I went to April to seek help with hormonal imbalances. I suffer from Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and although I had been seeing a naturopath for 12-18 months, watched what and how much I ate, took all the supplements, and made lifestyle changes, I was still suffering from all the symptoms of PCOS including very irregular and painful periods, no energy, bad skin, weight problems, and ongoing thrush problems.....
April recommended I complete a stool analysis, which initially seemed strange as I was going to see her about my menstrual cycle!, but as April explained often the symptoms we are feeling, actually stem from other imbalances in the body, and the symptoms get shunted to other body systems when our body can't cope.
The stool analysis returned some very interesting results. The major problem being an overgrowth of Candida. April gave me a guideline of what to eat and what to avoid, these being candida feeding/growth foods, along side some supplements to help restore the guts environment.
To be honest initially this list was quite overwhelming at first, so I focused on what I could eat, rather than what I couldn't eat. And to stay sane I'd allow myself a day on the weekend that I could eat a meal or 2 of what I was craving, and then over time I found that I didn't really want these 'cheat meals.', knowing that these food were feeding a monster inside me turned me off them pretty quickly.
I researched 'Candida recipes,' and experimented a lot and found it quite simple. I substituted ingredients I could eat for the ones I couldn't. For example using coconut milk rather than yoghurt in a delicious butter chicken recipe, using turkey mince rather than beef mince in a meatloaf, or using quinoa instead of rice with my favourite curries.
It wasn't easy at first and I still find that kicking caffeine is the most difficult. As soon as I am tired, or work gets a bit hectic, I'll reach for a green tea or a diet coke.
Once I got the hang of it, eating this way became so much easier to follow, and wonderful things started to happen. The first thing I noticed is the weight loss. Previously, I was sitting at about a size 12-14. No matter how much I counted calories, worked out like a maniac, and ate nothing but salads, rice cakes, and brown rice, I couldn't loose weight. I had just come to think that that is my body type. Within just a few short weeks my shorts were starting to hang off me but I was eating more than ever! The best part of this process is that I've NEVER gone hungry, yet I continued to loose weight. I am now a size 8-10 and I have abs!
As time progressed I got more energy and my skin started to brighten and clear. Within 6 months, for the first time in my life, I now have more regular and manageable periods.
I feel incredible. I will NEVER go back to the way I was eating before. My body is thriving and I very rarely get the cravings I used too. There are still a few areas I'd like to work on, and I believe that if I continue on the path I am on, I will be able to cure my PCOS without synthetic hormones (the pill), other medicines or surgeries.
I am so grateful that I took the time to listen to my body's symptoms, and chose to take an active part in healing my body's imbalances!!!
Thank you!!!
-Angela, Karratha
(WHAT IS CANDIDA - Candida is an opportunistic fungus (or form of yeast) that is the cause of many undesirable symptoms ranging from fatigue and weight gain, to severe depression, fibromyalgia / inflammation within joints, sleep disturbances, strong sugar cravings, general inflammation, recurrent infections, skin conditions and gas. The Candida yeast is always a part of the gut flora, and is a group of microorganisms that live in your mouth and intestine. When the Candida population starts getting out of control it weakens the intestinal wall, penetrating through into the bloodstream and releasing its toxic by products throughout the body. As they spread, these toxic by products cause damage to your body tissues and organs, wreaking havoc on your immune system. The major waste product of yeast cell activity is Acetaldehyde, a poisonous toxin that promotes free radical activity in the body. Acetaldehyde is also converted by the liver into ethanol (drinking alcohol). Some people even report feeling a drunk or hungover feeling along with debilitating fatigue from the high amounts of ethanol is their system.)
The stool analysis returned some very interesting results. The major problem being an overgrowth of Candida. April gave me a guideline of what to eat and what to avoid, these being candida feeding/growth foods, along side some supplements to help restore the guts environment.
To be honest initially this list was quite overwhelming at first, so I focused on what I could eat, rather than what I couldn't eat. And to stay sane I'd allow myself a day on the weekend that I could eat a meal or 2 of what I was craving, and then over time I found that I didn't really want these 'cheat meals.', knowing that these food were feeding a monster inside me turned me off them pretty quickly.
I researched 'Candida recipes,' and experimented a lot and found it quite simple. I substituted ingredients I could eat for the ones I couldn't. For example using coconut milk rather than yoghurt in a delicious butter chicken recipe, using turkey mince rather than beef mince in a meatloaf, or using quinoa instead of rice with my favourite curries.
It wasn't easy at first and I still find that kicking caffeine is the most difficult. As soon as I am tired, or work gets a bit hectic, I'll reach for a green tea or a diet coke.
Once I got the hang of it, eating this way became so much easier to follow, and wonderful things started to happen. The first thing I noticed is the weight loss. Previously, I was sitting at about a size 12-14. No matter how much I counted calories, worked out like a maniac, and ate nothing but salads, rice cakes, and brown rice, I couldn't loose weight. I had just come to think that that is my body type. Within just a few short weeks my shorts were starting to hang off me but I was eating more than ever! The best part of this process is that I've NEVER gone hungry, yet I continued to loose weight. I am now a size 8-10 and I have abs!
As time progressed I got more energy and my skin started to brighten and clear. Within 6 months, for the first time in my life, I now have more regular and manageable periods.
I feel incredible. I will NEVER go back to the way I was eating before. My body is thriving and I very rarely get the cravings I used too. There are still a few areas I'd like to work on, and I believe that if I continue on the path I am on, I will be able to cure my PCOS without synthetic hormones (the pill), other medicines or surgeries.
I am so grateful that I took the time to listen to my body's symptoms, and chose to take an active part in healing my body's imbalances!!!
Thank you!!!
-Angela, Karratha
(WHAT IS CANDIDA - Candida is an opportunistic fungus (or form of yeast) that is the cause of many undesirable symptoms ranging from fatigue and weight gain, to severe depression, fibromyalgia / inflammation within joints, sleep disturbances, strong sugar cravings, general inflammation, recurrent infections, skin conditions and gas. The Candida yeast is always a part of the gut flora, and is a group of microorganisms that live in your mouth and intestine. When the Candida population starts getting out of control it weakens the intestinal wall, penetrating through into the bloodstream and releasing its toxic by products throughout the body. As they spread, these toxic by products cause damage to your body tissues and organs, wreaking havoc on your immune system. The major waste product of yeast cell activity is Acetaldehyde, a poisonous toxin that promotes free radical activity in the body. Acetaldehyde is also converted by the liver into ethanol (drinking alcohol). Some people even report feeling a drunk or hungover feeling along with debilitating fatigue from the high amounts of ethanol is their system.)
RSS Feed