Garden Burgers

Traveling with candida is hard, especially for several hours on an airplane and the meal options do NOT include candida. I usually request a diabetic meal but man, I end up with fruit snacks, cheese, wheat bread and of course something with soy sauce or vinegar and those tasty seasonings that rip my body apart more than the fruit itself. So I pack me a bag of food for the plane, and any freshies like slabs of cabbage or broccoli pieces that haven't been eaten before deboarding in Korea, I just toss on the plane.

Well, I thought this time I'd have me some burger-patties to extend my veggies and gluten-free waffles. So into the kitchen I went and started throwing things in a bowl. Again I have to say that the following measurements are pretty close gestimates and might need some tweaking .... it's just that it takes so long to sit around and measure, and then pour, and then measure and then pour again. More dishes to wash that way too ... ugh! Anyway ...

Garden Burgers (candida friendly)

1 large onion, chopped
2 cups zucchini, grated
1 carrot, grated
1/2 large head of cauliflower, grated
3 stalks celery, chipped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup flaxmeal
1-2 cups leftover cooked grain (gluten-free--brown rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat)
1-2 cups chickpea flour
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon rosemary
2 teaspoons cumin powder
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups sunflower seeds* (soaked 1 hour and drained)
walnut halves for garnish

Mix all ingredients, adding more chickpea flour as necessary to get a not-too-sticky dough. Form into balls and flatten into patties. Shaping the patties in a large-mouth jar ring helps make uniform patties.

Garden Burgers (candida relaxed version)

*instead of sunflower seeds use:
1 cup pecan pieces
1/3 cup sesame seeds
1 - 1 1/2 cups mushrooms, diced
black pepper

Ear Candles for Wax Removal

Many people get wax build-up in their ears, but people with candida can be more prone to that than others. A person can go to a clinic and pay to have the wax drilled out (as was explained to me - ugh!), or he/she can buy an ear douching kit and douche the wax out with alternating solutions of peroxide and rubbing alcohol and warm water. Or, ear candles may be used. Each ear candle burns from 10-15 minutes and when properly held in the ear, the candle warms the wax and draws it out. In my experience each ear should have two ear candles used on it. The first for warming the wax and getting some preliminary wax build-up out and the second for really drawing the warmed wax out. If a lot of wax was extracted on the second time, then even a third time would be good. Unfortunately, ear candles are very pricey ... but they are sooo much cheaper than going to a doctor's clinic and the results are so much better.


Just put an ear candle in one ear and hold the ear candle upright. We've devised a paper plate method for catching any ash that might fall and for preventing the flame from getting too close to the skin or hair. That way we can burn the expensive candles down much closer to the ear without negative consequences. The ear candles do fume up a house, so going somewhere where the smell won't matter so much is not a bad idea. We go to the garage. Brrrrr, in winter but when we go back inside, the house feels toasty and doesn't need to be aired of fumes.


When the ear candle burns close to the ear, we grab the ear candles with a pair of scissors and douse the candle remains in a cup of water and cut the remainder open to see the results. Pretty nasty! Sometimes the result is flaky pale yellow and other times it's burnt orange wax. Anyway, the little bit of time it takes really makes the ears feel great. This last time my ears were a bit itchy afterwards and I mentioned the fact to my bro. He was surprised and asked, "Didn't you use a bit of sweet oil (for ears) afterwards?!" Uhhhh, no, I didn't know about that. Next time!

All Green Supper!

This wasn't intended as a chlorophyll-rich meal; it just happened. After coming back from the store and the fridge is happily over-flowing and we were starved from being away from "good" food all day, I kind of went nuts on the vegies ... haha, but nobody seemed to mind! In our 5-dish supper we had cucumber-dill salad, brown pasta salad with a cashew-zucchini green sauce, lightly sauteed asparagus, steamed broccoli, and toss salad with hempseeds. A very good cleansing supper, and we didn't feel badly about eating this one after 7:30pm.





And serving up all that goodness even looked attractive ... ah, green, green, green, and more green! My cells sing!

Quiche Pies

Friends were coming over and we needed something that everyone could eat but not have a lot of dishes on the table. Quiche pies sounded good, and making a variety of fillings to satisfy different tastes isn't too difficult. So I whipped up one large recipe for the crust and filled three pies with different ingredients. BTW, the recipe below should make enough pie crust for two pies (bottom shells only). [Pictured above from closest to farthest - Garden Vegie Quiche, Salmon Quiche, Spring Onion Quiche] And no, these aren't vegan; they're full of eggs.

Quinoa Pie Crust

2 cups quinoa
2/3 cups millet
1/2 heaping teaspoon sea salt
3 tablespoons italian seasoning
1 1/2 cup cauliflower
1 1/2 cup cabbage
2-3 tablespoons olive oil

Blend all the dry ingredients (quinoa, millet, sea salt, Italian seasoning) in a BlendTec to create a flour. In a food processor, whizz the cauliflower and cabbage to a rice-like consistency. Mix all ingredients together. The mixture will be moist and somewhat sticky but easily pressable (by hand) into pie dishes (or even pizza pans). The moisture content does not allow for rolling. The flavor will be somewhat nutty, will become crusty, and will hold its shape pretty well. Also, it slices easily.

Salmon Pie Filling

1 can wild salmon
1/2 medium onion, diced
3-4 stalks celery, diced

Egg Batter

4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper (not recommended for candida people)
several sprigs fresh dill
1/2 medium onion

In a bowl, mix the salmon, 1/2 of a diced medium onion and celery. In a blender, whizz the egg batter--eggs, sea salt and pepper, dill and medium onion. Pour half of the batter over the salmon mixture and mix together; then put the eggy salmon mixture in the pie plate and pour on the remaining egg batter. Garnish with more fresh dill and onion slices if desired.

