Since
beginning my trial to see if the candida diet works, I have gone through two
menstrual periods. Both were straightforward: abdominal cramping followed by
blood loss. There has been no migraines no fatigue and my PMS feels reduced.
However, the period before I began my diet was
excruciatingly painful. I had terrible depression, vice-like migraine and
nausea. I looked yellow and generally ill. But this was nothing new to me. In
fact, for most of my adult life, I have been plagued with horrible periods that
stopped me from living life to the full.
Yeast
Overgrowth and the Menstrual Cycle
Since
beginning my low carbohydrate anti-candida diet, I have noticed my candida
symptoms flare up before and around a period. Prior to my previous period, the
white coating on my tongue increased a little. Once the period was over, my
eyes became dry and my skin became itchy. However, the oral thrush cleared. It
seems that a woman goes through a ‘cleansing’ cycle every month, where spots,
bloating, fatigue, migraine and feeling generally lousy would indicate the body
is going through a cleansing crisis. Such a cleansing crisis is known as
Herxheimer reaction. This describes the body overwhelmed by pathogens during
the healing process.
Candida
and Menstruation
Could
it be that the Herxheimer reaction has been happening every month? It would
seem to explain why sometimes I could get away with gorging on chocolates and
overdoing the wine without any symptoms. Yet on another occasion, my body would
rebel against this indulgence with a vengeance.
Herxheimer
Reaction and Menstruation
 |
| Estrogen Dominance in the Menstrual Cycle |
I
wondered if the symptoms of troublesome menstruation could be an indicator of the
yeast overgrowth in the gut due to bad diet and stress over the previous month.
Could it be that during the month, the candida gradually builds up without causing
any symptoms until the cleansing stage arrives. The liver is key to getting rid
of excess estrogen (not to mention candida-related toxins). Going through the
Herxheimer crisis is hardly ideal for a fulfilling life!
Could
it be that the liver become gradually overwhelmed over the month, rather like a
bank balance due for payout? A month of unhealthy eating, stress (and taking
the birth control pill) could lead to a liver overwhelmed with candida die off.
Hence the cleansing crisis: migraines, bloating, fatigue, PMS and feeling like
death.
What
is Estrogen Dominance?
The
terrible thing is that a bad diet, lifestyle and drugs (antidepressants,
antibiotics and birth control pills) causes the candida to dominate the gut. In
turn, it promotes estrogen dominance. One supports the other. It is a vicious
cycle.
But
what is estrogen dominance?
Throughout
the menstrual cycle, the woman’s body temperature fluctuates slightly. During
ovulation, it dips. During the second stage of the cycle, the body becomes
progesterone dominant as the lining of the womb thickens, ready for a possible
pregnancy. This is accompanied by a slight rise in body temperature until
menstruation. Once menstruation begins, both the progesterone and the body
temperature drops abruptly. I can sense this drop in body temperature when
having cold hands and feet, dry eyes, skin, constipation and depression. This
shift in body temperature must also cause an interruption in the gut.
The
first half of the menstrual cycle commences with a gradual rise in estrogen
until ovulation occurs again. Progesterone then dominates.
But
when candida overgrowth is added to the equation, the body becomes estrogen
dominant. There is a higher level of estrogen in the body than there should be.
Research
has shown that too much estrogen can cause ovarian cysts, bloating, hair loss,
premature wrinkles, weight gain, migraines, infertility and cancer. Worse,
estrogen supports the growth of candida. And candida likes estrogen.
It
becomes a vicious cycle.
On
day forty of my experiment, I have noticed that my periods have become more ‘straightforward.’
I haven’t had any migraines, but bloating, dry eyes and itching is still a
problem. Before a period, the coating on my tongue would increase slightly, and
then disappear once menstruation is done.
I
am hoping as I continue with the diet, that each period will become less
troublesome, the oral thrush will continue to decrease as each month passes.
Perhaps these will be indicators of a body becoming less estrogen dominant.
More Articles on Candida Overgrowth
Why I began the Candida Diet
Go forward to day 50 of my candida diet
Go back to day 30 of my candida diet
Go forward to day 50 of my candida diet
Go back to day 30 of my candida diet
