How I Got Started
I have taken several tests online and via books all from different physicians regarding risk for candida overgrowth and my numbers are in the very top tier, red zone, definitive that it may be plaguing my health. I have also been intrigued to do a parasite cleanse but wanted it guided because if you don’t taken certain precautions or first steps to prep your body it can actually make you very sick and make things worse. For example, you have to ‘open’ all your mucous passageways and prep your intestinal lining before even beginning the parasite protocol. if not, the worms or whatever you may be possibly dealing with will get stuck in the body.
And yes, we have worms.
So many people are surprised by this because we are stuck in first world. But in a third world country you’d see this is quite common. All our animals, including our dogs, horses, goats, and cattle, get dewormer twice a year.
Humans get worms from eating undercooked fish, eating any kind of vegetable that comes from the ground (they are in the soil) and most are not harmful. However I have been intrigued to try and rid my body of such things if I have them, so I sought a Naturopath.
There isn’t a ton of information about these things online so I wanted to make a series of blog posts about what I learned and experienced, what I ate, and my reactions. Here is Part 1 – the prep. (Also the Naturopath costs $2,400 so I am publishing this information to help you and save you money.)
Cleanse Prep: I had to take this vitamin regimen for a minimum of 30 days before starting the actual parasite cleanse.
Parasite Cleanse Supplements:
- EGA MUCOSA – 6 capsules per day
- MULTIVITAMIN – 1 capsule per day
- MAGNESIUM BREAKTHROOUGH – 2 capsules per day
- (Rx) VERVITA INSPIRACELL – 1 capsule per day
- (Rx) VERVITA GASTRODIGEST II – 1 capsule per day
- CELLCORE BIOTOXIN BINDER – 2 capsules per day
- CELLCORE ADVANCED TUDCA -1 capsule per day
- JAPANESE KNOTWEED – 2 capsules per day
- VITAMIN C – 1 capsule per day
- B COMPLEX – 1 capsule per day
- BEEF LIVER – 2 capsules per day
Description / Benefits / Contraindications
MEGA MUCOSA – support a healthy mucosal barrier and GI lining. Safe to use while pregnant and nursing.
MULTIVITAMIN – Macro and micro nutrient support. I am taking a prenatal so it is safe to use during pregnancy.
MAGNESIUM BREAKTHROUGH – aids in regulation of blood sugar levels, improves mood and reduces stress, sleep aid. Can be taken while pregnant, encouraged to take while nursing.
(Rx) VERVITA INSPIRACELL – promotes growth of healthy cells in the heart and brain, memory function, supports immune system. No evidence to support if you can take while pregnancy, however looking at the ingredient profile it is essentially a multivitamin with amino acids so use at your discretion.
(Rx) VERVITA GASTRODIGEST II – supports digestion in the stomach, and then in the gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and intestines. Assists in destroying ingested toxins, bacteria, and microorganisms. Use at your own discretion during pregnancy. No research to support for or against contraindications.
CELLCORE BIOTOXIN BINDER – microbiome support, supports detoxification and digestion, cellular repair. Binders are not safe for pregnant women because they mobilize metals intracellularly and from tissues to organs.
CELLCORE ADVANCED TUDCA -stimulates the release of bile into the digestive tract, detoxes the liver. Most say to avoid during pregnancy, however a study shows that if the mothers age is advanced it could provide therapy. Here is the study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9312116/
JAPANESE KNOTWEED – antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, anti inflammatory, high in polyphenols, safe to use while pregnant but is a mild stressor on your system.
VITAMIN C – strengthens immune function. Can take while pregnant or nursing, but large doses not recommended.
B COMPLEX – reduce fatigue, boost mood, converts nutrients to energy. Encouraged to take during pregnancy.
BEEF LIVER – nutrient dense, reduces toxin load, supports immune system and hemoglobin production, Safe for pregnant and nursing mothers.
Here’s what I experienced during that time:
Day 1-3: Getting into the routine of taking so many vitamins. My stomach is feeling pretty good. Not as many IBS symptoms considering what I have been eating over the holiday.
Day 4: Realizing I’m hydrating more because I have to take so many vitamins throughout the day.
Day 8: My nails are looking really good. Still no change in my hair or my skin, specifically my acne.
Day 9-30: I lost track with driving 14 hours to and from Texas, hosting a funeral, and feeling the slump of January, and clearing out my father in law’s estate. My body is stricken with grief and I had no idea until I spoke to my counselor. There are many other things going on behind the scenes so its hard to tell what is what, I thought I had seasonal depression, I have felt tired to my bones. I lacked motivation to do even normal tasks. But no, its not the vitamins, it could be the hormones, but it is mostly grief. The body physically feels sorrow and after such a tough season for my family with many losses in a short period of time, it has been a huge challenge.