Garden Vegie Quiche

1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
1 small yellow squash, thinly sliced
2/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked 20+ minutes
1/2 medium onion, sliced into crescents or circles
+ egg batter above

Slice and arrange the vegies in a pie dish. Then pour the egg batter from above over the vegies. Decorate or garnish the top with thin tomato crescents or onion rings (optional).

Spring Onion Quiche

1 1/2 cups spring onions, finely chopped
2/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
+ egg batter above

We had a surplus of green onion and they were attempting to go bad, so this was just a quick invention, which happened to taste mighty good. Pour egg batter over the vegies.

Bake on 320F for 45 minutes. (Because eggs toughen, don't bake as high as normal.)

Chickpea Flour Crêpes

I wish I could say that this recipe was my own invention but actually it's a variation off of a vegan site. I saw the recipe and being in a big hurry, just jotted it down for later (as in several weeks) so forgot its source. Some things were changed a bit, buy yikes, I can't even remember what now. How unthoughtful of me :( My version needs a wee bit of tweaking as they turned out a little tougher than I like, but that said, the flavor was good, and my younger bro who's wild about crêpes and finding a good gluten-free recipe had no complaints whatsoever.

Chickpea Flour Crêpes

1 cup chickpea flour
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 large handful almonds
1+ cup water
3 tablespoons olive or coconut oil

Blend all ingredients to a batter in a BlendTec. For best results allow to set for 30 minutes before frying. As for which oil to use, olive oil is best suited for savory dishes while coconut oil suits sweeter dishes or fruit complements best.

SWEET AND SAVORY BREAKFAST (my bro's)

While I made the crêpes, my bro had the strangest craving for blueberries but also something savory, so he opened a jar of our home-canned blueberries and in another frypan sautéd some onions with herbs. I scooped out a few before he added in the black pepper and have to admit that they were tasty and probably did complement the blueberry topping, which I as yet do not dare to indulge in because of the glycemic factor. I've eaten on rare occasion a few fresh blueberries, but the canned (processed) ones would give me concentrated sugar which my system just can't deal with.

Savory Onion Stir-fry

1 extra large onion
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chickpea flour
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
dash of black pepper

I spread my crepes with yesterday's roasted garlic spread, some of my bro's savory onion stir-fry, boiled spinach, chopped up radishes and nibbled on eggs on the side. A very light but satisfying mini-meal. Sometimes you just want to go light!

Roasted Garlic Spread

Roasting the garlic is easy (but not so quick if you have to peel the things). In Korea I buy garlic all the time freshly peeled, but the only place I've seen garlic this way in the States is at Sam's club in the half-gallon or so container in the refrigerated section. Just take a good close look to see if they look freshly peeled. If not, make a block of time, sit down and do your own .... while watching a movie or something. [Picture to the left is of the garlic after baking]

Roasted Garlic Spread

1 bowl (1 1/2 cups or so) peeled garlic cloves
3-4 tablespoons basil flakes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Cover the glass or baking bowl with tinfoil and bake in the over at 350F for 1 hour. Alternatively, in a crock pot with 1/2-inch of standing water, put in a fitted covered bowl with the garlic-herb mix inside and cook on low overnight, or approximately 8 hours.

Spread garlic on pizza crusts, crêpes, toast or sandwich bread for vegie sandwiches, toss in salads or pasta dishes, spread in celergy sticks or experiment!

Quinoa-Millet Pizza Crust

Yum, for vegan pizza with loads of flavor!!!

Quinoa-Millet Pizza Crust

2 cups quinoa
3 cups millet
3-4 tablespoons flaxseeds
3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups cauliflower
2 cups cabbage
3 tablespoons olive oil

In a BlendTec, whizz the quinoa, millet and flaxseeds to a flour. In a food processor, process the cauliflower and cabbage to a rice-like consistency. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. The consistency should be thick and glutinous but not overly sticky. Add extra flour if too sticky. Pour and spread the mixture on a pizza pan. The mixture should be easily spreadable with well-greased hands. A rolling pin won't work, but that will save having to wash one!

Pesto Paste

3 cups fresh basil
1 1/2 cups fresh parsley
1 cup almond meal
3 cloves garlic
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper (candida people should opt out!)
1-2 cups olive oil

Blend all ingredients to a paste, adding olive oil as necessary.

Vegie Toppings

1 large zucchini, thinly sliced
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
1 package (several large handfuls) spinach
olive oil, a drizzle
garlic powder
Italian seasonings w/ extra basil flakes
sea salt

Layer on the zucchini and onion and then the piles of spinach. Lay on tomatoe slices and then liberally dust the vegie pile with garlic powder, Italian seasonings and extra basil powder, sea salt. Drizzle on olive oil, and bake for 40-50 minutes at 350F.

Ionic Detox Foot Bath

My parents have had an Ionic Detox Foot Bath for 2-3 years now. They try to give themselves a detox foot bath at least once a week, and on the days that they do one (40 minutes) my mom says she feels lighter in the feet and happier in the mood. Dad isn't quite so analytic but his Parkinson's tremors do seem to be lighter on the day and even the following day that he takes a foot bath. The only problem with giving him a foot bath is that he has to get up quite early in the morning before he starts taking his schedules medicines for the day in order that the foot bath won't detox/remove the necessary drugs from his system. He needs those drugs, sad to say. And after taking a foot bath, he's quite exhausted and sleeps for about 2 hours, but when he wakes up, he's more alert than usual.

