Back in 2022 I was at my breaking point when it came to all my health problems. For years I had been in and out of doctors trying to figure out how all my mystery symptoms were connected. Appointment after appointment and nothing changed. All my tests came back clean, I even got steroid injections to help with my back pain – and still I was miserable. I was tired, bloated, mentally unwell, everything I ate hurt my stomach and gave me migraines. I was struggling at work, couldn’t muster the energy to have a social life, and my relationships were suffering. Finally I decided to work with a Naturopathic doctor to see if a different approach would work. From the very start I knew this was different. My intake appointment was 90 minutes! We went through my history and all my symptoms and immediately started taking action. I worked with her for about 9 months and through the process finally determined that I have celiac disease. However, in the process we also determined I was dealing with a lot of candida overgrowth which was making it difficult to see my celiac diagnosis clearly. I debated sharing this information for awhile, because it’s an intensive process and I would hate to see anyone do it unnecessarily or spend money they don’t need to. But I decided to share because I remember the desperation. Before I started working with my doctor I tried everything. I got looped into MLMs and wasted my money on gimmicks. I wish I had found something like this much sooner. But I was fortunate enough to have the money to afford my doctor, a privilege I’m not sure I could afford now in 2024. I’m sharing my experience of getting rid of candida overgrowth because let’s face it – adequate healthcare isn’t a reality nowadays. I spent over a thousand dollars working through what I needed to, and even more from working with doctors that just brushed my symptoms aside as “stress”. So here I’m detailing everything my doctor recommended me for with links to the supplements I took. However, it’s important to note that this was a customized plan for me and you may need something slightly different. This is also the bare bones of the information I was given. My doctor provided much more explanation to the process that I cannot provide here. This is as straightforward as I can be while still providing valuable information for you to do it alone. I highly recommend working with a health professional before starting this journey. If that’s not a reality to you then I highly recommend you do your research to ensure this is what your body needs. Gut health is such a trendy term nowadays and I would hate to see you go through all this work if it’s not what you need. Please note: I am not a doctor and have no medical training. This is all just based on my experience. Everything I know is laid out in this article. If you are looking for clarification feel free to reach out, but if you have additional questions about your unique needs I will not be able to offer advice. With that said – here’s a quick questionnaire my doctor had me take as a quick reference to whether or not I needed this treatment. https://www.candidafree.com/test_long.htm. It also created a way for me to measure the severity of my symptoms before and after this process. The higher your score the more likely you would benefit. Please note that this form is not used to diagnose, just get an idea of likelihood. For reference, my score before starting this process was 401. If you score high and you’ve done your research and know a candida yeast protocol would be beneficial to you continue on. If you’re not sure I’d recommend doing some more research or talking to a doctor. An additional warning: This process is very restrictive. I personally have a history with disordered eating and was hesitant towards this process. However, I personally believe that most of my disordered eating habits are because of my poor gut health and undiagnosed celiac disease. If you also have a history of disordered eating I want you to be so for real with yourself right now, this may be too difficult and you may be more successful with a more manageable and approachable way. If you do choose to continue, make sure you have a support system and are truly doing this for you. You might not lose weight. If weight loss is your only motivator I ask you to look for answers elsewhere. This protocol is not a magic pill that will make everything go away. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I personally did not lose weight and in fact started gaining weight after this process and when I began treating my celiac disease. What is candida yeast? If you’re here you’ve probably already gone down the rabbit hole of candida yeast and are ready to do something about it. But to summarize: Candida yeast is a type of fungus that naturally occurs in your gut. It helps to balance other types of bacteria in your body. But too much of it can cause a lot of problems. Too much candida can be a result of taking antibiotics or a variety of other ways. I personally don’t know what caused mine. Symptoms of candida overgrowth: -stomach pain -diarrhea -constipation -bloating -belching -gas -nausea -sugar cravings -dry skin -flu like symptoms -headaches -fatigue -brain fog -memory issues -immune issues – so much more How to get rid of candida yeast overgrowth: This is a long process, but I started to see some relief in my symptoms a few weeks in. However, it’s important to complete the