my body temperature is too low. Vulnerability to the cold and Raynaud’s Syndrome would point to a lower than normal body temperature. The liver cannot work properly, the body goes into an inflammatory state and the candida flourishes. Worse, the body won’t lose weight easily.

How to Boost Body Temperature

In order to rule out hypothyroidism, I purchased a digital thermometer and took readings over several days. I discovered that my basal body temperature (the lowest reading taken early morning before rising) often dipped to 36.1°C or below. My daytime temperatures rarely touched 37.0°C (the normal body temperature). I also noticed that my symptoms occurred on ‘cold’ days and in the evenings, when my body temperature dipped below 36.3°C.

Blood tests showed no hypothyroidism. However, I was convinced that something wasn’t right and looked into other causes of low body temperature. Adrenal exhaustion and estrogen dominance cropped up. However, blood tests into hormone function revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

Exercises to Boost Metabolism

Seaweed Pack an Iodine Punch

With everything ruled out, I began a trial to increase my body temperature. I introduced seaweed into my diet. Seaweed is packed full of minerals seldom found in other foods, and is also a high source of iodine and fibre, good for the thyroid and the endocrine system. Dulce, bladderwrack, nori and kelp are good examples of edible seaweed.

Every other day, I have also been undergoing HIIT exercises. These are short bursts of activity to the point of exhaustion in three cycles lasting no more than 30 seconds each. Short periods of recovery (exercising at a slower rate) links the burst training. Warming up and cooling down is essential before and after each session. The entire exercise session lasts no more than 10 or 15 minutes at most. Ideal for the busy. But it gets better than tha.

These short bursts are preferable to the daily 40 minute cardio, because over-stressing the body produces too much cortisol, which in fact lowers body temperature and exhausts the thyroid. Burst training is quick with longer recovery times between. This allows the cortisol levels to drop and the body to recover. The benefits of HIIT do not occur during the exercise, but during the 48 hours between.

As always, always consult the GP before undertaking any new exercise.

HIIT and Thermogenesis

Red & pink indicates warmer temperatures

Now on day 11 of my HIIT sessions and introduction of seaweed into my green smoothies, I am seeing improvements in my body temperature already. My feet are warm in bed without needing the electric blanket or socks, and I will often switch the heating down. My daytime body temperatures are seeing 36.9°C and 37.0°C more frequently than before (and even 37.1°C).

Basal body temperatures are also slipping above 36.2°C.

But I take cautious hope. These readings could be masked by a progesterone rise after finishing my periods. I am also waiting for all my symptoms to disappear. My eyes are still sore after a bout of conjunctivitis and my skin still itches. However, I have new energy, my hair and skin looks good and my constipation has eased.

The results will be conclusive in a few weeks time.

More articles about Candida and regaining great health

Burst Training to Increase Basal Body Temperature Trial Day 5

Having been on the anti candida diet for fifty days, I have learned that cutting carbs, introducing probiotics and antifungals are not enough to kill candida alone, for many of my symptoms of candida remain (although my hair grew back). But I have discovered that low basal body temperature will cause the body to go into an inflammatory state.

Candida and Hypothyroid Symptoms

This is because the internal organs are not designed to function in any other temperature but within a narrow margin. Digestive enzymes underperforms and the good gut flora suffers. This gives the candida the chance to flourish. My symptoms get worse in the evening, when my body temperature falls, and get better during the luteal phase of the female cycle and during pregnancy (when body temperature rises a little).

Candida and Body Temperature

I don’t have hypothyroidism, which leaves adrenal exhaustion or estrogendominance.

So after drastically reducing grains (except for porridge), no junk food, sweets, cakes, biscuits or booze, my itchy eczema remains, as well as fatigue, bloating, water retention, oral thrush, and now I have suffered a bad bout of conjunctivitis.

