Question: Have been dealing with invasive system test infection. For about the last 5 years it has settled in my joints and in my sinus causing horrific headaches and the build up has caused lumps in my face also that are filled with yeast. Changed diet and seen many different providers. Both traditional and natural nothing helps or no one listening.

Cutaneous candidiasis, occurs when an overgrowth of Candida develops in the skin which can cause white patches, discoloration, redness/soreness, dry skin and lumps. In addition to a low-sugar anti-inflammatory diet plan, you can make an antifungal skin ointment from essential oils and a carrier oil like coconut oil that will both kill the Candida yeast and help remove dead cells. Cutting out sugary foods can help to prevent Candida outbreaks, both in your skin and elsewhere. Probiotics in CanXida Restore can help to rebalance the bacteria in your gut, and support your immune system in your mouth too. Digestive and systemic enzymes and antifungals like caprylic acid in Remove help get rid of biofilms that can also establish in the mouth creating more persistent candidiasis. Try adding 2-3 drops of neem or oregano oil to water and use it to kill the Candida in your skin and remove the dry skin with wet tissues. You can also use tea tree oil and garlic oil.

Make sure to properly hydrate your skin after. Apply them several times a day. Try using coconut oil or olive oil as carrier oils and moisturizers which are two oils with strong antifungal properties. If you have Candida in your skin, you are most likely to have intestinal candidiasis as well. The most effective treatment includes a combination of low-sugar diet, probiotics, and antifungals. Make sure to stay hydrated and focus on hydrating fruits and vegetables as part of your diet to support healthy skin. You could also be suffering from atopic dermatitis including eczema and prurigo which are skin dirsorders frequently linked to to intestinal permeability or “leaky gut”, and are often a result of Candida overgrowth.

Question: My wife is a very slender (5′ 7″/ 105 lbs.). She has a protruding stomach which makes her look pregnant. This is not possible as she’s approaching her 75th birthday next month. Her doctor referred her to a Gastroenterologist who diagnosed her with “sludge” in her gallbladder. She was instructed to cut back on fatty foods. There has been no change. Could there be another culprit causing this bloating?

If you are dealing with digestive symptoms like bloating, constipation and feeling tired or fatigued it could be Candida overgrowth or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Symptoms for both conditions are very similar so it is important to get the right diagnostic tests. For SIBO, the gold standard is the breath test. It is the most accurate and determines if the SIBO is hydrogen or methane dominant. When you have an overgrowth of bacteria in your small intestine, the carbs you eat can ferment before they are broken down. Check out for ovarian cancer, IBS as well.

This fermentation process releases hydrogen gas. I recommend the lactulose breath test. A comprehensive stool test can be used to look for Candida overgrowth and SIBO. With the stool test, your stool is directly analyzed for levels of Candida and the lab can determine the species of yeast as well as which treatment will be effective. It can also look at the flora of the large intestines to determine a bacterial overgrowth. This functional medicine test can test for multiple gut infections at one time. Some good places to get your stool test include Genova, Doctor’s Data, and Great Plains. For Candida the antibodies test and the organic acid test are also available. For both Candida and SIBO a comprehensive gut protocol must be followed. Natural antimicrobials help to break down the biofilms that Candida and bacteria uses to protect themselves. When used in combination with probiotics and a low-sugar diet, they work with your immune system to stop the growth of Candida.

Question: So I’ve been on your program for about 10 days. Along w/ your program, I’ve been exercising, doing intermittent fasting 16×8, and a work-in progress keto diet (some foods I’ve been eaten are actually not keto like cassava). My main concern, though, is that despite implementing those changes for 10 days, I only lost about 1 pound. More upsetting is that my belly fast has not changed. I’m 5’10, 188 lbs and am not on any medications. I am burning less calories daily, though, since I recently lost my job-but I’ve read from health experts that diet accounts for about 75% of weight loss. When should I check w/ a doctor to see if my particular type of belly fat signifies some other issue like my liver?

When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s natural to want it to happen very quickly. But people with gradual and steady weight loss (about 1 pound per week) are more likely to keep the weight off. The sensible approach to losing excess body fat is to make small healthy changes to your eating and exercise habits. These changes should be things that you can maintain as part of your lifestyle. If the strategies you’re doing to lose weight can’t be long term, chances are you’ll regain the weight. When you lose weight too quickly, you lose fat and muscle. Muscle burns calories, but fat doesn’t. So, when you stop dieting, your body will burn even fewer calories than before because the amount of muscle in your body has decreased and your metabolic rate is slower. Try to focus on consistent and nutritious meals and snacks, for example start your day with a protein smoothie, and include a serving of vegetables in lunch and dinner regularly.

Make your diet realistic and don’t beat yourself up, if you fail. For example starting keto is bound to failure because it’s nearly impossible to eat so little crabs and it might set you up for a binge. Instead prioritize good quality carbohydrates like you mentioned green plantain, cassava, taro and sweet potato. Try to focus on resistance-training to build muscle 3/week for 30 minutes. More muscle mass will boost your metabolism and it will allow you to have a higher calorie intake. Viceral fat (the one found in the belly) is fat stored deep inside the belly, wrapped around the organs, including the liver and intestines, so it’s harder to get eliminate. Give yourself a more realistic timeline to start to notice changes like three months with consistent excercise and healthy meals.

Disclaimer: This article intends to provide general insights and may not apply to individual cases. It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure that any vitamin supplementation.