process to achieve balance in your gut. You have to fully commit and be focused on this plan. I chose to complete this plan away from major holidays so I didn’t have to stress about feeling left out. This process is completed in three phases that lasts 79 days until you enter the maintenance phase. Yes, it’s a long time. It’s quite the commitment. But it worked for me after trying so many things that didn’t. Again, in my experience it was only one piece of the puzzle to figuring out my health issues, so don’t discount other issues if you complete the process and still have lingering symptoms. Each phase consists of a variety of supplements that you’ll cycle through and dietary restrictions. Phase 1 is the hardest, then things get easier in phase 2. Can I take my other medications during this process? During this process it was recommended to me to discontinue use of any other supplements other than these ones to make sure things don’t interact negatively. Prescription medication should be continued but you should take it more than 30 mins before or after any of these supplements. Starting the process: Step 1: Prepare yourself mentally Before starting this process take some time to set an intention. Really consider how you want to feel when you complete this process. This was mine “After this cleanse I want to feel like myself again. I want to have energy throughout the day and have pain free days. I want to look in the mirror and recognize myself.(body dysmorphia is so real) I want to eat without pain and not have anxiety about it.” If you are envisioning a smaller body – a summer ready body – or anything about how you look – for the love of God stop right now. THIS IS NOT A WEIGHT LOSS PROCESS. You are not guaranteed to lose weight. Yes, you may have health issues causing you to gain weight. But from one human to another – this is not the thing to try if your only goal is to lose weight. In fact, after your body heals you may gain weight that your body needs. Next, make sure you have a support system. This process is very restrictive and will be mentally draining at times. You need someone in your corner to help encourage you. People around you may think it’s just a fad diet and want you to bend the rules, even just for a night – but that cannot happen here. You have to be committed in order for it to work. Read through this entire process so you know what’s ahead of you to ensure it’s something reasonable for you. Then get all the supplements ordered. You may be able to find supplements locally for cheaper, but I’ve included the links for easy ordering. Phase 1: This phase will last 48 days. During this phase you’ll take a set of supplements on a rotation. You rotate them to prevent the candida from becoming resistant. Supplements for phase 1: To easily remember I created a daily checklist that you can download and print here. Daily, upon waking take: 2 capsules of Saccharomyces boulardii 1 capsule of GI Revive with each meal Days 1-4 of each rotation 1 strong cup of Pau d’Arco tea/ day (ANTIFUNGAL #1) Days 5-8 of each rotation 2 capsules of Olive leaf extract with each meal (ANTIFUNGAL #2) Days 9-12 of each rotation 5 capsules of SF722 with each meal (ANTIFUNGAL #3) Days 13-16 of each rotation 2 capsules of Oil of Oregano with each meal (ANTIFUNGAL #4) Daily, before bed: ½ teaspoon of Diatomaceous Earth Water (make sure you get food grade) 2 medi-clay capsules Take these TOGETHER but at least 1 hour away from food Side effects to be aware of: What to eat during phase 1 & 2 Foods To Avoid: Foods To Focus On: Managing Food Restrictions: Again, this process is going to feel very restrictive. But I reminded myself every day that it was only temporary and I saw it as a challenge and something exciting to try a bunch of new foods. I even found some new favorites through this process! Try to focus on having a protein, a veggie, a carb, and a fat with each meal. Sometimes I’ll just piece those components together to make a meal. I’ll grab whatever protein I have on hand, some rice or quinoa, any veggie I have and cook with avocado or olive oil or add avocado to my meals. Carving out some time each week to plan your meals ahead and even prep them can be helpful. If you enjoy grocery shopping it can be a fun experience to try new things. If it stresses you out like it does me – opt for grocery delivery. That relieved so much of my stress alone. Eating out will be tough during this process. If you do go out I find the easiest places to go are steakhouses, because they serve pretty simple proteins and veggies without too many frills. If you can, try and get your friends and loved ones to have at home date nights! I started a brunch group with my friends and we used to go out. But with me doing all of this we found it easier and much cheaper to host brunch at my house and it allows us to hang out even longer! You’ll be cooking a lot of your meals, so try and make it a ritual. Carve out some time for it and spend time enjoying the process and eating. Eating while distracted isn’t the best for your body, so try and actually take that lunch break so you’re not rushed. Drink 8-12 oz of bone broth whenever you can. You can buy it or make it by adding the bones of a rotisserie chicken and some carrots, celery, and any other veggie (I freeze my veggie scraps for this) to a crockpot and fill with water and let cook on low for 24 hours. You can also do it on the stove and let it simmer for as...