Conjunctivitis and Estrogen Dominance

I have suffered mysterious and recurrent conjunctivitis for many years. A gritty sensation would develop in one or both eyes, and then would become inflamed and sore. I regularly bathe my eyes as they often get dry. My GP thinks I have Sjogren’s Syndrome.

However, I have since found a link between low body temperature and dry/inflamed eyes.

Low Body Temperatures throughout the Day - Dark are Cool, Pale are Warmer

After keeping a record of my basal body temperature, I have discovered that mine is terribly low. I have also menstruated three times in close succession which has made things worse. It is well known that menstruation causes the body temperature to plummet. This means progesterone (a heat giving hormone) has had no chance of building up, as there has been little luteal phase to do so. As a result, my eyes became very dry in the evenings. And finally, have become inflamed.

Body Temperature Grid

As can be seen from the screenshot of my body temperature readings, my basal temperature falls between 3.59°C and 3.61°C at night and remains that way for several hours. My daytime temperatures (which should be 37°C) averaged between 36.7°C to 36.8°C. In fact, 37°C occurs only three times in the entire week for a total of a few hours.

I have used shaded increments to make the illustration easier to appreciate. Cool are dark than warm are paler. The 37°C and above region are pale orange and 36.9°C is pink.

Can HIIT Raise Body Temperature

In a bid to raise my body temperature, I have begun a program of HIIT exercises to include with my healthy diet program. HIIT is high intense interval training. These consist of short bursts of exercise to exhaustion for three periods of 30 seconds, linked by moderate exercise of 20 or 30 seconds.

Any exercise can be practiced so long as it is short and intense. A session of racing up and down the stairs was my choice, although burpees, running or cycling will do as well. Always check with your doctor before embarking upon a new exercise program.

When Continual Cardio is Bad

Sustained exercise such as jogging or swimming will do no good for someone who already has adrenal exhaustion or estrogen dominance, as stress will rob the body of progesterone and cause the body temperature to plummet further. But short bursts of intense exercise provides a longer recovery time for the body. The good thing about HIIT is that it spurs the production of human growth hormone as well as reduce insulin resistance.

Burst Training and Hyperthyroid Symptoms

I practiced my second HIIT session today. (HIIT should be practiced three times per week, not every day). Unfortunately, I had to abstain from HIIT for two days because of menstrual problems. It’s frustrating. HIIT is uncomfortable, but short. I felt nauseous afterwards and full recovery took half an hour.

Before practicing HIIT, my body temperature was 36.6°C. Minutes after the session, it dropped to 36.1°C. Half an hour later when my body had recovered, my body temperature returned to 36.7°C.

So far, I can feel no difference in my symptoms, but it is early days. My body temperatures remain poor but I aim to include sea vegetables to my diet, as they contain lots of iodine to support the thyroid. Let’s see if HIIT, healthy diet and sea vegetables will bring my temperatures up.

More Articles about Candida and Hormonal Balance

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Go back to previous post about getting rid of candida
My hair loss story
How to take your basal body temperature accurately
Foods that cause estrogen dominance
Is low body temperature causing your candida?

One Way to Kill Candida: The Low Basal Body Temperature Solution: Day 3

My digital thermometer readings told me one thing: my hypothyroid-like body temperature was at the root of my candida albicans problem. Despite following a low carbohydrate diet with probiotics and antifungals such as coconut for fifty days, my candida persisted.

Hypothyroid Body Temperature

Today is the third day of my HIIT thermogenic activity: to raise my body temperature. Today is not a good start.

My basal body temperature (BBT) fell to its lowest reading since my anti-candida diet trial began 54 days ago. At 2am it fell to 35.7°C. By 1am it had already dropped to 35.9°C, and did not rise to above 36.0°C until about 4 am. I can assume this, because body temperature usually falls during sleep and it was still a chilly 36.2°C at 5am. According to the Broda O Barnes Body Temperature test for hypothyroidism, a BBT reading of 36.2°C or lower is a cause for concern.

