I have been faithfully low-carbing since the beginning of the year. I have not made one false step in six weeks. My carbs have been around 20 - 25 most days. BUt after the initial six pound drop, I gained two and have not budged.

I've been sick with a serious sinus problems and cough for a few weeks, but my final push in this direction was being itchy EVERYWHERE - inside and out. I read your links, Doreen, took the quiz, and am pretty sure the problem is yeast overgrowth. And yes, I did your saliva test, Chrissy. Jellyfish sank like a rock.

I had a very strict and boring yeast-avoidance day yesterday. I also started with the oil of oregano ( this was quite a problem to find since the vitamin store tried to sell me something that was actually thymus - you are supposed to use origanium vulgare )

Lo and behold, when I weighed this morning, I was down three pound. Boring or not, I think I'm on to something!

Kay,

Don't forget to take your probiotics. I just recently started a very good blend, and ohhhhhh what a difference they've already made.

Just don't want ya to suffer the way I have.

Good luck!

Lain

Thanks for the input, Lain. I have been eating 1/2 cup of yogurt twice a day. It contains live cultures of acidolphilus and bifidim. Is this what you mean?

Also, do you know if it is okay to use lemon juice?

I just purchased oil of oregano. How do you take it? Do you mix it with something or take it straight. I'll bet it would be good on pizza (wishful thinking).

I did the anti-candida diet up until November and have gotten majorly off track and really feel lousy again.

Do you take this with anything else (spornox???)

Any input is appreciated.

THANKS

The instructions I got were to take four drops in a small glass of water. Definitely like drinking pizza. I am taking it three times a day. I haven't been able to find a lot of information about the optimum dose

I added some to the meat patties I made today, since I am out of garden oregano. It was good.

As for the rest, I'm a rookie, so I hope someone else can answer your question.

The Atkins recommendation is oil of oregano and olive leaf. There is a phone number on the Atkins website that you can call for advice, but you have to be insistant about what you want to know. My rep just kept reading me bits out of the book, (of course, I'd already studied that!!!) until I asked for someone who could answer specialized questions about candida.

Lemon juice answer - yes it's okay if you use fresh-squeezed, not bottled.

Mayonnaise, here we come!!!

Be sure you get origanum vulgare . Just because the bottle says oil of oregano, it doesn't mean you are getting the right product. The first one I bought said OIL OF OREGANO thymus capitatus This is not what you should use. It shouldn't even be taken internally.

The woman at the vitamin store was very huffy when I returned it. She was absolutely positive that it was the same thing. I tried to point out that the scientific name was completely different, but she wasn't interested in any facts to confuse her opinion.

As one article said, "Beware of cheap imitations." The first bottle cost $10.99. The real stuff was more like $22.

Yes. In case you wondered, I am having fun talking to myself.

Kay....

you're funny!!

by the way.. my doctor had me taking oil of oregano at two caplets, twice, daily. hope that helps.

Lain

Thanks Kay.

You are not talking to yourself. . . . . I appreciate your input. My brother in law is a health food rep (how lucky am I???). The oil of oregano (among other goodies) he picked up for me at a health food convention doesn't say either of those scientific names.

It says Oil of Oregano called "Oreganol". You are to place a few drops under the tongue. This stuff is REALLY NASTY TASTING (turpentine comes to mind). Anyway, the ingredients say a Proprietary blend (50 mg) of "Wild Mediterranean oregano oil P-73, with Extra virgin oil.

he also sent me a bottle of "Juice of Oregano" a pure natural tonic which I haven't tried (anyone have any ideas).

I also have a bottle of Pumpkinol an essential fatty acid derived from Austrian Pumpkinseed oil.

I guess I'll have some fun with these.

Thanks for you help.

ellbeegee

Hi Lain. After I'm finished with these drops, maybe I'll look for capsules. The drops are really pesky. I broke a glass trying to shake the drops out of the bottle!

Ellbeegee, you are very lucky. All the natural remedies are so expensive, and never covered by health insurance. They are still the way to go, IMHO.

This is working. I dropped another three numbers this morning. Nearly fell off the scale! My carb count hasn't changed much, so it's got to be what I'm not eating.

Kay, your situation sounds exactly like mine...I lost 6 pounds in the first week of Atkins and then haven't lost anything in over a month! I DO think I have a mild case of yeast overgrowth, so since I see a yeast-free diet is working for you, I had to ask: what exactly have YOU taken out of your low-carb diet since you started the yeast-free version? and were the results really overnight? you didn't change anything else? Thanks, any help is appreciated.

Oh, also Kay, are you on birth control pills by any chance?

Hi Not2Fat

I've been away so I only just saw your message. I had company and then went on holidays. I haven't been very strict the last few weeks. so I have to drag out the list and start over again.

• I cut out all dairy except high-fat yogurt - 1/2 cup twice a day
• I avoid all vinegar-containing items.
• I stopped having berries. I seldom ate fruit anyway, but now I eat none.
• I cut out all ham, cold cuts and sausages.
• I said goodbye to my favourite low-carb veggie treat - mushrooms.
• I do not make low-carb bread because of the yeast. I also checked my vitamins for yeast.
• I stopped drinking coffee and tea. That nearly killed me, but they don't taste good without cream anyway. I don't care for herbal teas, but I tried green tea and found I like it a lot. It is also supposed to be good for your health.
• I quit eating nuts, but later found that almonds can be okay. I used them with extreme caution and only when desperate.
• I quit using any artificial sweeteners. I still use stevia.
• I discovered that no citric acid means no diet pop and no sf jello. They were both trouble because of the last item anyway.

Life was pretty boring at first, but like anything else, you adjust. I also got a little more creative as I got used to the forbidden foods list. I wrote to Atkins and found that I could still use flaxmeal and stevia. After the initial period I also have soy milk whenever, and fresh tofu occasionally.

Not on birth control pills, but perimenopausal. which also messes with the hormones. I have come to realize that at my age, not gaining is something to be proud of. Losing is a bonus.