You guys are so good about getting back to me it's incredible. I look forward to your answers.

Please don't kill me but I have another few questions... I have thrush (candida in the breasts/nipples while nursing) that I have not been able to get rid of, even after taking 200mg a day of diflucan for 6 weeks while nursing... eeeek.... I am horrified about having given my baby that much meds, even though all my docs said it was okay, I still regret it, especially since it only worked temporarily, and just came back AGAIN about a week ago, probably not a coincidence that my ulcerative colitis started flaring even worse then. All my doctors think I'm crazy to connect yeast with UC, but I think they are crazy for NOT seeing the connection.

For the thrush on your nipples, I would start taking 5 drops of wild oregano oil orally per day. Personally, I feel this amount is fine to go through to the breastmilk and WAY less damaging than drugs like diflucan anyway. Also, put diluted wild oregano topically onto your nipples right after baby has finished nursing (dilute 15:1 initially, if that doesn't work within 3 days, then increase strength to 10:1).

Hopefully, by the time of your next feed, most of it will have worn off, but if your baby still doesn't like it and is starting to show signs of wanting to avoid your nipples, then wash it off with warm water and soap prior to feeding. If you end up having to wash before each feed, then just go full strength wild oregano on the nipples since this will clear the infection much faster.

Anyway, I was researching the Absorb Plus yesterday and came across the FAQ on the Imix website and it said that some people with candida have had trouble with the amount of sweetener (maltodextrin and fructose I think?) in the shakes. If the fructose amount in a serving is equivalent to an apple, eating 4 apples a day is probably ok (I've been eating NO sugar and only fruit infrequently) but it doesn't say what the maltodextrin amounts to, nor on your website, what the total grams of sugars are per serving.

Absorb Plus contains 56 g Maltodextrin (a glucose polymer) and 15 g Fructose (a monosaccharide sugar) per serving. There are no other sugars added.

Can you tell me: Do most people with candida have a problem with the shakes? What is the sugar gram per serving? There is a certain amount of sugar in all food, so some sugar is a necessity, and it still might be less sugar than I'm eating now...I do eat carbs.

The only sugar is the fructose - 15 grams per serving, or the same as in one medium apple. If it aggravates your candida, perhaps you could switch to a shake made of raw milk and raw eggs instead? See the Recipes section on this forum for my "eggnog" recipes.

Both websites say to treat Candida with the Oregano oil, but not to take it while nursing. I feel so awful for already having taken all the diflucan I just cannot subject my little one to anything even remotely questionable, so how about garlic? I have the Kyolic from your website, do you recommend taking that with the Absorb Plus? With shakes or in between? Especially since I'm also taking probiotics? Or do one week with garlic and one week with probiotics?

Yes, the garlic will help, but nowhere near as much as the wild oregano. The herbal literature also says to never give wild oregano to children under five, but I have given it to all 3 of mine before the age of 5, since better that than drug antibiotics! And it has been just fine. In my opinion, if you have serious candida, then you're passing it to your baby too, so baby would probably also benefit from a little wild oregano and the probiotics too. You should also start giving baby Life Start probiotics - mine all loved to just suck it off my finger. The wild oregano residue on your nipples will also help prevent baby from getting oral thrush. Whether you use garlic or wild oregano, you need to take them 2 hours away from probiotics.

I am nursing a 4.5 month old baby, is there any danger in doing the liquid diet for 2 weeks while nursing? Do I need to take any additional multivitamins or calcium (I know the product already has a lot and I don't want to over do it either). I will be using the shake plus the oil, and I take fish oil also.

There is no danger that we've heard of and one pregnant mother used it for 6 weeks, along with raw veggie juices and baby was in great health. I would still add 1 capsule of the Nature's Way Prenatal per day. And take 6 capsules of cod liver oil per day as well and 1,000-2,000 IU Vitamin D. When your baby is 6 months, also squeeze one capsule of cod liver oil into his/her mouth each day.

I do think I may need some extra protein and calories, but not enough for a full shake, is there a protein powder you recommend? I also used to work out a lot before I got sick (been a year since I've been healthy) and usually supplement with protein powder, but never found one that agrees with me, for obvious reasons. What is a particular brand that you recommend? Ian mentioned something about Greens? but said to ask you.