Recurrent Conjunctivitis

My BBT remained at or below 36.0°C for four hours last night. Other nights, it averages around 36.0°C to 36.1°C in the small hours. In summary, my BBT is too low.

I take my temperature during the few times I rouse in the night and before going to sleep (around midnight to 1 am). Hence the temperature readings.

Estrogen Dominance and Candida

But my blood results for hypothyroid are normal. How can this be? The answer lies in adrenal exhaustion and estrogen dominance. Both cause low BBTs.

I had an unexplained bleed midway through my menstrual cycle. This means my progesterone levels would remain very low. Progesterone is the heat-giving hormone – the counterpart to estrogen. Without progesterone, the woman’s body temperature falls below normal and her health suffers.

I hasten to add, estrogen levels should prevail after menstruation anyway, but if estrogen is too dominant, and the progesterone too deficient, the body can’t function properly. I have been estrogen dominant for a month and can say that my health has suffered badly.

Allergy to Being Cold

After Clearing, Oral Thrush Returns

A low BBT is bad for the gut flora, but the candida doesn’t mind. Candida is an opportunistic yeast overgrowth that looks for a way in. A low BBT is the answer. In fact, studies have proved an unmistakable link between lower than normal BBT and yeast overgrowth.

Candida is associated with a sugary diet and stress, but the matter of a low BBT seems to be overlooked.

After a cold BBT, my oral thrush has returned with vengeance. My scalp is scaly despite moisturising it with coconut oil and the skin on my lower regions itches like mad, especially at night. To top things, my eyes have succumbed to conjunctivitis (as it often does). They look bloodshot and awful.

Why Low Carbohydrate Diet does not Kill Yeast

I have trialled a low carbohydrate diet for around 50 days. I have cut sugar, wheat, junk food and booze. I have taken antifungals in the form of oregano oil, coconut oil, garlic tablets and spices. I have also taken probiotics. On top of this, I have introduced green smoothies a few times per week and eaten healthily in the form of nuts, seeds, plenty of veg and some lean meat.

I can safely say that the candida diet cannot work if your BBT is too low. Worse, the low carbohydrate diet actually lowers your body temperature, because a carb-starved state warrants low metabolism to preserve energy.

So, despite everything, my oral thrush has returned, my skin itches, I feel tired, and this morning I look as though I have sunk a few voddies the night before.

My BBT is too low. What do I do?

I was hoping to trial an experiment with HIIT (high intensity interval training) to see if it will boost my hormones and increase my BBT. But I am unable to practice it today because I feel unwell. Having menstruated three times in close succession it will have to wait.

Today is a bad day, but I have learned a lot through experimentation and firsthand experience rather than through anecdotes.

And I know what doesn’t work. It’s time to work on my BBT.

Foods that Boost Progesterone

After a little research, have learned that foods that boost the heat-producing hormone progesterone would appear to be:

• Wild yam products such as Mexican yam cream.
• Lots of vitamin C (grapefruit, kiwi, orange, peppers).
• B6 (found in walnuts, grains and lean red meat)
• Zinc (found in red meats, shellfish, crab, dark chocolate, wheatgerm and pumpkin).
• Magnesium (dark veg, spinach, whole grain, nuts and pumpkin seeds).

Other foods to introduce are: egg yolks, red meat, walnuts, shellfish, poultry, oregano, thyme, turmeric and sea vegetables such as seaweed.

• Avoid stress, as cortisol is manufactured at the expense of progesterone.
• Also avoid soy foods as this produced estrogen. I already avoid chemicals that cause high estrogen levels in the body.
• Eat at regular intervals to avoid stressing the body.

 Having hit rock bottom, the only way is up.

More Articles about Candida and Hormonal Imbalance

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HIIT Exercise Experiment to Raise Basal Body Temperature to Kill Candida Day 1

Dry eyes, coarse hair, fatigue and itchy skin would seem to point to candida albicans, but I have since learned that this yeast overgrowth in the gut can be the result of another underlying problem: below average body temperature. My digital thermometer shocked me with my low basal body temperature readings that persisted for several hours per night.

