QuestionHi there,
If anyone could help answer some questions I would really appreciate the help. I know my body is in need of a major makeover. Strange things have happened with my metabolism since my first child. I have only continued to gain weight even with breastfeeding. I've had traditional doctors tell me to put down the fork as if I've been hogging out. I have truly not changed any eating habbits but the gaining weight is still apparent. I have now had baby number two and the same pattern is happening. I weigh more now than during either pregnancy and I am breastfeeding again. I have been told that breastfeeding is supposed to help shed the pounds. I breastfed my first for just over a year and actually ended up weighing more at the end of the year than I did 9 months pregnant. I have not added food calories into my diet (in fact I sometimes feel I eat less) but I still seem to gain. I have put on a total of 60 pounds since my first child that has not shead at all. I feel really overweight.
After my first daughter I went to a natrualpath doctor as I thought maybe he would have a good nutritional suggestion as the regular doctors just kept making me feel like a pig. He told me I had a bad case of Candida and that I had a torn gut that there was evidence of food in my blood. He also said that the amount of fat in my blood was causing the blood to clump together. He said it was a sign of very high cholesterol. I actually watched this on his screen. It was sort of scary but I didn't like the suggestions of colonics and a very restrictive diet (especially as I like meat). So I have never gone back. Do I really have to do the colonics too? (yuck) I am thinking of maybe going back - I think I need to do something but I don't know what is safe while breastfeeding.
I have never gone on a cleansing diet before. I thought I should perhaps try this cleansing out but I am still breastfeeding my 3 month old baby. It's getting a little depressing watching the scale continually going up. I'd like to perhaps have more children but do not know how safe it is for me at this rate. After reading the comments about Candida I am wondering if my baby or other daughter have it too or are at risk. Maybe even my husband? How could I put a child on a restrictive diet plan like this and make sure she still gets her protein and calcium etc required to grow her bones and muscles properly. Please advise me and explain where I can find this diet plan. Is it safe for me or do I have to wait until baby number two is no longer breastfeeding? Is it safe for my baby? I don't want to make her sick. What about the rest of the family? Can a three year old go on a diet program like this and how? Please help...
AnswerFirst of all, regardless the reason for weight gain after pregnancy, I can offer you a diet plan (it's online and free) proved to be 92 percent successful that had success in fighting yeast infection (http://bantadiet.com). It is also safe for breastfeeding.
Now, about the Candid part of your question. Candida is a yeast that always resides in the intestines and vagina, which population is normally kept at bay by the immune system and beneficial probiotic bacteria in the body. However, weakened immune system or suppressed the friendly gut bacteria (as happens after a course of antibiotics) can encourage excessive Candida growth leading to a pathological condition called candidiasis or yeast infection or thrush.
To diagnose candidiasis, your doctor have to order microscopic examination and culturing. Without this tests, no conclusive diagnosis can be made. However, to estimate your chances for this infectious disease, check out these common symptoms:
abdominal pain
athletes foot
bad breath
bloating
body odor
bruises of unknown origin
burning, dry eyes
burping
cold hands or feet
cravings for sweets and bread
diarrhea or constipation, intermittent
fatigue
flatulence
frequent colds
haemorrhoids
headaches
heartburn
hives
imexplained anxiety
insomnia
irritability
joint pains
mood swings
muscle pains
nail fungal infection
over-sensitivity to foods and smells
poor concentration and memory
thirst
unexplained rashes
urgent stool
white tongue
Candidiasis can be treated with the anti-fungal drugs like clotrimazole troches or lozenges, nystatin "swish and swallow" or oral fluconazole. These are the only officially recognized treatments.
Your naturopathic practitioner most probably based his/her recommendation for the colonic cleansing on the book by Dr. William Crook "The yeast connection: a medical breakthrough" published by the Vintage Book in 1986. However, there's no scientific evidence that colonics can be helpful for any medical condition other than constipation or for preparation for colonoscopy. As to treating candidiasis, it can, indeed, flash away some of the yeasts, but along with significant amount of friendly bacteria that otherwise fight the candida.
"Colonics is not approved by the FDA, and the risk of damage from perforation exists," -- says Susan Burke MS, RD, LD/N, CDE:
http://atkinszone.com/Tips/2007/07/top-tips-for-your-own-detox-plan.html
Probiotics is a different story. Probiotics are friendly bacteria, for example, those making yogurt like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. They help to improve immune system, digestion, etc. Recently, research showed that yogurt help losing weight.
The Benefits of Probiotics
http://atkinszone.com/recipes/2008/09/benefits-of-probiotics.html
Yogurt: ideas and recipes
http://atkinszone.com/low-carb/2006/11/yogurt-is-special-food-low-carb-wise.html
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