I've taken the foot baths too when I'm at home, and also feel better - like my mom, lighter in the foot but in general more alert. It's rather disgusting the amount of detoxing that comes from the feet. To do the detox, of course you need the ionic detoxer, 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt to activate the tub of warm water, an electrolyte drink (because of candida I can't do the frequently used drinks so fresh squeeze a lemon in a quart of water) to drink throughout the detox in order to keep electrolytes in the body and to stay properly hydrated, a 40-minutes timer, and a book to read! More specific directions are in the following picture:


The ionic detoxer is to be used a maximum of 45 minutes as it not only pulls toxins out of the body but much needed minerals and electrolytes. 45 minutes max!




This last picture showed a lot of black, brown and orange particles which, according to the printout, suggest that I am detoxifying from my liver (heavily) and from my joints. There's also a bit of white foam although I have to say it's rather minimal compared to last summer! The white foam suggests detoxing from my lymphatic system. When the water is poured down the toilet (it's toxic so not to be poured into a sink), white particles or red flecks or black flecks can be seen which reflect detoxing from other body areas - refer to chart below for more clarity.

Hair Analysis - 3rd (2012-1-31)

I've been on the anti-candida diet for almost 14 months now and am not seeing much improvement. In fact, lately have been lethargic with general feelings of malaise, a bit of general achiness ... but maybe because it's winter and I really need to get my vitamin D (D3) through the sun because I don't eat vitamin D (D2) foods, like dairy products. Anyway, so it seems time for another hair analysis.





Well, as can be seen, the company where I've always gotten my hair analysis testing is either using another company for the lab work or the lab has changed its format. I'm not too keen on the last chart labeled "Toxic Elements". The chart doesn't make total sense to me as there are only two categories - "low" and "good", but 4 out of 6 of my ratios being presented actually should register way off the chart, so what is the next category? why is the company hiding a category of "high" that shows another kind of "bad" imbalance like in the previous tests? and what is the "normal" range?

4/6 Registering off the chart:
selenium/mercury - (range here) 0~2.7; (mine) 3.341 = much higher
calcium/lead - (range here) 0~900; (mine) 2629 = extremely higher
zinc/lead - (range here) 0~450; (mine) 492.3 = much higher
zinc/cadmium - (range here) 0-9000; (mine) 30,920 = WAAAY higher

RESULTS

Out-of-balance ratios
Calcium/Phosphorus (high) - indicates dominant parasympathetic nerve system causing reluctant body metabolism and decreased adrenal gland function; results in dried skin and hair, reduced sweat, declined thyroid function (laziness), weight gain in hips and feet, obesity, low temperature, and other chronic symptoms

Calcium/Magnesium (high) - indicates abnormal calcium metabolism causing calcium deposits on soft tissues or diastolic hypertension. Caused by high calcium intake, excessive vitamin D, or low magnesium intake.

Calcium/Potassium (high) - can indes impaired thyroid gland. Results in fatigue, depression, hypersensitivity to coldness, sociopathic-personality, and alopecia

Copper (Cu) - low
Either copper ingestion insufficient or interruption of absorption
Function: helps absorption/use of iron, composes hemoglobin, cross-bonds the collagen and elastin of cohesion tissue; forms skeleton and sustains cohesion tissue of the cardiac circulatory system, works to supplements enzymes with neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and dopamine), forms the immune system, participates in the coagulation and cholesterol metabolism, related to the antioxidazation process for generating energy. If low, cholesterol metabolism poor.
Copper exists most in the liver and brain, followed by the heart, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, lungs, bones and muscle. Lack of copper disturbs organ function.
Symptoms: chronic fatigue, anemia, weakness, rheumatoid arthritis, joint soreness from calcium depletion, dermatitis, osteoporosis, scorbutic symptoms, heat failure, infarction, ischemic heat disease, hypythyroidism, gout, high blood pressure, hair loss, emotional disturbances like manic disorder and insomnia.
Caused by insufficient copper, excessive zinc or manganese, chronic infection, excesive ingestion of vitamin C
Food: cockles, sesame, almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, citron, vitamins D, B1, B2, folic acid, calcium, cobalt, iron, foods with selenium

Molybdenum (Mo) - low
[Hair test shows more accurate results than blood test b/c Mo in blood very low.]
Function: Mo is a sulfite oxidase (coenzyme) crucial in the human body; involved in amino acid metabolism including sulphur-like cystine; closely related to oxidation-reduction reaction, liver and kidney function, is crucial for copper and iron metabolism; is effective for effectiveness in dental problems caused by fluorine pigmentation.
Symptoms: little is known, but increase in cavities has been reported
Foods: mung beans, millet, sweet potato, green pea, broccoli, apple, chicken liver, red crab

The outcome of this test was definitely better than the one 10 months previous! Yes! I do want to question, though, the growing appearance of arsenic which was very minimal on my two previous hair analyses. Seems odd b/c I haven't been around new buildings, new wallpaper or floorings (all sources of arsenic still in Korea - arsenic very high in the glue and bond for housing). Hmmm, odd.

