I have been doing more investigations into candida and with the help of my naturopath have realised that hormones are playing a large part in encouraging the candida. I have been the contraceptive pill for medical reasons for about 20 years and I am lactose intolerant so I have been drinking soya milk for about 10 years. Last year my GP decided to change my Pill to Cilest. Goodness knows why now as I can practically pinpoint the date as my candida came back instantly and it has been difficult to shake off. I was unaware that oestrogen (spelt estrogen in the US) and progesterone can promote candida growth. Soya (spelt soy in the US) milk is also a complete no-no for candida sufferers apparently though this is new news to me. I’m really shocked. I’ve been trying so hard to stick to the diet, destress, vary my anti-candida supplements and generally take stock of my whole life to see where I am going ‘wrong’ and it turns out its the soya milk and Pill!
So I am now considering a return to dairy milk (yuck!) but I’ll have to take lactase or the lacto-free version. And I have to come off Cilest as soon as I can.
I have found this interesting article from the National Candida Society concerning candida and hormones http://www.candida-society.org/ncs/digestv1i3.htm It reminded me that Mandy Smith (then Bill Wyman’s wife) was the first UK public person reported in the press to be suffering from candida, which was attributed to her continuous use of the contraceptive pill from puberty. I remember reading about her and I was shocked at how thin and ill she became. Now I’m in the same situation and its quite shocking. Anyway this page from the NCS has an important section called ‘Steps to Recovery’ which I recommend.
I’ll let you all know how I get on!
8 responses so far ↓
Djinn // April 13, 2008 at 10:19 am |
I completely blame the pill (plus a dose of antibiotics) for the commencement and consolidation of my candida problems. I get horrible, painful periods and every month I debate going back on the pill, but really a couple of days in bed each month is still preferable to full-on, constant, indestructable thrush! The link between candida and hormonal balance is much overlooked, I feel.
Interesting info about soya milk – that’s a new one on me, I have to admit. Have you tried goats milk/cheese? It’s much lower in lactose than cows milk. That distinctive ‘goaty’ flavour took a bit of getting used to, but now I wouldn’t go back to moo milk! Helped ease the chronic congestion and wheeziness I was suffering from too.
katiebeatscandida // April 13, 2008 at 10:30 am |
That was a quick reply! Lovely to hear from you again!
No I haven’t tried goats milk but I am really struggling with the moo milk as the smell and taste is so off putting. It just smells of cows to me. I can’t help but think that animal’s milk is meant for their baby animals so it seems gross for us to drink it. I know Dr Mercola recommends raw milk but I’m still looking into that suggestion. I have tried rice milk but I wasn’t impressed. I’ll see if they sell Goats Milk in my local supermarket as I cant live without my breakfast cereal! Thanks for the idea!
Andy // July 7, 2008 at 10:32 am |
Just came across this blog when looking for al alternative breakfst to my usual consumppton of porridge, soya milk and yogurt
I have been on an anti-candida diet for 6 months now so have been taking soya mile for that length of time
Where did you hear about the soya milk being a “no-no”
Andy
katiebeatscandida // July 11, 2008 at 10:13 pm |
Hi Andy
Thanks for your message. My naturopath mentioned that I should stop soya milk because of the effect of soya on the levels of hormones in the body for women. I did some research and realised that Dr Mercola among others feels very strongly that soy / soya products should be avoided for multiple reasons. Take a look at this http://www.mercola.com/article/soy/index.htm
I now use goats milk and lacto-free cows milk but I do miss soya milk!
Katie
Helen // August 18, 2008 at 12:08 pm |
Hi Katie,
Thank you for this! I found your blog checking out my suspicion that there was a relationship between switching to soya milk for breakfast five years ago, and shortly aftwards developing recurrent thrush (there were other dietary changes which didn’t help) and my periods starting to decline away.
I’ll read the articles when I get home – and have swapped breakfasts too (muesli and organic yoghurt now). Thank you again for the link, and best wishes.
Helen
bestremedy // August 26, 2009 at 7:29 am |
Thanks Katie for a wonderful article. As a candida specialist I try hard to educate my patients on soy and contraceptives. I always get resistance. Now,thanks to this article I have a new tool to educate my patients.
Thanks You…!
Keith Barton D.Ir.
http://www.candidatherapythatworks.com
E-mail: bestremedy@yahoo.com
Jackie // August 31, 2009 at 3:16 pm |
Hey,
A good alternative to soya and cows milk is almond milk. I ‘ve been using for the past couple of months but it’s especially come in handy while I’ve been on the candida cleanse. Make sure to get the sugar free original. This is pure almond milk with no sugar. There is a vanilla one which is delicious but not okay for us candida suffers while we do the cleanse in the beginning.
I hear you should stray away from soya as much as you can on this diet.
I have a question about goat’s cheese. I have been preparing candida safe meals for the past week and would like to make an eggplant parm (sans parm). I found a goat’s milk mozoarella to use. Is it to early to be introdusing cheese into my candida free diet?
If anyone needs some meal ideas let me know and I can send some your way. I would also love to hear yours.
Jackie
Katie // September 1, 2009 at 6:06 pm |
Hi Jackie
Thanks for your comments. I’ve never tried almond milk so I’ll keep a look out for it. In answer to your question, I am not sure about goat’s cheese. When my candida was bad I was tested by a naturopath using homeopathic vials and kinesiology. This method seems to work well and it showed me which foods to cut out temporarily. Typically you have to cut them out for 8 weeks. I tend to steer clear of any type of cheese because I dont know enough about how the different types are produced. Sorry I cant be of help on this one!
Good luck with your candida cleanse. Have you come across the cook book ‘Cooking Without’ by Barbara Cousins? Its a great source of tasty meals for candida sufferers to try.
Katie x