Xylitol Recipes

I'm probably a bit late to the party here (the website looks pretty dated), but I've recently come across a list of recipes that make use of xylitol, including some 'candies and confection' (sweeties and cake?). I intend to have a go at the fudge recipe over Christmas, though I suspect it will turn out more 'truffley' than 'fudgey'.

Update

So.... the doctor prescribed me Canestan cream and a tablet. Like a good girl I took/used them. I dunno what happened, but they must have released all the dormant yeasty-beasties in my system from their slumber; I have ended up with probably the worst thrushy flare-up in years. Scuse me while I screeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmm in frustration!

Anyway, back at the doctor's today, during an MOT of my lady bits, I explained the frankly piss-poor treatment I had received from the conventional medical profession in the past. She was really shocked, especially about me being told by a gynaecologist at a hospital which shall remain nameless that I was unlucky and would just have to deal with it (I swear I'd been marked down as 'neurotic'). She revealed that there are LOADS of other treatments to try (besides endless and useless Nystatin pessaries). For starters, she's put me on a course of a fairly heavy-duty anti-fungal treatment (taken orally). I start tomorrow. Here's hoping.

But, just because I have had to resort to medication, I don't intend to stop eating well. The Candida Diet is simply a healthy way to eat (providing it isn't taken to extremes), and I have renewed determination to get back on the straight and narrow, and keep it up.

Kicking thrushy butt

Long time, no hear (from me). I thought I had kicked thrushy butt, but recent events have conspired to reveal that, oh no, the Candida is still there wreaking its evil, yeasty ways in my nether regions.

So, while I'm waiting to find out what my surgery/local hospital indeed to do about it, I've returned to Angela Kilmartin's advice:

• avoid 'sweaty' clothing - though this does mean that I might have to give up running, which will be a real shame;
• tighten up the diet - not a lot, but, clearly, too much refined sugar has been passing my lips recently;
• shower, don't bath;
• three soup spoonfuls of yoghurt before every meal (yuck); and
• a tsp of olive oil per day (also yuck).

I should also get my hands on some caprylic acid tablets too. Oh joy.

The moral of this story is stay vigiliant against the thrushy battalions, cowered, but not beaten, ready to attack at the slightest opportunity.

Bastards.

M&S Yoghurt Drinks

Happy Yoghurt by lamazone

I have a confession to make. I HATE yoghurt. Nasty sour stuff - YUCK! I eat it because it's good for me, not because I enjoy it. Even after all these years of the anti-Candida diet, I still loathe it with a passion. I have always preferred those little pre/pro-biotic yoghurt drinks that come in dinky cartons. Convenient and infinitely yummier. But, more often than not, packed with sugar.

Well, imagine my joy when I discovered that Marks & Spencer's yoghurt drinks are sugar free (sweetened with fruit and fruit juice)!

I've tried the 'Blueberry, Acai & Rooibos' and 'Strawberry & Aloe Vera' flavours. Both of which are delicious. They come in packs of 4 and are currently 2 for £3. Get to your local Marks and Sparks tout suite!

Gujerati-style Cabbage with Carrots

A delicious, light, nutrient-packed side dish found here (replace the sugar with agave):

Gujerati-style Cabbage with Carrots

1/2 lb cabbage
1/2 lb carrots
fresh green chilli to taste
3 tbsp oil
1 pinch asafeotida (hing)
1 tbsp black mustard seed
1 dried red chilli
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp chopped coriander
1 tsp lemon juice

1. Core the cabbage and cut into long shreds; grate the carrots; thinly slice the green chilli.

2. Heat the oil in a heavy pan; when hot add the asafeotida (hing), a second later add the mustard seeds; when they begin to pop add the dried red chilli; stir once.

3. Add the cabbage, carrots and green chilli; turn the heat down; stir for a minute.

4. Add the salt, sugar and coriander; cook for approx 5minutes or until the veg are just done; add lemon juice, stir, serve.

You may wish to moderate the use of fresh and dried chilli!

Vegan cupcakes recipes

I've finally located an agave-sweetened fairy cake recipe that works!* The resulting cakes are a little greasy, but fairly light and delicately flavoured. Just remember that using agave does result in a darker colour.

*I haven't yet attempted to candida diet-ise the icing.

Much overdue update

Just popping in to say that I am still maintaining, though I'm able to tolerate the odd bit of refined sugar now and then (so, I no longer have to miss out on birthday cake, etc). My digestive system seems to be considerably more robust: I managed to survive two hefty courses of antibiotics between December and March without ill-effect. Brilliant news.

My thesis is also finished - I should graduate this July - so my stress-levels are much reduced. My skin is virtually clear of acne. I'm running two-three times a week and I feel great! So, stick with the candida diet. It *is* tough, and you may only take baby-steps in the right direction to begin with, but progress is still progress.