Hair Analysis - 2nd (2011-03-22)

I don't remember having any specific horrendous problems when I had this analysis. By the time I took this, I had been on the anti-candida diet for 4 months. I SHOULD HAVE seen some improvement in my condition by this time, but other than the fact that once I figured out my problem -- bacteria out of control, which I don't know but candida has 81 kinds, or so one website says -- I should have seen improvement on the diet that made my symptoms of 1 1/2 years virtually disappear in one week. But, anytime I tried adding anything, the problems (joint pain, asthma-like wheeziness, and chest tightness, among others) would reappear. The diet, however, was really contolling the problem though! Time for another hair analysis ... but strange that this hair analysis actually shows more (but not as bad) imbalances than my last one.





RESULTS

Out-of-balance ratios:
sodium/potassium (Na/K) [increase] - if potassium low, kidneys reabsorb more sodium and potassium is excreted, and vice versa; result: acute stress or inflammation
calcium/potassium (Ca/K) [increase] - if potassium low, hypothyroidism results which is generally related to hypoglycemis, chronic fatigue, hypotension, melancholia
zinc/copper (Zn/Cu) [increase] - if copper low, cholesterol increases and cardiovascular disease may occur; if zinc is high compared with low-density lipoprotein; lipoprotein with high-density gravity is decreased resulting in fat deposits in arteries, which damages the immune system and/or increases bacterial infection, and in women, irregularity, PMS, fatigue, melancholia, weight gain, headache, constipation, breast pain, anxiety ...

Zinc - excess
Function: essential for male/female hormones and preventing diseases and viral infection; present in eyes, visual nerve, skin, adrenals, bone, brain, heart, kidney, liver, muscle, prostate, testicles (basically the organs)
Symptoms: fatigue, anorexia, hypotrophy, melancholia, apathy, apatheia, diarrhea, hypogeusia, hyposmia, postprandial fullness, anemia, night blindness, delay in injury curing, skin dryness, dermatitis, keratitis, alopecia areata, growth retardation, delay in sexual function matureness, sexual dysfunction (impotence) female infertility, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, increase in cholesterol

Iron - deficiency
Function: generates hemaglobin, maintains intellectual abilities of the brain, essential in activating enzymes concerned in brain neurotransmitters; if bacterial infection, iron sent to organs including bones, liver, spleen, and lymph system
Symptoms: absorption disorder, parasite, malnutrition, drug, deficiency of other vitamins/minerals, anemia, fatigue, fingernail weakening, irregularity, constipation, dysphagia, hypothyroidism, infection by immunodepression, concentration disorders, depressed level of consciousness, brain damage and nervous development problems, ex. excessive behavior
Food: dry laver, coarse tea, curry, boiled hard-necked clam, green tea, dry anchovy, brewer's yeast, dry bamboo shoot, dry salted shrimp, boiled kelp, pig liver, roasted sesame, soybean, powdered beans; herbs: peppermint, chickweed, comfrey root, licorice root, goldenseal
Vanadium is useful for iron, as well as vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C and E. Iron rich in animal protein.

Chromium - deficiency
Function: helps absorption/use of glucose in cells with insulin, so if deficiency an increase in insulin results; relevant to nerve cells and vascular diseases; reinforces muscle and reduces fat
Causes of deficiency: excessive insulin, pregnancy, female hormones, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, infection, heart disease, anxiety, melancholia, mental/physical stress such as shock
Symptoms: may cause numbness/insensibility of limbs, peripheral neutropathy, arteriosclerosis, increased cholesterol level, interferes with vitamin C absorption, incurs diabetes symptoms, growth disorder, corneal opacity, headache, fatigue, anxiety and uneasiness
Food: brewer's yeast, wheat bread, roasted red peppers, shellfish, potato, wheat germ, eggs, chicken, apple, butter, clam, cheese, banana, carrot, cabbage, mandarine orange
Vitamins/Minerals: intake of iron, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, A and E increase chromium absorption.

Manganese - deficiency
Function: spread in most body tissues, esp mitochondria in cells which gives the body energy; is an enzyme which activates other enzymes involving synthesis and metabolism of fatty acid, carbs and protein; prevents damage caused by free radicals, esp peroxide free radicals; maintains normal thyroid function
Symptoms: fatigue, headache, lack of endurance, weight loss, asthma, ringing in the ears, decrease in hearing ability, decrease in natural fat and lipoprotein due to metabolism disorders, results in musculoskeletal diseases (posture, growth, joint and waist disorders, tendon disorders, osteoporosis), infertility, degeneration of ovary and testicles, inborn errors of metabolism, ex apply syrup disease and Phenylketonuria; cause dermititis, delay in nail and hair growth, hair discoloration into reddish-brown
Food: brazil nuts, almonds, barley, rye, buckwheat, dry peas, wheat, walnuts, spinach, nuts, raisins, carrots, uncleaned rice, wheat bread, cheese and cabbage; a high protein diet can improve manganese levels

MERCURY (Hg) - increase!
"Please be advised the 30% or more of the permissible range of mercury is deposited in the body!"
Damage to brain, kidneys, nerve system, unborn children. Once mercury enters the body through respiratory or digestive organs, 80% of it is deposited in the kidney and liver and seriously damages the brain.
Sources of mercury: amalgam, cosmetics, hairdye, manometer, thermometer, disinfectant, bactericide, agrichemicals, insecticide, flourescent lamps, manufacturing and transportation of petroleum products
Symptoms:
(early stage) alopecia, chronic fatigue, dizziness, melancholia, uneasiness, impatience, insomnia, anorexia, gingivitis, serious mood changes
(middle stage) alopecia, sterility, abortion, stillbirth, allergy, asthma, hypertension, stenocardia, palpitations, arthritis, nightmare, keratinization of the skin
(late stage) epilepsy, multiple sclerosis
Food: pectin, selenium, zinc, sulfur amino acids, vitamin C, beans, garlic, onion, eggs, parsley
[The only food I now eat at restaurants is small salt-water fish, once every two weeks or so. I also was eating about a can of tuna a week, and these two sources are probably where I got the increase in mercury. Yikes! Time to eliminate the canned fish now :( ]