Small wonder I was looking and feeling lousy in the mornings.

So now, my problem has evolved from: how to get rid of candida albicans to how to raise my basal body temperature.

Hypothyroid Like Symptoms

Many Spices are Thermogenic

Regardless of how healthily you eat, if your basal body temperature falls below average, the organs, immune system, detoxification and enzymes cannot function properly. Worse, the candida will flourish and the good bacteria will suffer. This is because candida likes the cooler environment, but the good flora prefers a toasty 37°C

Unless I can get my body temperature higher, I am on a losing battle against candida.

Barnes Test for Hypothyroidism.

According to the Barnes Basal Body Temperature score, in a healthy person, the core body temperature should never fall below 36.6°C in a 24 hour period, and should remain around 37°C for 10 hours per day.

Mine dipped to between 36.0°C and 36.3°C for seven hours per night. During daytime, it barely touched 37°C, averaging around 36.7°C to 36.8°C. My hands and feet are often cold.

Tests for hypothyroidism are negative, so causes would point to adrenal exhaustion and/or estrogen dominance.

Diet for Heat

After making changes to my diet, including introducing more thermogenic foods, today is day 1 of my new exercise program: HIIT, which stands for High Intensity Interval Training. The BBC did a program about it, featuring Dr Andrew Mosely.

Digital Thermometer

Put simply, this micro exercise program consists of a short warm up (which might be stretches or gentle jogging on the spot), followed by going flat-out in to exhaustion in some way for 20 or 30 seconds.

The flat-out exercise can be anything from running up a hill, doing squats or racing up and down the stairs. Do this for 30 seconds, and then spend thirty seconds resuming the gentle exercise.

Repeat the flat-out activity for a further 20 seconds. Then another interval of gentle exercises. And finally, another 20 seconds of high intensity activity.

Finish off with a few minutes of cooling down activity, which might be gentle jogging or walking around the room until breathing returns to normal.

The entire HIIT session may last only a few minutes, but has shown to improve insulin sensitivity and produce new mitochondria, the cells that produce energy (and heat).

Incredibly, these sessions need only be practiced for 3 times per week. (One day on, one day off), amounting to just nine or so minutes of exercise per week.

Does HIIT Raise Body Temperature

HIIT is better than long periods of exercise such as jogging or swimming, as it doesn’t put the adrenal glands under pressure. It also raises fitness levels in a way that other, moderate exercise cannot.

Another problem with sustained physical exercise is that while you might feel hot, your body temperature actually drops, as the body cannot keep up with demand and so dow- regulates metabolism to compensate.

How to do High Intensity Training Exercise with Equipment

So before breakfast, I have practiced my very first HIIT exercise. This is a short warm up, of jogging around the room. I then raced up and down the stairs as quickly as possible for 20 to 30 seconds. I managed to complete only 3 rotations, before I felt totally exhausted.

It took quite some time to recover, but today is day one of my trial to see if by introducing HIIT exercise into my candida diet, my blood temperature might improve over time. This will in turn pave the way for curing myself of candida albicans.

Incidentally, here are the data for my body temperature today. As can be seen, they are on the low side.

1 am this morning 36.1°C

5.45 am 36.2°C

7 am (before rising) 36.5°C

7.30 (after rising) 36.6°C

9 am (before breakfast) dropped to 36.3°C

9.20 (after HIIT exercise dropped again) to 36.1°C

9. 40 am (after breakfast) 36.9°C

11 am went down to 36.4°C (had cold feet)

2.30pm 36.8°C

3.20pm 36.8°C

Hmm not seeing 37°C today. Perhaps HIIT will help.

More Articles about Candida Albicans

Why I began the candida diet

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Go back to day 52 of my candida diet experiment
Go forward to day 2 of thermogenic activity

Day 52 of the Candida Diet: Is Low Carbohydrate Diet Causing Hypothyroid Symptoms?

