Candida Connection

Last fall I got to a point where my sinuses were constantly impacted and I could barely sing. After trying all my usual remedies for  colds, my allergist suggested that maybe I had a Candida overgrowth.  Candida is a type of yeast that feeds of of sugars (simple sugars ranging from fruit to bread products and dairy products).
For the next three months I went on a diet designed to starve the Candida and boost beneficial digestive flora.

This list of foods one can eat on this diet:
Meat
Eggs
Vegetables (raw and cooked)
Lacto fermented pickles and sauerkraut (A process of preserving in salt and water instead of vinegar. Like the Korean dish kimchi this process creates a host of beneficial bacteria to grow on the food and support the human digestive system.)
Salt
Pau d'arco Tea (the only tea at this point- it helps to kill Candida)
A range of spices - Cinnamon, paprika, pepper
Garlic (Helps kill Candida)
Coconut oil
Plain cocoa powder
Cultured cottage cheese (small amounts)
Cultured sour cream (small amounts)
Butter
Salsa (without sugars)
Stevia (a plant sweetener)
Xylitol (a Plant sweetener)
Vanilla flavor suspended in glycerin
Braggs Aminos (a soy sauce substitute)
unsweetened almond milk
unsweetened hemp milk
(Brown rice, potatoes, and Corn in small amounts to be added after 1-2 months)

The list of banned foods:
Sugar
Honey
Agave
Fructose
Alcohol
Grains - Wheat, etc
(no breads, pastas)
Vinegar
Coffee
Tea
Soy
Fruit
Mushrooms
Pepper
Cheese (Mushrooms, black pepper and cheese are all moulds. Avoid all moulds.)
Milk
(Be aware that many savory sauces and soups contain some form of sugar in them.)

I did have an extremely difficult time giving up some of these foods, especially cheese, but I cannot begin to tell you how amazing I feel.  Not only did my sinuses clear up, but my singing voice improved dramatically.  I feel better than I can ever remember feeling. My moods stabilized and improved towards the happy side.  I have more energy and less stomach troubles.  My thought processes have become more clear and faster.

If you are a a singer or are having sinus troubles, here is my new regimen:

Salt and warm water sinus rinse at least once a day
Spritz of Colloidal Silver spray up each nostril before bed
After a month or two, if you want to steam you sinuses, add a dash of Eucalyptus, a dash of Tea Tree Oil, and a dash of Pau d'art to the water, to discourage Candida growth.  Otherwise the warm steam breeds a wonderful environment for the yeast.

Candida overgrowth can cause a variety of medical problems affecting body and mood. For a good overview on these problems check out this site:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/candidiasis_yeast_infection/article_em.htm

There are many supplements being sold that claim to cure it, and many do help, but it has been my experience as well as many other people that they only way to really regain your healthy balance is to radically change your diet - at least for a few months to a year.  After that, you can change your lifestyle to maintain your newly restored balanced with a less restricted diet.