Hair Analysis - 1st (2009-10-17)

In June and July I was starting to have weird problems. In August I went home and other than severe asthma, which I did not have before, I was fine. Then upon returning to Korea, I got dog sick, so sick in fact that I spent one week in and out of the hospital emergency rooms and then getting no headway whatsoever rushed to a US-based nutritional hospital for 11 days, Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital. I was reacting to all kinds of foods and had whittled my food down to hardly anything (everything made me sick and then because I wasn't eating due to reactions, I was quickly getting weak). I also had horrendous insomnia, as in, maximum of 2 hours of sleep a night. Upon returning to Korea, a friend told me about a facility where I could get a hair analysis so assess my nutrient levels over the past 3 months. Blood tests weren't picking up anything but hair analyses can find things that a blood level on one day can't. So my results:





RESULTS

Out-of-balance ratios:
sodium/magnesium (Na/Mg) - if magnesium low, hypoadrenalism may occur
calcium/magnesium (Ca/Mg) - the balance is important for maintaining the bones, muscular contractions, nerve conduction, and cardiovascular system; magnesium deficiency may result in calcium deposits in bones and tissues, muscular spasms, diastolic hypertension, arteriosclerosis from fat and calcium deposits in arteries, bladder impairment (feeling of bladder fullness or urgency), constipation
calcium/phosphorus (Ca/P) - needed for maintaining skeleton and teeth
calcium/potassium (Ca/K) - generally related to hypoglycemia, chronic fatigue, hypothyroidism, hypotension, melancholia
zinc/copper (Zn/Cu) - if copper is low, increase in cholesterol and cardiovascular disease and low=density lipoprotein is increased (which results in deposits in arteries) and causes damage to immune system or increases bacterial infection

Zinc - excess
Zinc is antagonized with copper; therefore, excess zinc may occur when copper is deficient. Symptoms: fatigue, anorexia, hypotrophy, melancholia, apathy, apatheia, diarrhea, hypogeusia, hyposmia, postprandial fullness, anemia, ight blindness, delay ininjury curing, skin dryness, dermatitis, keratitis, alopecia areata, growth retardation, delay in sexual function matureness, sexual dysfunction (impotence), female infertility, diaetes, liver cirrhosis, increase in cholesterol level.

Iron - deficiency
Causes: pregnant or menstrating women, lack of iron intake, absorption disorder, parasite, malnutrition, drug, deficiency of other vitamins/minerals, hyperparathyroidism, abnormal acidity in the stomach (causing malabsorption in the intestines), antacid
Symptoms: anemia, fatigue, alopecia, fingernail weakening, irrularity, constipation, dysphagia, hypothyroidism, infection by immunodepression, concentration disorders, depressed lefel of consciousness, brain damage, damage to nervous development such as excessive behavior
Sources: dry laver, coarse tea, curry, boiled hard-necked clam, green tea, dry anchovy, brewer's yeast, dry bamboo shoot, dry salted shrimp, boiled kelp, pig liver, roasted sesame, soybean, powdered beans; herbs: peppermint, chickweed, comfrey root, licorice root, goldenseal root.
Vanadium is helpful to use iron. Collaborative vitamins: vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C and E. Animal protein has large amounts of iron.

Manganese - deficiency
Generates energy and needed throughout the body, especially in mitochondria in cells. Is a component of enzyme which activates other enzymes, so helps with synthesis and metabolism of fatty acid, carbs and proteins. Plays an important role in fighting against free radicals and maintaining normal thyroid function.
Symptoms: fatigue, headaches, lack of endurance, weight loss, asthma, ringing in the ears, decreased hearing ability, decrease in neutral fat and lipoprotein, disturbances in posture/growth, disorders in joints and waist, delay in bone growth, tendon disorder, osteoporsis, infertility, degeneration of ovary and testicles, inborn errors of metabolism, ex. apple syrup disease and Pyenylketonuria, dermatitis, slow-growing nails and hair, hair discoloration to reddish-brown
Foods: brazil nuts, almonds, barley, rye, buckwheat, dry peas, wheat, walnuts, spinach, nuts, raisin, carrots, uncleaned rice, wheat bread, cheese, cabbage (high-protein diet can improve manganese levels)

Vanadium - deficiency
Results: limits synthesis of amino acid, protein, cholesterol and hemoglobin, hyperglycemia, respiratory infection, kidney stones, hypokalemia in blood
Symptoms: increased cholesterol level, cardiovascular and renal diseases, decrease in fertility; in actuality, little is known about deficiencies in vanadium
Excessive vanadium found in work places, ex. petroleum refining, boiler washing, metal refining, etc

Huge Vitamin A Deficiency

A few days ago I got the reading on yet another vitamin A test result. It had dropped significantly! After a lot of careful consideration on what could have dropped my vitamin A so significantly in 4 months, the only thing I could think of was because I was taking Barlean's Olive Leaf Complex every day, sometimes twice a day in smaller amounts, and occasionally three times a day. The serving size is 1 tablespoon (15ml) with 26 servings per bottle. It would take me about 1 1/2 months to go through a bottle, so really, I wasn't overdosing. But again, I do realize that all herbs, supplements, even food have side effects if taken every day for a long period of time, or if over-consuming, or if it has a tendency to interact with one's nutrition anyway. Taking something everyday does result in a build-up, whether good or bad, so getting this vitamin testing every few months and watching my vitamin A numbers is really important. I probably took this product for up to 3 months and went through 2 bottles and had just started a third.