Here is the protein powder I recommend, it's called Proteins +:
http://www.genuinehealth.com/english/pb ... section=85

I have to keep working, can I mix the shake with water and oil ahead of time, put it in a plastic shaker (basically a plastic bottle with a metal ball in it to mix powdered drinks) and keep it in the fridge at work, and just shake it again right before I drink it? There also isn't filtered water at work which is why I want to do it that way, and I never have any time. Is there any harm in keeping the ingredients pre-mixed with water and oil for up to 10 hours?

No, the shakes are only good for 4 hours. Plus I don't know how the oil would be if left to sit. You can keep a case of bottled spring water at work, along with a hand-blender and your Udo's in the fridge and just mix them fresh.

Have you ever heard of Kirkman's probiotics? I am taking Kirkman's Pro-bio Gold... do you know if these are okay? They pass the tests in Jini's book but I was wondering if you knew of this particular brand. My doctor recommended it.

No, I'm not familiar with this brand.

Have you ever heard of Florastor, another kind of probiotic one of my doctor's recommended? Is this also okay to take during/after the liquid diet?

Don't know of this one either. Aside from the probiotic selection criteria in LTYG, just make sure they don't contain any prebiotics - FOS, inulin, etc. Also, make sure there are no soil organisms like Bacillus cereus (HSO's, SO's etc.).

I am taking Asacol, should I take it in between shakes, with shakes, or stop all together?

Definitely wean off the Asacol and replace it with MucosaHeal.

Let us know how it goes and if you have any further questions, please post them here.

take care,
Jini

Jini,

Thank you so much for the fantastic reply! I'm sorry it took a day or so for me to get back to you; I've been having trouble with my email so I couldn't register to reply!

I've been on the Absorb Plus since last night, and only been drinking that and vegetable and chicken broth. So far no BMs, but much less bloating and gas, and the gas I do have does not smell like rotten eggs like it usually does, so it's already working! I'm a little concerned I'm going to have an explosive bm tomorrow at work, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

I appreciate all the information about the Oregano oil. I am going to try to starve the Candida first by reducing the sugar content on the elemental diet, and if that doesn't work, I will use the Oregano Oil.

Okay, now more questions for you:
1. I had an idea based on what you wrote, to try to reduce the amount of sugar during the IBD remission diet. What if I substitute 1 scoop of the protein powder you recommended (today I ordered the unflavored kind, no sweeteners at all) for 1 scoop of the Absorb Plus? That will increase my protein a little bit, which I think my body prefers, and reduce the amount of sugar/carbs. I will continue to take oil with every shake; I have the Udo's and Flax oil. The only problem that I can see with that substitution is that it will also though reduce the nutritional content, so maybe instead of taking just 1 of the nature's way prenatal vitamin (I ordered this off your website a month ago, and was already taking it) I take 2 of them?

2. You suggested raw milk/eggs, and possibly raw veggies juices, but since I'm on the elemental diet I have to wait until I'm done to start that correct?

3. You also suggested adding some cod liver oil capsules; I have it in the liquid form because I give it to my 2 1/2 year old also. What is the equivalent dose for the liquid form that I should take? It says 1 tspn per day which is 45 calories. I have Nordic Naturals Artic Cod Liver Oil (orange flavor by the way, which tastes great!)

4. I checked my probiotics more carefully, and although they are refrigerated, in a glass bottle, come from a reputable company, shipped cold, they do have Inulin. I checked their website again (http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/products/pro ... 04_90.html) and they now make one that is Inulin free, but should I still take the rest of the ones I have? What effect will the Inulin have on the elemental diet? My plan was to use up the rest of these and then order the Natren probiotics. I've been taking probiotics for almost 3 years so my system is used to them. This brand was recommended by my integrative medicine MD as a research based company that is extremely good about not putting in common allergens in their products, because my son had severe food allergies (I could only eat 5-10 foods the first 10 months of his life because he was allergic to everything through my breast milk - he has since grown out of all his allergies! Hooray!).

5. I noticed that Kirkman's has a new product now called Threelac which is a probiotic specifically for Candida and fungus, but I believe it has some ingredients you mentioned I should avoid (FOS and 2 soil organisms, but not the exact ones you mentioned), would you still avoid this product? http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/products/pro ... eeLac.html.

