Candida Detox Chronicles: Day 9

Hello Detoxers,

After 9 days on our candida detox I wanted to post an update.  Not my usual style, so if you are looking for my regular frequency / spiritual / motivational  type stuff follow me on Instagram as - Janderella, on Twitter as - @JFloydHolistic or on Face Book https://www.facebook.com/OmniaLumen/

Remember - this is for educational purposes only.  This is not intended to treat, prescribe or cure anything.  Please seek advice from your health care provider before starting any program or taking any medication / herbs.

Ok, so here we go with all the detox details  you want to know - and some you probably don't.  We are doing this detox as a family, however, to keep it simple I will only be posting my experiences. 

I am 9 days in to this candida detox and right now I feel like I could eat a whole wedding cake! My cravings come and go and are usually not this extreme.  Tonight though, is tough.  I have to admit - I caved and bought some sugar free candy for moments such as these.  I am adamantly against artificial sweeteners in any form and haven't bought or consumed any in years.  For this detox though, I would rather have the occasional piece of sugar free candy than have the actual sugar.  Sugar is a huge No-No when it comes to candida.  Candida thrives on sugar and simple carbs.  All of which are some my favorite foods.  I miss those little Hawaiian rolls that are slightly sweet, I miss brownies, bananas, grapes, and most of all I miss COFFEE!!!

Oh, but the good outweighs the bad in so many ways.  I feel so much better overall.  I've lost 9lbs, I sleep better, I'm not struggling to wake up in the morning, and did I mention I've lost 9lbs?!? LOL     I wasn't expecting to loose so much so fast.  And before you say it - it's not water weight.  I'm not taking anything that would promote fluid loss specifically.  I've always been careful about staying hydrated.  Besides, people who stay hydrated typically don't have an overabundance of  fluid retention.  Now, I can't claim that my weight loss is all fat either.  I'm sure it's a combination of some fat, some old toxic fecal mater (gross, I know), some fluid and some actual dead candida.

My biggest complaints have to be the cravings, the bloating & the zits.  Right now my face has 4 blemishes and a few odd bumps that are on their way to being zits.  We have all been bloated off and on since day one.  It comes with the territory and we still have a ways to go.  Thankfully, we have essential oils for diffusing in the house and for intestinal support.  We also have some great digestive enzymes that we love.  Also, on days 2-4 I was extremely tired in the afternoon / evening.  I just rolled with it and retired early on those days.  A little extra sleep is always welcome in my book.

Here is a list of some common signs during a candida die-off (otherwise known as a Herxheimer reaction).

• Nausea
• Headache, fatigue, dizziness
• Swollen glands
• Bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea
• Increased joint or muscle pain
• Elevated heart rate
• Chills, cold feeling in your extremities
• Body itchiness, hives or rashes
• Sweating
• Fever
• Skin breakouts
• Recurring vaginal, prostate and sinus infections
• Luckily, we have not experienced all of these signs!  I can't imagine how we would get through this if we had.
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• We have been eating mostly veggies, seafood, nuts/seeds & poultry with some sausage to keep the husband & the son happy.  Yes, I realize sausage is not a healthy food, however, in the short term and for our purposes it is allowed.  I also made a concession for Satsuma's since our tree is loaded down with these little orange-like gems.  Other than that we have had NO sugar, NO simple carbs, NO fruit, (other than lemons & limes) NO coffee, NO sweet potatoes, NO peanuts, NO mushrooms, NO junk food, NO fast food, NO processed food, NO milk products, NO cheese, NO desserts, NO, NO, NO.....  I miss homemade macaroni and cheese right now.  I do occasionally use organic, grass fed, unsalted butter and we do eat eggs.  We quit drinking cow's milk a couple of years ago, so that's not a big deal.  Ice cream though, was an occasional treat that I loved.
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• Ok, I have to stop talking about food before I do something I might regret.  Let's get on to supplements & essential oils.  Please know that I can't get into to much detail about what supplement or essential oil is good for which issue.  The regulations surrounding this are insanely picky.  Feel free to email me with any questions about the products we are using.  I will post links and please be aware that I do get a modest commission if you purchase them from me.  But hey - buy them from somewhere else if you like.  I'm just sharing what I'm doing & using.  The best part about this is it's working for us and it can work for you too!