Anyway, there are many supplements and/or drugs that interact with one's vitamins; grapefruit is one that is often listed, and it is widely considered as VERY healthy, low calorie and phenomenal as a morning food.

And then many people and health practitioners believe that popping a pill can correct the vitamin deficiency. Well, I tried vitamin A supplements for a couple months, got tested, saw a drop of .03 in my numbers. Then I read a book entitled Supplements Exposed and a comment on taking vitamin A for correcting deficiencies was that the supplement actually creates bigger deficiencies. Well, I thought I'd test that theory and took 5,000 units almost every day, as well as eating all the vitamin A rich foods on my limited list and my vitamin A went up .03 in just under 3 months. What a crock! I can't consider those supplements as helping at all, and in such high units too! So I scrapped the vitamin A supplements and thought I'd try Barlean's Olive Leaf, an oil, that taken with vitamin A rich foods would hopefully help the vitamin A in the foods be assimilated. Well, that didn't work as can be seen by my huge drop in numbers, down .10 in 4 months, creating an even bigger deficiency!

So, for the next few months before I undergo vitamin A testing again, I'll quit taking the Olive Leaf Extract, and eat high vitamin A foods. The problem with that is many of the high vitamin A foods are on the can't-eat-because-I-have-candida list. Here's one of the high vitamin A lists (the ones in bold are the ones that I may enjoy without candida repercussions):

FRUITS (most fruits have vitamin A, but the following have a significant amount): cantaloupe, grapefruit, guava, mango, papaya, passion fruit, tomato (occasionally and in small amounts), watermelon

VEGETABLES: amaranth leaves (where can I get it?), bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, butternut squash, carrots, chinese broccoli (where can I get it?), chinese cabbage, kale, leeks, peas, pumpkin, rapini (where can I get it?), spinach, squash (winter, summer), sweet potato, swiss chard

NUTS/GRAINS: chestnuts (occasionally b/c they're so nutritious but they are rather starchy too), pecans, pistachios

MEAT/DAIRY PROTEIN (which I don't touch for many health reasons!): cheddar cheese, cream cheese, cow's milk, whipping cream, eggs (I do eat eat eggs sometimes - shame on me), tuna, goat milk, goat cheese, sour cream

LEGUMES (most legumes do not contain a significant amount of vitamin A)

However, there are two foods rich in vitamin A that aren't typically on food charts, and thank goodness I've stumbled across them .... at least I think "thank goodness" right now. The foods are spirulina and chia seeds.

Chia Seeds and Spirulina

To be on the safe side, I looked up the side effects of chia seeds. The only one that could affect me is "high triglycerides: Blood contains several types of fat, including cholesterol and triglycerides. Triglyceride levels are too high in some people. Eating some types of chia can make them even higher." Well, my triglycerides are so low as to be almost abnormal. 40~whatever is considered normal, and I've had the range in the paste 8 years of being from 36~56. [A couple years ago I bumped into some comments on having triglycerides that were too low, and the consequence could be Grave's disease/hyperthyroidism. Well, hello! That's exactly what happened to me about 6 years ago. I couldn't really understand why Grave's disease was considered a nutritional disease ... until I read that statement. People want low triglycerides, and even though mine were abnormally low, I was told by a couple docs that my triglycerides were amazingly wonderful! Hmmmm.]

Another side effect is the vitamin B17 overload, that is, a phytonutrient overload. Also, chia seeds have caused gastrointestinal problems in some. What I am finding in research zones is that because chia seeds are still relatively untested, it is best to take them a maximum of 3 months and then give them a break. Will do ... that'll give me enough time to see if they work in getting my vitamin A up. BTW, even though sites say that chia seeds have a significant source of vitamin A, vitamin Bs and magnesium, I can't corner any numbers for any of them. Sigh.

For Spirulina, I can find numbers! On the label of my PureHawaiian Spirulina Pacifica the vitamin A (as beta carotene) is 11,250 IU or 230% of the daily value by taking 1 teaspoon (3g). That's some loaded vitamin A! No wonder flamingos turn pink when they eat shrimp that have lived off blue-green algae rich in carotenoids, the beta carotene type! Maybe I'll turn pink like a flamingo if I consume this product. Anyway, the side effects (since I better know based on my history) is given on one particular site:

"A 2006 study of mice shows that intake of spirulina can decrease bone mineral density under estrogen-deficient conditions..."

"When starting with spirulina supplementation you might experience what is perceived as spirulina side effects due to natural processes spirulina may trigger, like detoxification of the body or the enzymatic and probiotic effects on the digestive system. Results can be experienced as passing “side effects”. These so called spirulina "side effects" are a healthy sign that spirulina is doing your organism good. However, if you are an insulin dependent diabetic or type 2 diabetic you should consider consulting your physician before taking spirulina. The same goes for anyone who might be predisposed to gout (also known as podagra or uric acid arthropathy). High-quality spirulina is considered relatively safe and even recommended during pregnancy. Although animal studies are promising, no human research has looked into possible side effects during pregnancy, consulting your physician is always advisable."

"Avoid side effects from spirulina: Look for well established and trusted brands that provide you with relevant information about production, quality and safety to avoid spirulina side effects. Keep in mind that you might experience some passing “side effects” from spirulina as it takes effect on your organism. A healthy detoxification process could be perceived as a “side effect”, but usually passes within two weeks."

