(sorry for my fragments and run on sentences!!!)
Of all the books I've read only a few have had an impact on me like
this. For about 2 months I have been on what I call the yeast connection diet.
It all started when I went to the book store picked out about 7 FMS and
CFIDS books sat down and began checking them out. In the stack was "CFS
And The Yeast Connection" by William Crook[1]. As I began to flip through
it I immediately wanted to purchase it. It had large easy to read print and a
load of drawings and diagrams, it was a real sign to me that William
understood what its like to be sick and how hard it is to read that itsy bitsy
print. About the next week after buying it I began to read it, It was so easy to
read I finished it in 3 nights. It doesn't just talk about yeast, it talks about CFS
and contributing factors, other medicines and has tons of references. What I
found most intriguing was the part about prescription medicines (ones used for
colds, flu, etc.) It says that when we take "wide range" perscriptions(like
ceclor) it knocks down the bad guys in the body as well as good guys who
help the body. This made 100% sense with my CFIDS. Every since I had
direct contact with people I have been chronically sick, I never went to pre
school or anything like that. We didn't have much contact with my family
members and we lived far away from people on seven acres of land. Soon as I
hit Kindergarten I was sick every other week mostly with strep throat and
chronic bronchitis. So that means every other week Rachel got a prescription
from the doctor, this would continue for seven years. In my 7th grade year I
started refusing antibiotics I believe it has paid off but the damage was
done.
While some of the things in the book were repeats I still found it very
helpful. It has detailed drawing
and discussion about the anti yeast diet, but
the truth is its not just anti
yeast. Its many things: no yeast, (cut down or
no) sugar, aspartame, artificial
flavors, citric acids,molds(cheese), food dyes,
hydrogenated oils, luncheon meat
and caffeine.(i'm sure i forgot something) While I know most of you are
dying right about now after reading that its not so bad. You can have regular
butter (no margin), there is a "sugar" made from honey which you can use
in place of sugar. There are also things you need to start eating more
of, and special
things. Like organic anything,
especially milk!!!! Regular milk is full of
hormones from the antibiotics the
farmers give the cows so they make more
milk. There is usually a whole
section of organic foods such as; Cheese (made
from tofu and lactose free) vegetarian
butter, and other items [2]. There are
stores devoted to nothing but organic
food, free of hydrogenated oils and
yeast free bread. Like Food for
Life Baking Co., Inc. [3] they offer potato chips with
unhydrogenated oil, though these
still aren't healthy they are the good for this
diet. But the real first thing
you should do is buy the book, and if you can afford the new one that came
out in january[4]then clean your house out. You will be very surprised
how much hydrogenated oil is in foods. Spend a long time in the grocery
store reading every label. You'll have to start using Canola oil, Sunflower
oil, flax seed oil (provided essential fatty acids) and there are more
oils listed Vegetable oil is a no no. Another part of the book is
tracking down food allergies, you keep a food diary and eat one bad food
and see how you feel from it. (more info is in the book) When I did this
I found that I was allergic to cheese (which is like death to me) and REGULAR
milk, not ORGANIC. I have about 20 grams of sugar on a bad
day, I drink plenty of water, and
don't snack much seems how most of that
kind of stuff is filled with no
nos. I know some of you are thinking oh no
there will be nothing to drink
but water!!! Yes, most drinks are packed with
sugar or if they arent they have
aspartame for example Cran apple has 46 grams of sugar in 8 fluid ounces.
But there are other things, such as tea, you know the ones that you drink
hot. Two brand names I drink are celestial seasonings and Lipton Soothing
moments, I use honey to sweeten it and ta da its good to drink. I found
I am not allergic to corn so I make home made popped pop corn using my
sunflower oil.
Snack on sunflower seeds, besides
being OK they also provide essential fatty
acids. In no way is this diet easy
in the beginning, you'll have to ponder about
alternatives and get creative.
In the long haul it has been worth it to me.
The real test has been how well can a resist the bad foods. I've gotten
better but still have a long way
to go, I can eat that stuff yes, but I have to pay
for it. If I splurge and drink
a soda I'm so tired that I am miserable, if I eat
pizza I'm down for a day. Its quite
interesting to see how those bad foods
make you feel, it takes time to
get use to but after reading the book and
being a home made cook(LOL) it
gets easier. there is much more covered in the book[5] including
loads of quotes from studies/references. I haven't started on an anti yeast
medicine like Diflucan yet but I feel pretty good for not doing the complete
program. In no way am I saying this is a cure, but it has helped me be
able to sleep less, remember a little more and exercise. I've been walking
everyday (if it doesn't rain) I take my dog who is recovering from an auto
immune disorder(hmmmm sounds familiar) and we walk together. The really
sad thing is I'm doing better than him! I've lost 10 pounds since I began
the diet and feel much better and with the glyconutrients I will begin
this summer I hope to be back on my feet, all the way.
[1]Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and
the Yeast Connection: A Get-Well Guide for People With This Often Misunderstood
Illness--And Those Who Care for Them by William G. Crook , Cynthia Crook
(Illustrator) Cynthia P. Crook, Carol Jessop (Contributor)
COMMENTS
Between 3 million and 5 million
people suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and related disorders. Now
Dr. Crook discusses the role of yeast production and offers a safe therapy
program for people with this enervating affliction, outlining specific
treatments such as diets, exercise, and increased psychological support.
400 line drawings.
[2] http://www.galaxyfoods.com/plain.html
[3] http://www.food-for-life.com/
[5] www.igive.com
sign in or become a member, after
you sign in choose shop igive on the page that comes up, then on the next
page click on media and then books.com.Search for Chronic fatigue syndrome
and the yeast connection
then The Yeast Connection
Handbook. You can buy it at igive thry books.com for a cent more, 6% of
the money will go to support your choice I reccomend FMAGW since they bring
us many great things for cfs and fms, you can choose what you want though.
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0933478208/ref=sim_books/002-9777575-0875450
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0933478240/n/qid=926458972/sr=2-1/002-9777575-0875450
the hand book is more expensive
at books.com.
[5]Section listings:
a special message to reader
a special comment about names
acknowledgments
OVERVIEW:
CFS- an enigma
More about CFS- and where I'm coming
from
Chronic fatigue and food sensitivities
The yeast connection to Chronic
fatigue syndrome
SECTION 2: The yeas connection
Are your health problems yeast
connected
Yeast's and how they make you sick
SECTION 3: Support for the Yeast
connection to CFS
Searching for the yeast connection
Candida albicans and the Immune
system
Women and chronic fatigue syndrome
Conferences for professionals on
the yeast Human interaction
Support from other professionals
Support from other countries
Other comments about CFS and the
yeas connection
SECTION 4: Regaining your health
clean up your diet
clean up your home environment
track own food allergies
control candida
Psychological support