Fiber - if you haven't read my previous post about fiber, please do so.  I am taking  Loclo Fiber daily.  No bloating, no nasty side effects. Yay!

Probiotic - Honestly, I am rotating between 2 probiotics. Not because I need to, I'm just trying to see if one works better for me.  So far, they are both excellent and I like them equally. They are Probiotic Eleven & Life 5.

Essential Oils - I am using these topically, internally & aromatically.  Some I apply to the bottom of my feet, some on my abdomen, some in my tea or water and others in my diffuser.  These oils have been a huge help for so many reasons.  They support my immune system, my digestive system, my mood and even help to banish some of my cravings. The ones I am currently using can be found here.  (I'm currently using oregano, lavender, ocotea, tea tree, clove, thieves, lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus, joy, stress-away & frankincense) 

Herbs - I am using Pau d'arco for it's well known 'abilities'.  It strengthens the immune system and fortifies against "foreign invaders". (I highly recommend a quick search on Pau d'arco for loads of good info about it's benefits.) 

I am also using food enzymes  milk thistle & digestive support as needed.  The digestive support provides friendly bacteria which helps support the immune system & the colon.  The food enzymes are a great help with all of this meat I'm eating. (I normally only eat poultry, seafood & deer meat occasionally rather than almost daily.)  I do take the milk thistle on daily basis to help support & protect my liver from toxins.

I  take 2-4 tablespoons of high quality, virgin, cold pressed coconut oil daily.  I get mine from a local shop, but this stuff is available everywhere.  Just make sure you get a good brand that has not been destroyed during it's processing.

On my list to use, but not for another few days is Inner Defense.  Why wait you ask? Simply to not overload my system.  Step 1 - kill the candida.  Step 2 - support the body. Inner defense is part of my step 2, but more on that later.

Protein shake mix - This is totally optional.  We happen to like having this option for busy mornings or even a mid-day snack.  My protein shake mix of choice is not on my meal plan right now.  I have two that I like for this detox.  One is called Love & Peas. It is totally sugar free and made with stevia.  It also has fiber, vitamins & is Vegan.  The other one is called Balance Complete and it has wolf berries, vitamins, coconut oil & whey protein.  This one does have a little sugar in it from the fruits in the ingredients, but is acceptable as long as there are absolutely no other sugars in the diet. I love both of these and they are both delicious! 

Another thing I will be adding is a product called AlkaLime This is used to maintain proper PH, which can sometimes be challenging during this particular type of detox.  With such limited food choices, we often find ourselves a little to acidic.  This will do the trick.  BONUS - candida hates an alkaline environment! 

Alright, so no pretty pictures or fancy blog stuff.  Just straight forward information of what I'm doing to kick candida's ass.  Feel free to email me with any questions you have OmniaLumen@aol.com.  Yes, I still use AOL - don't laugh to hard.

If you would like to have a personalized candida detox plan from a professional Holistic Wellness Practitioner who specializes in Holistic Nutrition contact me at the above email.  Not everybody's body is the same and no one detox plan is right for everyone.  Don't guess when it comes to your health.

Love & Light,

Rev. Jan Floyd HWP, RMP, CHt

Natural Health Products - Do they work?

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say they've tried natural product "x" and it didn't work.  They often say it was the most expensive one, or the clerk at the store said it was the most popular or even that it was in the nicest package.  They complain about how they spent the money and the product either didn't work well, or didn't work at all.

That's like walking into a drugstore and going to the cough & cold section and grabbing a random product off the shelf in hopes that it works.  Without a little knowledge of the ingredients or what it's actually made for,  you might as well eat a tic-tac.

There are a few reasons why so many natural products don't seem to work.  First off, not every product labeled 'natural' IS natural.  Marketing is everywhere.  Natural products & remedies are not immune to clever slogans and pretty packaging.  Don't be fooled, read the ingredients & ask questions.  Better yet, do some research & talk to a trustworthy professional.

