SCD, Candida, Pregnancy, & lots of other questions

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm new to following SCD & heard about it at the WAPF Conferences the

last 2 years. I decided to try it recently due to bloating,

malabsorption (ND diagnosed), & Candida issues. I went gluten-free Dec

1, then changed Dec 15 to the SCD & Candida regimen (grain-free,

sugar-free - including fruits, lactose-free - except homemade, raw

cow's milk yogurt & legal cheeses, & nut-free). It's early but I do

see improvements on my foot & with my digestion.

Lately, my bm's have slowed down - they were normal & regular 1-2x/day

prior to this diet. Plus, my heel bone hurts. I'm thinking that I'm

not getting enough fiber or calcium. I'm eating a ton more greens than

ever, heavy at every meal. I guess I need more? My diet is mainly

proteins, greens, & fats (ghee, coconut oil, olive oil, grapeseed

oil). I've actually been proud of being able to feel " normal " full,

rather than bloated full. What about weight gain? Will that happen

eventually? I'd like to be +10 lbs.

When I drip our yogurt, I find that ours is about 55% whey. Whey is a

source of calcium, but also lactose, which is illegal. How is it that

yogurt is legal? We do enjoy the yogurt cheese! What is the

difference between raw milk yogurt cheese, cream cheese, & creme

fraiche? All the recipes have nearly, if not entirely, identical

ingredients & methods. What is half & half? Is it possible to make

farmer's cheese, hoop cheese, or dry curd cottage cheese from raw milk

at home?

My son developed a 1x1/4 inch rash that resembles eczema on his

forehead about a month ago. Once I realized what it might be, I

stopped his dairy intake & it has since gone away, almost entirely. In

the last 3 days, I have given him some yogurt cheese & it looks like

the eczema is more pronounced again. His patch of dry skin surfaced

when I was making homemade yogurt & having a bowl of it with fruit

(blueberries, banana, & strawberries - yummy!!!) for breakfast daily.

Yes, we both loved it, but I wonder if my son over did it. He is

almost 3 & gluten-free (he gets rashes from oat & wheat) since Dec 1.

I am concerned that he isn't getting enough calcium, since not

drinking milk or having a significant amount of dairy products. He

does eat his greens & asks for more!

I'm trying to consume probiotics with every meal. Here's what we have

access to right now: yogurt cheese (mainly), yogurt, kombucha. Is

kombucha legal? We have German Sauerkraut (made from turnips)

fermenting but that won't be ready for a while. I suppose I should get

some sauerkraut from the store in the meantime. I'm also having broth

with minced vegetables frequently. What other probiotics do you

suggest? We want to ferment veggies but they're out of season

(cabbage). Are fermented carrots SCD/Candida legal? What else can we

ferment?

In the way of anti-fungals, I use daily: fresh garlic, onion, hot

peppers, individual herbs & spices, black walnut supplement, silver

shield, chlorophyll from spearmint, coconut oil. I also use cod liver

oil. I was using greenzone, but changed to wheat grass because of

illegals. My supplements are from Nature's Sunshine Products & Amazing

Grass. I prefer to consume my nutrients, rather than using supplements.

Some other background info - At the beginning of my pregnancy, I got

the worst ever sinus infection & made the decision to see a nurse

practitioner, who prescribed an antibiotic. After a few days, I had

the worst ever yeast infection, which I suffered with until I realized

that I could use a vaginal cream to treat it (now I know to use

vinegar or yogurt). Then at the end of my pregnancy, I had to have an

antibiotic iv at the hospital due to being gbs+. I also consumed

anti-acid tablets regularly. I believe these incidents sent my yeast &

bacteria levels, which unbeknowing to me weren't up to par anyhow,

completely out of balance. Plus, I was eating what I thought was a

healthy diet, according to the USDA food pyramid - now I realize

different. Refined sugars & refined grains contribute to Candida

overgrowth, but I've been away from them for 6-12 months, so I don't

understand why it's not so easy to get rid of Candida. Mine is on one

foot & toenails, but I also believe it's related to bumps in the back

of my mouth, else it may be a symptom of mal-digestion. My theory is

that at some point all sugars & grains sustain Candida & I'm hoping

that strict adherence to the SCD/Candida diets will flush these toxins

from my body. Ok, so I haven't been perfect due to the holidays, but

I've done my very best to choose legal foods! If not SCD/Candida, then

at least SCD.

For the symptoms I've described, how long do you think I should wait

to get pregnant? My husband & I are about 2 years overdue, I'm 34, &

our son really needs a playmate. We do want more children, perhaps

several. I don't want to get caught up in trying to make everything

" perfect " before getting pregnant, when most people don't even think

about this & their babies seem to turn out fine. Ultimately, I know

that I am making the best decisions possible with the knowledge that I

have. My hope is that we could start trying after about 3 - 6 months

of SCD/Candida dieting. If I need to stay away from all grains &

sugars to keep my yeast & bacteria in balance, then I will. Is it

possible to have a healthy WAPF baby, while following SCD/Candida

diets (no grains or sugars)?

Something else I noticed while staying away from grains & sugars is

that my mood is more even. Now when I'm stressed for no real reason, I

think, what illegal have I had? It's great to feel happy & relaxed

more often.

Lots of questions, searching for answers. Thank you for reading all

this & for your insight!

GLJ