I really didn’t notice much difference on all those vitamins (we were told to eat exactly the same) except that I could tolerate foods my IBS normally would not allow. Because we were so busy in Texas and had long days, there was a lot more fast food than I care to admit. Normally I would have a lot of pain associated with eating such greasy, starch filled food but I didn’t and I could only attribute that the to the supplement regimen. I was so distracted, I am going to keep much better track of the actual parasite cleanse for 120 days. This was a precursor so I didn’t stress as much about recording.
After 30 days the parasite cleanse begins. The supplement regimen is as follows:
Continue the following:
- MULTIVITAMIN
- VITAMIN C
- B COMPLEX
- BEEF LIVER
- MAGNESIUM
Discontinue the rest.
Begin the following:
- GOLDEN THREAD – 1 capsule 2x per day for 3 days, then 1 capsule 3x per day
- SCHISANDRA – 1 capsule 2x day for 3 days, then 1 capsule 3x per day (if tolerated)
- MORINDA – 1 capsule 3x per day for 3 days, then 2 capsules per day for 3 days, then 3 capsules per day
- BLACK CUMIN OIL – 3 drops in water for 3 days, then 5 drops in water for three days, working up to 10 drops in water
Description / Benefits / Contraindications
GOLDEN THREAD – used for fungus, bacteria, virus, parasites, and to support the liver and gallbladder. Decreases acid in the stomach. Do not take while pregnant, it contains a chemical called berberine that can pass through the placenta and could cause harm to a developing child.
SCHISANDRA – for liver function, calming, boosts mental performance. Mountain Rose herbs recommends it is not for use during pregnancy, however a botanical safety handbook showed no adverse affects and instead a reduction in postpartum hemorrhaging. Use at your own discretion.
MORINDA – Antimicrobial, parasites, fungus, viruses, bacteria, anti inflammatory, immune stimulant. Not recommended during pregnancy.
BLACK CUMIN OIL – rids the body of fungus. Too much cumin oil can cause hypertension or proteinuria. Use in moderation.
For the diet I am following the parasite and candida protocol. They are very similar and serve the purpose of ridding the body of possible parasites as well as yeast overgrowth. Both can wreak havoc on your system.
The diet details: (reference: https://www.thecandidadiet.com/foodstoeat.htm)
NO
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Sugar
- Gluten
- High starches
- Artificial ingredients
To Eat
- Probiotic foods
- Fermented foods
- Non starchy vegetables
- Healthy protein
- Non gluten grains
- Low sugar fruits like berries
- Some dairy
- Low mold nuts and seeds
- Chicory coffee
- Herbal teas
- Stevia and monk fruit are okay
Non-Starchy Vegetables
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Garlic (raw)
- Kale
- Onions
- Rutabaga
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
Low Sugar Fruits
- Avocado
- Lemon
- Lime
- Berries
Non-Gluten Grains
- Buckwheat
- Millet
- Oat bran
- Quinoa
- Teff
Healthy Proteins
- Anchovies
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Herring
- Salmon (wild)
- Sardines
- Turkey
- Bone broth
- *Red meat upsets the GI tract
Some Dairy
- Butter
- Raw milk
- Kefir
- Yogurt (probiotic)
Low Mold Nuts & Seeds
- Almonds
- Coconut
- Flaxseed
- Hazelnuts
- Sunflower seeds
No Sugar Sweeteners
- Stevia
- Monk fruit
- Erythritol
- Xylitol
Fermented Foods
- Kefir
- Olives
- Sauerkraut
- Yogurt
Vegetables to eat on the Candida diet: asparagus, broccoli, cucumber, onions, tomatoes.
Eating non-starchy vegetables starves Candida colonies of the natural sugars that feed them. Try to eat mostly low-starch vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, eggplant, onions, and zucchini. You should buy your vegetables fresh and eat them raw, steamed, or grilled.
Minimize starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, yams, corn, winter squash, beets, peas, parsnips, and beans, especially in the early part of your diet. When you switch to a low sugar eating plan, there is often a temptation to eat lots of starchy vegetables as a substitute.
The best vegetables to eat are generally those that are high in micronutrients but low in carbs. These include all leafy greens like spinach or kale. They also include anything from the cruciferous family, like broccoli, cauliflower, or cucumber.
Rutabaga (sometimes known as Swede) is an exception and allowed in the diet. Although you might think of it as a starchy vegetable, it is quite low in net carbs. It is also in our list of antifungal foods, and so can help to rebalance your gut bacteria (4).
Jicama is another exception. Just like the rutabaga, it is deceptively low in net carbohydrates and has a low glycemic load. The best thing about jicama is that it contains lots of inulin, a prebiotic that can feed the ‘good bacteria’ in your gut and promote a healthy gut microbiome.
Stay tuned for Part 2 – What I am eating and how I am feeling on this very regimented cleanse.