The second reason why natural products don't preform well for John Doe is that not all natural products are created equal.  Like I said before, read the labels, ask questions, and get some professional assistance.  Just as you would go to a doctor for a prescription, you should go to a professional Practitioner to get the right remedy.  Professionals know which products are of  higher quality and consistently preform well.  Why?  Because they work with clients and these products on a daily basis.  Trust me, we know which ones are potent, proven to work consistently &  manufactured to a higher standard.

The third and likely the most common reason why natural products don't seem to work is due to the delicate balance of enzymes, ph, vitamins, minerals, deficiencies & so on that are already in the body prior to feeling ill.  So, when you grab a natural remedy for say, a stuffy nose, it might not work so great if your microbiome is out of balance.  Now there is what the Husband calls a "Five Dollar Word". LOL  The microbiome is basically your gut health.  When this is out of balance natural product "A" might not work for you.  You might need natural product "X" in addition to a vitamin or essential oil, or even an herbal supplement.

I've seen it all to many times.  Someone comes to me and says natural product "X" worked for Sally Snowball and it didn't work for me at all.  Well, my shortest answer to that is not everybody's body is the same.  With so many things to consider, it's no wonder that so many people pick up the wrong remedy so often.

Here is the best advice I can give you when using natural products.  Seek the advice of a well trained Practitioner first.  Ask a lot of questions, build a relationship with them.  Most Natural & Holistic Health Practitioners are more than willing to help educate you on the products and services they offer.  They will usually spend 1-2 hours with you at your initial visit, ask loads of questions and offer up free advice in addition to what you went in for.  





Bottom line is: Yes, natural products Do work - especially under the supervision of a well trained Holistic Health Practitioner.








The time, effort and monetary value of a skilled professional is absolutely worth it.  Restoring yourself to optimal health is much more complex than just swallowing a pill or eating better.  Like I said before, not everybody's body is the same.  You are a unique creature of nature with unique needs.  Educate yourself, see a professional Practitioner, take charge of your health, and live fully.

Benefits of Mindfulness & Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation and what it means for your health.

    There are several studies and recent articles about how the regular practice of  mindfulness and meditation can help alleviate all sorts of aliments like stress, inflammation, stabilizing blood pressure
and so fourth.  The more recent findings suggest that the daily practice of mindfulness combined with meditation is having a positive affect on aging at the cellular level.  Several articles are suggesting that not only does this practice benefit stress levels, but that it actually has an anti aging effect on the body's cells.

    We are all aware that meditation is beneficial for many things and these findings just add to the long list of reasons why you should  be meditating on a daily basis.  What does the addition of mindfulness mean to you?  The practice of mindfulness can be generally summed up as having awareness.  Being aware of the thoughts & emotions you are experiencing at or during the time of experience.  Your part is to process this information as if you were an observer.  As an observer, you are not allowed to interfere with the thoughts and emotions.  What does that even mean?  That means you are not allowed to judge yourself, your thoughts, or emotions when you are practicing mindfulness.  You simply acknowledge the thoughts, feelings and emotions you have at that time.  You are certainly encouraged to explore the source of those feelings and thoughts, but do so without judgment. 

  

Most people find that the more they practice mindfulness the better their results are. Generally speaking, there have been reports of feeling calmer, more alert, less stress, the tendency to have an overall better attitude and improved health.

  3 Reasons you should be practicing mindfulness meditation

1. The reduction of aging on a cellular level.
2. The overall reduction of stress and the physical concerns associated with it.
3. Aids in alleviating negative self judgment which promotes overall wellness.


*A side note about me*

Yes, I do meditate daily.  I have been incorporating mindfulness into my meditations as well as specific quantum physics techniques for the past several months and I absolutely love the results!  I also use several tools with many of my meditations.  Some of my favorite tools are specific music frequencies, pure organic essential oils and particular lighting and crystals.  Although they are not necessary, I find them helpful in adding to the whole experience.   If you would like to learn more about any of these topics feel free to contact me.  I am always happy to connect.




Sources include -
Pub Med Article - Can meditation slow rate of cellular aging?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3057175/


   

 

The Benefits of Reiki