In a food experiment to see if candida albicans can be treated by diet, I have cut grains, sugar and junk food. In place, I have gone for a low carbohydrate diet. I have eaten nuts and seeds instead of chocolates and biscuits, cut all grains except for a morning bowl of porridge. Read more about why I began the candida diet on my other post.

I have introduced a green smoothie four times per week, cut milk and black tea, going for fruit teas with nut milks, plenty of protein, healthy fats and fibre. I have also taken antifungals and probiotics. I was pleased to find my hair growing back where there were bald patches before. I have also lost about half a stone in two months and my skin looks clearer than before.

But some of my symptoms persisted. My skin continues to itch at night, my eyes and scalp remain dry and I am plagued by fatigue.

Low Carbohydrate Diet and Low Basal Body Temperature

Cutting Carbs

Suspecting something was missing, I purchased a digital thermometer on day 50 to check the status of my hormones. A lot can be deduced by your basal body temperature (your lowest body temperature in a 24 hour period) which happens early morning before rising.

Incidentally, the normal body temperature falls between 37°C to 37.5°C in the day, but may drop to around 36.6°C at night. This variation might not sound much, but to the body, every tenth of a degree is crucial. A basal body temperature of 36.5°C or below could indicate hypothyroidism.

Low Body Temperature Causes

I was shocked to find that my basal body temperature was well below average. For two nights in a row, it fell to 36.1°C and 36.0°C respectively. For around 7 hours (between 12 midnight and 7am), my body temperature did not rise above 36.4°C.

On the following night (last night), it remained below 36.4°C between midnight and 4am. On both days, my body temperature rarely touched the normal 37°C, averaging around 36.6°C to 36.8°C. My feet are always cold, even in a warm room.

Small wonder I felt awful the next day after such low body temperature at night. My under-performing liver must be feeling cranky after doing a lot of detoxing.

For two days, I had a muzzy migraine and got slightly worse towards evening. I felt dizzy, slightly nauseous and my eyes looked bleary and tired.

My hair is growing back, but the consistency tends to be a little wiry and my scalp constantly needs nourishing with a little coconut oil. My oral thrush has come back (but not as bad as on day 1 of my diet).

All this despite eating nuts, plenty of greens, proteins and very little grains.

But still, I feel I have turned a corner. My digital thermometer has taught me something. My battle is not just about the candida, but also about my lower than average basal body temperature. The candida likes the lower body temperature, but the good gut flora doesn’t.

The only way forward is to eat foods that increase my body temperature. I don’t have hypothyroidism (all blood tests are negative), but suspect I do have estrogen dominance and adrenal exhaustion. Read about these on my other post.

So I must introduce foods that will bring heat.

After some research into how to increase body temperature I have learned that:

• Drinking too much water can rob your core body temperature of heat. Over-hydration often leads to over-peeing anyway.
• Restricting the diet, particularly of carbohydrates can cause the metabolism to slow down to compensate. The trouble with a low carb diet is, the body is forced to break down other sources of energy from fats or protein to burn fuel. This is not so easy as burning carbs. So going on a low carb diet can cause the body temperature to fall.
• Saturated fats are a better source of fuel than unsaturated fats. This means full fat dairy and meat over nuts and seeds.
• Don’t overdo the exercise, particularly cardiovascular. Apparently even when you are feeling hot afterwards, the body temperature actually drops.
• Get plenty of good quality sleep.
• Easier said than done, but de-stressing will help lower cortisol levels in the body. Progesterone (a heat giving hormone) drops when cortisol is high during times of stress. This can contribute to estrogen dominance.
• Introduce iodine foods, eg, sea vegetables into the diet to provide essential minerals and salts, needed for metabolism and to support the thyroid.

My New Dietary Plan: Eat for Heat

I will continue to eat healthily as before, snacking on nuts and seeds and drinking nut milk when I fancy. I will also continue to have 4 green smoothies per week. Sweets, biscuits, refined carbs and junk food are still to be avoided.

