HEALTH Fight

I crave sweets in an abnormal way, period.  I haven't had any dessert since Monday (thank you very much), but it's been a daily battle of fighting some pretty strong cravings.   I realize that most of my posts revolve around talking about trying to cut out sweets/desserts, because I feel that eating them is what has put me in the situation that I'm in.  I'm also finally believing that, "you are what you eat" AND I'm looking at food, sugar in particular, as a drug, a drug that over the course of the past several years (at least the last 5), has wreaked havoc on my body.  I would be a fool to think that I could eat the amount of sugar and simple carbohydrates that I've been eating, and NOT have it negatively affect my body.  What do I think has happened?  I think I have a yeast imbalance.  I feel that because of the amount of sugar that I've eaten I have an over abundance of yeast in my body (I know..it sounds gross), and this is why I'm continually craving sugar (the yeast needs it to grow...again, yuck!).  The following is list of symptoms that accompany a  yeast imbalance:  (I have put  my symptoms in CAPS)

DETECTING A YEAST IMBALANCE
We all carry some yeast (fungus-like organisms called Candida) in our bodies. Most of us are
born with it. When yeast thrives and becomes “the host” instead of the “guest,” we call it a yeast
imbalance. It has been an extremely common, yet often unrecognized nutritional concern since
the early 1980’s.
Common factors related to yeast imbalance include:

•  CHRONIC SINUS CONDITIONS
• EXCESS MUCUS IN THE NASAL PASSAGES/THROAT/CHEST
  • Recurring vaginal and/or stool mucus
• Frequent or long-term use of antibiotics, such as tetracycline for acne
• FREQUENT USE OF BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTICS FOR RECURRENT INFECTIONS, SUCH AS IN THE EARS, BLADDER, VAGINA OR THROAT 
• **Repeated exposure to indoor mold (in the home and/or workplace)
• SENSITIVITY TO MOLDS, DAMPNESS AND PERFUME SMELLS
• Birth control pills use in women
• PREMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS
• Recurrent vaginal yeast infections in women or prostate problems in men
• Regular use of cortisone-type drugs
• Chronic ingestion of simple carbohydrates with low protein intake
• CRAVINGS FOR SWEETS, BREADS OR ALCOHOL
• MENTAL SYMPTOMS SUCH AS DEPRESSION, MOOD SWINGS, OR CONFUSSION
• Recurrent skin fungus infections, such as ringworm, ATHLETE'S FOOT, “jock itch”, or nail
problems
• DIGESTIVE BLOATING, SYSTEMIC FLUID RETENTION
• Leaky gut
• Continuous weight gain (and belly fat), even with strict dieting
If you have three or more factors, you most likely have a yeast imbalance. Stress is not a major
causative factor, but if acute or chronic, it exacerbates the problem. There are specific blood and
stool tests that can detect levels of Candida, which can be run through most diagnostic labs.

Although I haven't been tested, I would be shocked if I DIDN'T have a  yeast imbalance.  Oh,and the "stress" thing?  I got SHINGLES last year because I was so stressed, so YES, I believe stress is exacerbating the problem.

I not only want to lose weight but I want to get healthy as well.  Because of this I'm going to be starting a very strict two month "Yeast Free Diet".  The goal here is to fix my body, get healthy and lose weight while doing it.  (I got the information above  from the "Candida Action Plan", that  I purchased through Nutritional Concepts (www.nutrionalconcepts.com).