One side effect could be gas, which I had a little when I first started taking it. My mom took spirulina 3 times I think and each time she asked if it made me burp too. It didn't. She hasn't taken it since to my knowledge but it seems that minor side effects are possible.

Turmeric Asparagus Soup

Asparagus is something I eat a lot of! Asparagus is full of antioxidants, is great as a blood cleanser (awesome for people with candida and cancer) and has protein and other health factors making it highly recommended for people with Parkinson's. It's also great for bladder and urinary infections, as a detoxifier, and has anti-viral and anti-fungal agents. Yup! I eat a lot of asparagus!

My favorite way to eat it is in soups. I make a big pot of soup loaded with asparagus, zucchini, a green leafy and of course onions and garlic. My favorite seasonings in the soups vary but pretty much standard are turmeric, thyme or basil (sometimes both), and sea salt. Cumin, marjoram, parsley, dill, lemon grass, and coriander might even find their way into the soup pot, but, uh, not all together!

This particular asparagus soup got thickened with either the leftover broth from a crockpot of garbanzo beans or part of the soup was whizzed in the blender to make it look rich and creamy. The yellow cheesy look comes from the combined thickness and the turmeric. The complementary grain of the evening was brown rice with chestnuts and garlic cloves cooked in.


This particular asparagus soup had less asparagus and more other vegies cooked in. I suspect in the bowl was chopped up broccoli too. It's also thick but the thickness from this batch comes from a spoonful of brown rice mixed into the soup and cooked as a one-dish meal. More turmeric was sprinkled on top to give it some extra zest, which black pepper would have served nicely for the non-candida person. Soup was served with a few tapioca-coconut oil crackers found at the International Food Mart in Itaewon, Seoul! Nice treat as all four ingredients I can have: tapioca starch (just a few but it is non-glutinous), coconut oil, sea salt, garlic.


And yet another asparagus zucchini version of the soup - with an island of Garbanzo Bean "Mashed Potatoes". Oh, yum. These flavors are very complementary and the meal is very filling. And no, my purrrfect cat is NOT interested in people food; she was just curious enough to want a smell.

Herbs for Candida and Other Ailments

There are certainly a host of healing herbs available, especially as natural medicine and ayurvedic are gaining in recognition along-side biomedicine, which people are realizing is lacking in treating the core problem but seeks to treat and/or eliminate the symptom. The following list of ailments is followed by recognized herbs that heal and/or treat those problems. A person with candida could have some or many of the other ailments (ex, acne, allergies, liver problems, parasites) so I've included the whole list provided. For a further information on herbs and spices, go to Leaves & Roots.


ACNE MIX : Yellowdock Root, Dandelion root, Burdock Root, Echinacea Root, Red Clover Blossom, Chaparral Leaf, Ginger Root, Kelp, Licorice Root

ALLERGY : Bentonite Clay, Horehound Herb, Mullien Leaf, Wild Cherry Bark

ARTHRITIS #1 : Alfalfa Leaf, Devils Claw, Burdock Root, Yucca Root, Celery Seed, Sarsaparilla
ARTHRITIS #2 : Glucosamine Sulfate, Devils Claw, Turmeric, Cats Claw, Yucca Root, Celery Seed

BLOOD PRESSURE : Hawthorne Berry, Eleuthro Root, Motherwort, Ginkgo Leaf, Reishi Mushroom, Olive Leaf

BRAIN : Gotu Kola, Ginkgo Leaf, Panax Ginseng, Cayenne 35HU

BUSTING OUT : Dong Quai, Damiana Herb, Saw Palmetto, Motherwort, Fenugreek Seed, Wild Yam, Blessed Thistle

CANDIDA : Pau D’arco, Barberry Bark, Chamomile, Garlic, Thyme

CHILL PILL : Scullcap, Spirulina, Schizandra Berry, Licorice Root

CHOLESTEROL : Apple Pectin, Hawthorne Leaf and Flower, Plantain Leaf, Fenugreek Seed, Black Cohosh, Cayenne 35HU

COLON CLEAN #1 : Aloe Leaf, Senna Leaf, Cascara Sagrada Bark, Ginger Root, Barberry Bark, Buckthorn Bark, Garlic, Cayenne35HU
COLON CLEAN #2 : Psyllium Husk, Flax Seed, Apple Pectin, Bentonite Clay, Slippery Elm Bark, Fennel Seed, Activated Charcoal

CRAMPS : Crampbark, Wild Yam Root, Squawvine, Black Haw

DETOX : Milk Thistle Seed, Burdock Root, Cascara sagrada Bark, Ginger Root, Dandelion Root, Echinacea Root, Fenugreek Seed, Hibiscus Flower, Red Clover Blossom, Sarsaparilla

DIABETES : Bladderwrack, Bilberry Leaf, Gentain Root, Dandelion Root, Raspberry Leaf, Saw Palmetto Berry, Uva Ursi Leaf, Kelp, Parsley Leaf

DIGESTION : Papaya Leaf, Dandelion Root, Fennel Seed, Ginger Root, Gentain Root

DIURETIC : Cleavers, Dandelion Root, Juniper Berry, Kelp, Parsley Leaf, Uva Ursi Leaf, Cayenne 35HU

ENERGY : Astragalus, Bee Pollen, Ginkgo Leaf, Eleuthro Root, Foti Root, Ginger Root, Gotu Kola, Licorice Root, Panax Ginseng Root, Saw Palmetto Berry, Sarsaparilla Root, Spirulina