But my new diet will be to:

Introduce a little more saturated fats in my diet, in the form of full fat plain Greek yoghurt instead of the semi-skimmed variety. Include also coconut milk, butter and oil in my food. (Coconut is a great source of saturated fat). Include evaporated milk or full fat milk instead of semi skimmed milk. Include full fat butter and cheese. (Some people will have to observe milk allergies. Filtered or allergy friendly milk might be the answer).

I will continue to restrict grains in my diet, as they are estrogen-producing. Those included will be high fibre grains: gluten free whole oats, quinoa, buckwheat ricebran or oatbran.

Introduce high fibre low GI fruits (apples, pears, kiwi, berries and under-ripe bananas). Even when relaxing on the carbs, it’s not good to go for high GI, as this will feed the candida.

Introduce sea vegetables into the diet. Seaweed such as wakame and nori contain lots of essential minerals, iodine and salts that support the thyroid, which in turns supports metabolism. At the moment, I am taking a kelp supplement.

Spices can Rise Body Temperature

Take heat-producing spices, such as ginger, turmeric and cayenne pepper.

The general consensus seems to be to overeat. No way. Instead, I will eat until comfortably full. But will snack between meals when peckish. Don’t go for too long without food or there will be little fuel to burn.

Finally, avoid intensive exercise such as jogging or lifting weights, particularly for long periods for this could cause the body temperature to drop afterwards. Putting the body under such stress will use up adrenaline and the body cannot keep up with demands.

Instead, go for short spells of exercise until out of breath 3 to 4 times per day is supposed to help maintain body heat. I have a two -minute program of stretches and running on the spot which might fit the bill. (Short spells of high intensity training (HIT) is worth checking out).

A long period of relaxed exercise such as walking is also beneficial a few times per week for de-stressing. (Time to get my Ipod out).

Continue to take my supplements: probiotics, vitamin D and a general vitamin supplement. I have completed my 30 day oregano oil course (anti candida treatment) which cannot be effective against low body temperature, as the candida will just return. Evening primrose is good but, again, in the face of low body temperature, it cannot cure dry skin and coarse hair.

Finally, to give the gut a 12 hour break from food per day (say, between 7am and 7pm).

So you could say after an awful few days of below average body temperature, this is day 1 of my new diet to eat for heat.

For now, here are the stats for today’s body temperature, which at the moment, remains below par. Still, it is an improvement to the past two days.

1.40 am 36.3°C

4.30 am 36.6°C

7.30 am (before rising) 36.7°C

7.45am (after rising) 36.8°C

9.10 (10 minutes after breakfast – feet feeling warmed) 37.0°C

9.25 am fell to 36.8°C (feet feeling cooler)

10.20am after a short burst of exercise 36.7°C

12 noon (20 minutes) after lunch 36.8°C

1 pm 36.8°C

4.30 pm was 36.5°C

Articles about Candida Albicans and Hormonal Imbalance

Why I began the candida diet
Go back to previous post on my candida diet
Go forward to my next post: experiment to raise basal body temperature
List of articles on candida diet
12 healthy benefits of coconut oil
Cereals that make you fat
My hair loss experience
How to take your basal body temperature accurately
How to increase body temperature naturally

Is Low Body Temperature Causing your Candida? Estrogen Dominant on Day 51

My battle against candida yeast seems to have evolved into a battle against low basal body temperature.

Fifty one days ago, I began the anti candida diet. This involves cutting carbohydrates, taking probiotics and antifungals. For many years, my life has been plagued with health problems, which I believe must be connected: migraines, recurrent conjunctivitis, bloating, tiredness, dry eyes, dry mouth and itchy skin. I also had bursitis of the knees which needed an arthroscopy. Sojourns’ syndrome (dry mouth) and Raynaulds (cold hands and feet), were mentioned by my GP as well as anaemia and immune issues.

The ridiculous thing is, I am fit otherwise and love walking, swimming and am able-bodied.

