Dr. D's POV
I tested positive for an allergy to the Candida mold. This is a mold found on people's skin and in their digestive tract. Candida is kept to reasonable levels in most people's systems by good bacteria that live in your gut.
Antibiotics, however, wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad. So for people that take antibiotics frequently... or for a long time... or in high doses... (or all of the above...) the good bacteria isn't there to keep your digestive system working as it should. This can lead to all sorts of problems, not limited to just GI issues. Layer on top of that an allergy and a sista could be real messed up.*
The Fix
First, I was prescribed an anti-fungal medication to take for 90 days. Next, Dr. D wants me on a "Candida Control" diet for 90 days, eliminating a bunch of stuff that feeds the mold.
Legitimacy
It passed my BS test initially. I am aware of the negative impact that antibiotics can have on your body -- ask me about how much fun C. diff is -- but I hadn't considered the possibility that I might be having a problem since there weren't any obvious signs. Nevertheless, I'm aware of the amount of antibiotics I take and something resulting from that was not a surprise to me.
However, if I'm going to cut out food I love (no cheese - GASP!), then I need proof this will be worth it. So I spent hours researching this.
The result was a lot of confusion and stress. First of all, have you looked on the internet lately? It's the worst. There's a lot of crap out there to sift through. The other issue is that a Candida diet is apparently a fad thing. A bunch of people decided to self-diagnose themselves with Candida overgrowth and go on this diet to try to feel better. Now there is a ton of information out there on how to talk yourself into having this as well as many articles refuting the legitimacy of it.
What I failed to find was much information about being allergic to Candida, resulting symptoms, and how to avoid or treat it. Loyal followers, if you happen to find any information on this, please post a comment (legit scientific resources only, please).
So what should I do? Decide my doc is a quack and eat what I want? Or follow her instructions and hope I'm not a fool? This was my challenge.
My husband answered the question for me. He said I should suck it up and do it because it won't hurt me** and if there's even a chance it will help me feel better, it's worth trying. The icing (or kale, in my case) on top of his argument is that he'd stick to the diet with me. He's sweet like that. Or masochistic. I'm not sure which, but it's enough of a motivator for me to do it.
What I Can Eat
Meat
Some vegetables
Nuts and seeds
What I Can't Eat
...All the delicious things.
High carb vegetables (e.g., potatoes, peas, beans)
Fruit and sugar of any kind
Grains
Dairy (with the exception of a little bit of butter)
Processed foods of any kind
Alcohol
How I'm Going To Do This
TBD
* Not the doctor's exact words
** except for the inevitable crippling depression I will suffer due to lack of cheese
There's more to life than cheese.
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