ESSIAC (E.T.) : Sheep Sorrel, Burdock Root, Slippery Elm Bark, Turkey Rhubarb Root

FEMALE PROBS : Chaste Tree Berry, Damiana Leaf, Dong Quai Root, Licorice Root, Wild Yam Root, Squawvine, Saw Palmetto Berry

GREENS : Alfalfa Leaf, Barley Grass, Beet Root, Chlorella, Lecithin, Dandelion Root, Nettle Leaf, Parsley Leaf, Spirulina, Wheatgrass, Kelp, Bee Pollen, Rosehips

GOUT BGONE : Nettle Leaf, Celery Seed, Prickly Ash Bark, Parsley Leaf

IMMUNE : Echinacea Root, Suma, Eleuthro Root, Pau D’arco, Astragalus, Cats Claw, Schizandra Berry, Reishi & Shitake Mushrooms

KIDNEY STONES : Gravel Root, Ginger Root, Marshmallow Root, Parsley Root, Hydrangea Root, Lobelia

LIVER : Milk Thistle Seed, Turmeric, Artichoke, Dandelion Root, Oregon Grape Root, Schizandra Berry, Cascara Sagrada

LOWER BOWEL TONIC : Cascara Sagrada, Cayenne 35HU, Fennel Seed, Ginger Root, Lobelia, Oregon Grape Root, Red Raspberry, Rhubarb Root

ULTRA MALE : Tribulus, Damiana Herb, Horny Goatweed, Sarsaparilla, Panax Ginseng, Maca, Saw Palmetto, Ginkgo Leaf

MENOPAUSE : Black Cohosh, Blessed Thistle, Eleuthro Root, Chaste Tree Berry, Sarsaparilla Root, Squawvine

PARASITE : Black Walnut Hull, Wormwood, Quassia Wood, Male Fern, Cloves, Pumpkin Seed

PROSTATE : Echinacea Root, Ginger Root, Lobelia, Gravel Root, Parsley Root, Pygeum, Saw Palmetto Berry, Uva Ursi Leaf, Pumpkin Seed

RELAXING : Passionflower, Scullcap Herb, Hops Flower, Valerian Root

SUSTENANCE : Alfalfa Leaf, Nettle Leaf, Garcinia, Green Tea Extract, Hawthorn Berry, Spirulina, Cacao, Acai Berry, Bladderwrack, Cayenne 35HU

RESPIRATORY : Chickweed Herb, Horehound, Licorice Root, Mullien Leaf, Pleurisy Root, Saw Palmetto Berry, Slippery Elm Bark, Wild Cherry Bark, Cayenne 35HU

THYROID : Kelp, Gentain Root, Irish Moss, Saw Palmetto Berry, Cayenne 35HU


Someone put together a very informative page. I've bumped into a large number of herbs that are said to be affective for candida, several more than the ones mentioned here. But a note of experience, when I had horrendous throat and respiratory problems the Wildwood Lifestyle Center I went to for 11 days on two different occasions gave me a tea mix to drink: licorice root, chamomile and hops flowers. Wow, did the the licorice root soothe the throat!

What is not mentioned in this information is the side affects of all these "good and healthful" products. My mom (with high blood pressure) should not take licorice root as it is known raise the blood pressure, and no one should take it for longer than 7 days consecutively. People also have allergies, whether known or unknown, so they should pay attention to how their body reacts when introducing new products. For example, I had to minimize on the chamomile in my tea as chamomile is part of the aster family and I'm quite allergic to ragweed, also in the aster family. Echninacea which people rave about is also in the aster family and that stuff instead of boosting my immune system gives me asthma. So I think caution is needed when combining new herbs. Fact, people with candida have sensitivities and some herbs may not benefit every person's system.

Lyme Disease, Babesia and Candida

A friend who's been long-term sick (30 years) just told me that her sickness is from Lyme Disease and a co-infection of Babesia. When I last talked with her 1 1/2 years ago, I don't think she had diagnosis, so hurray that now she can address the specific problems. As I had never heard of babesia, I did some web searching, and found that like lyme disease, babesia is a bacterial infection [although some people argue that viral conditions can exist]. Searching further, the recommended diet for lyme and babesia is gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free. Well, that pretty much sums up the core of the candida diet, another bacteria-borne illness.

While at Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital where I went when things went wa-ay out of control, I asked how they could treat Lyme disease as a good friend in Korea was diagnosed with that when she was three months pregnant. By the time the much-awaited baby arrived, she was very ill. We reconnected when her son was about three years old [2 1/2 years ago] and my friend was in a bad, bad, bad situation. She was extremely weak and highly excitable to the point of retreating to the couch to pant for the majority of the afternoon. She was exhausted and obviously her adrenals were exhausted too. [By the way, after spending one year in the states with her parents and extended family, eating a less acidic diet, and constant love around her, she recently told me that she's getting better and better, and seems to be entering some kind of remission!] At the lifestyle center, they told me that lyme disease is treatable with diet and herbs, but of course the success of the treatment depends mostly on how long the person has had the disease.

I didn't ask which herbs were used to treat lyme's and now I regret it. Candida, which is a bacteria overgrowth of bacteria which can become mold-like and fungal, can be treated with several herbs - oregano oil, grapefruit seed oil, thyme and many more. I would be interested to know if these three bacterial diseases (candida, lyme's and babesia) could be treated with the same herbs ... my guess is yes, but I'm not finding much herb treatment for either Lyme's disease or babesia on the internet [am very interested in pursuing this!]