Recipe: Herby Boulangere Potatoes

Potatoes from Avignon by miladus

Delicious and entirely Candida diet-friendly potato recipe shared by The Cottage Smallholder (providing you use yeast/sugar-free stock powder). Great as a side-dish, or on its own. Economical, frugal, simple and very comforting.

OCM Update

Kirin recently asked how I was getting on with the Oil Cleansing Method. Well, at the moment, I'm not. You see, it was all going very well. I got a bit cocky. Bought myself some v expensive Bare Escentuals mineral make-up. Initially skin was wonderful, then two weeks in I broke out in whiteheads all over my neck, the sides of my face into my hairline and across my forehead. Being pretty certain (having consulted Mr. Google) that the make-up was to blame, but not 100%, I ditched both the minerals and OCM to allow my skin time to recover from whatever ailed it. Five or six weeks later I still have a lot of whiteheads and inflamed pimples, but since I all-but finished my PhD (yay!) my skin is much improved. I have been using a moisturiser by Green People (no acne-provoking ingredients - see here for what to avoid) and good ol' Corn Silk face powder (from Boots - used it for years, dunno why I stopped in the first place).

This is not to say that I have completely abandoned OCM. I liked the way it made my skin look and feel. And I just loved breaking my servitude to the cosmetics industry. Therefore, once my skin is feeling better I'm going to re-experiment, perhaps with lighter jojoba oil in place of olive (apparently coconut is a comeodonic nightmare, btw!).

Candida diet bloggers

Calling all candida diet bloggers!

Am I'm linking to you yet (see the right-hand sidebar)? If not, drop a note in the comments and let me know your URL. No commercial sites please.

Oil-cleansing Method (OCM)

I've recently been experimenting with the oil-cleansing method; I have pretty bad skin for a thirty-three year old. Regularly spotty, blemished, greasy combination skin. On my face, back and recently my chest. I have not been spot free since I was eleven. Rather depressing. I've tried every acne product on the market (most are too harsh), as well as topical antibiotics (which probably didn't help my candida much). The diet helped, especially cutting out sugar. But my skin has remained resolutely 'teenage'.

I had some recent positive results with Faith in Nature skincare products, Freederm and Mario Badescu buffering lotion. But not to my complete satisfaction; although these products are less packed with chemicals, they still contain way too many ingredients for my liking.

I came across a vintage beauty blog the other day. I discovered that Marilyn Monroe used little else than vaseline and olive oil on her skin. I avoid parabens, so that was out. By a process of following links here, and links there, I came across the OCM and decided to give it a go: 3 parts extra-virgin Olive Oil and 1 part castor oil, with a couple of drops of lavender essential oil. I massage it well into my skin. Steam with a hot flannel, remassage, steam, remassage, steam and then wipe. Splashing my face with cold water several times replaces toner. And an extra dab of (well massaged-in) OCM mixture to finish as a moisturiser.

To begin with I just used the mixture to cleanse at night. With brilliant results. Skin ungreasy in the morning, very soft. Pores began to de-congest within a couple of days, redness decreased, blemishes began to fade.

Have since started to use the oil/water method for the morning replacing my usual toner/moisturiser/eye-cream/spot-cream regime. It's wonderful under make-up, which sticks all day long! Even eye make-up! Still a few hormonal spots, but I guess my skin is purging.

I am soooooo impressed and wish I'd found out about it much sooner. Definitely worth experimenting with if you have problem-skin, candida and are wary of absorping too many potential allergens/chemicals.

Will keep you all posted on my progress...

New Blog: Rabbit Hole Wonderland

Just come across a great little candida (amongst other medical complaints) blog, Rabbit Hole Wonderland. Some delicious-sounding recipes with an East Asian twist. Really keen to try some of them out. Not sure where I'll get me some minced bison in Leicester though. ;)

Coconut Sugar...

...aka Jaggery. Does anyone know if it's Candida diet a-okay? I've read conflicting reports online. I ask because Innocent, best known for their smoothies, have recently launched a range of delicious looking and sounding 'veg pots', some of which contain a little of the afore-mentioned coconut sugar.

Leave a comment if you have an answer!

A wonderful thing

Whole Earth produce a cola drink* sweetened with agave syrup.  

Oh happy day!  

I purchased my can in Holland & Barrett and, as far as I can remember (it's been at least four years since I last had the 'real thing'), its taste was comparable with Coca-Cola and Pepsi.  I enjoyed every slurp.  

It is very calorifc though (and quite expensive).  So, its just for treats in the future.

*A note about the Whole Earth website.  The ingredients listed are not those of the version I purchased.  Let's hope they are phasing the agave in, rather than out.

Recipe: Potato Mamoosa

Made this recipe for dinner tonight.  Sounds a little odd, but is really very tasty.  And, as far as I can tell, perfectly anti-Candida diet A-OK (you could always leave out the chilli).