Not Enough Progesterone Causing Hair Loss

But the last straw occurred in March 2015 when I started losing hair in patches. Parts of my scalp were showing through. This marked the beginning of making changes to my diet.

I searched the Net for possible answers and came up with the candida question. Could all these symptoms be caused by a yeast overgrowth in the gut? Candida is said to thrive from a sugary diet and a stressed host. Signs you have yeast issues are a coating on the tongue, itchy skin and some of the symptoms I have just described.

Should You Cut Carbohydrates

A cure for oral thrush?

After 52 days, my health has improved; my hair is thicker, I have lost weight and my skin is clearer. But some of my symptoms persist. It was then I learned that candida can be the result of another condition: low body temperature – not always the cause.

So, even if you follow a healthy diet, the candida can still flourish if your body temperature is below what it should be. In short, every cell of your body cannot function properly if your core body temperature is below average. The friendly bacteria don’t like being cold, but the yeast doesn’t mind. This brings a connection between candida and low basal body temperature.

As discussed in another post here, there are various causes of low body temperature: hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) is one. I have been tested for this condition and the results have come back normal.

This is when I looked at other possible causes: adrenal exhaustion and estrogen dominance which are chiefly caused by bad diet and stress. Both are explained fully in another post but briefly, both feature imbalances of hormones.

Candida and Low Body Temperature

On day 51 of my anti candida diet, I am feeling generally lousy. I am at the beginning of my menstrual cycle, when the female body temperature would be a little lower than normal, but should never dip to below 36.5°C in any 24 hour period.

I bought myself a digital thermometer, accurately recorded my body temperature and was shocked at my findings.

Yesterday (day 51) my body temperature barely touched 37°C all day, remaining at or below 36.9°C. But the real shock came when I established my previous night’s basal body temperature (the minimum that occurs early morning before rising). Between midnight and 4 am, it remained at 36.3°C or below. And at 1.30am, it fell to 36.1°C.

When Low Body Temperature is Bad for You

I wasn’t aware that my basal body temperature got that low. But the next day, all my symptoms drifted back. I have had a vague migraine that clouded the afternoon, worsening towards evening. I had mild constipation, bloatedness, my eyes looked bleary and puffy. My oral thrush came back and I felt tired with dizzy spells.

And all despite following an anti candida diet.

In a normally warm room, my hands and feet were cold. Throughout the next day, I took readings. Shockingly, last night, my basal body temperature fell to just 36.0°C. Since then, it has never reached 37.0°C. Incidentally, my partner felt compelled to move seats as the radiator made him feel too hot. Meanwhile, I am sitting next to it, wearing a jumper and my feet are cold.

My temperature readings today would reflect the poor state of my body temperature.

3 am this morning 36.0°C

6 am 36.2°C

7 am 36.4°C

7.30 am (before getting up) 36.6°C

10.20 am 36.4°C (always drops after breakfast)

1 pm (before lunch) 36.5°C

1.35 (20 minutes after lunch) 36.9°C

3 pm 36.7°C

5 pm 36.5

7 pm (before dinner) 36.5°C

8 pm (40 minutes after dinner) 36.8°C

9pm 36.6°C

Between midnight last night and 7.30 am this morning, my body temperature never rose above 36.4°C (reaching a minimum of 36.0°C at 3am). It then spiked around the time I get up (7 ish). It also rose after mealtimes, but soon sinks afterwards. It then declines after teatime and towards evening as it did so yesterday.

The question remains. How do I increase my body temperature? And will it get rid of the candida problem and help the good gut flora thrive?

Some adjustments to my diet seems necessary.

More articles on Candida and Estrogen Dominance

My candida diary
Go back to Candida diet day 50
Go forward to Candida diet day 52 (beginning the heat producing diet)

How I record my basal body temperature accurately

Why I began the candida diet

My hair loss story

What is estrogen dominance

Connection between estrogen dominance and candida