6. I bought some brown rice protein powder today, while I'm waiting for the Protein + to arrive. It is Jarrow Formulas and the ingredients are non-gmo brown rice protein, ultrasmooth gum-colloid and natural vanilla flavor. Do you know what the gum-colloid is and whether it's okay on the elemental diet? I actually bought another brand also called Nutribiotic, ingredients are enzymatically processed rice protein from whole grain brown rice, and vanilla flavor, that's it. I assume that one is the one I should use, or are both okay? I wanted to see if one tasted better...

7. Let me know if I should re-post this in the diet forum, but I ate about 2000 calories today, and I'm still hungry and was hungry all day. I'm 5' 2.5" and weigh 112lbs, and want to maintain weight (or even gain muscle mass but not more fat weight), you'd think that was PLENTY of calories (I multiplied 112 X 17 since I'm nursing, and got 1904 calories), are most people hungry on the diet, or because I'm nursing does the hunger mean I'm not eating enough? I run about 2.5-3 miles, 2-3 times per week and would like to start lifting weights again (it's been a year) so I would not consider myself extremely active at this point, or even moderately active, so the 17 I thought would be plenty to account for the extra nursing calories. I used to work out 20 hours a week when I was doing triathlons before my son was born, and my current work-out time amounts to about 2 hours a week of activity. I'd like to increase that during the diet, gradually. Should I drink more shakes/increase my caloric intake right now at my current low activity level or assume the hunger will go away after a few days? I don't want my milk supply to go down but I don't want to gain a ton of weight either! As it is I can't fit into my clothes from before the pregnancy!

Thank you sooooo much for your responses!

KT

Hi, K.

1. Substituting some of the Proteins+ for the Absorb Plus will lower the amount of carbohydrates, but your body may or may not absorb all of the protein you're taking in per serving. Here's some information from the manufacturer's website:

"The amount of protein per serving contained in Absorb Plus (27 grams) was selected because research on bodybuilders has shown the maximum amount of protein that can be absorbed at any one time is 30-50 grams - the rest is flushed out in urine. Since Absorb Plus consumers are unlikely to be bodybuilders, we set the protein content (including amino acids) a few grams lower to ensure maximum utilization."

2. If you're in the middle of a flare, having intestinal bleeding, etc., you might do better with Absorb Plus as it is more elemental. However, if you aren't in the state mentioned above, as an alternative, yes, you can certainly try raw milk. See Jini's articles in Issues 1 & 4 (#4 will be released shortly) of the Good Health is Real Wealth infoletter:

http://www.holistichealthshoppe.com/index.php#51

3. Three softgels are 27 calories, so judging by that, you'd need five softgels to equal one teaspoon of the liquid cod liver oil. If you all like the liquid formula, by all means, stay with that.

4. If you're doing well with the probiotics containing Inulin, no reason to stop taking them before they're done. If, on the other hand, you've been having health issues which those probiotics haven't been helping with, I'd give the Natren a try right away.

The following thread didn't discuss either of the probiotic brands you were talking about, but you still might find it interesting reading:

post1073.html#p1073

5. If it has any soil organisms, in particular, I personally wouldn't touch the product with a ten-foot pole. Research each of the strains listed in the product on the Internet. If any of them mention that they are spore-formers, they are bacterial soil organisms. Jini talks about soil-based organisms in Chapter 8 of Listen to Your Gut, from pages 386-389. There are a considerable amount of additional references listed in the Appendix for anyone inclined to research the subject further.

6. I'm hesitant about eh gum colloid, but I'll ask Jini to comment on that one for you. The one that's only rice protein and vanilla flavor (hopefully natural vanilla!) sounds like a better bet.

7. Well, the ideal is to be able to get complete rest for at least the first two weeks of the elemental diet. It takes a considerable amount of energy to heal. Even if you're not participating in any triathlons at the moment, you're still working and have a young infant that you're nursing. At the age of your baby, I'm guessing you're still getting up at least once in the middle of the night for a feeding, too. Based on all that, my own personal feeling is: If you're hungry, by all means, take in more calories.

As I mentioned, I'll ask Jini to comment on your question #6.

Take care,
Nicole

I did a search, but I can't figure out what "gum-colloid" is either! So better to avoid it, unless you can phone Jarrow (they're a very good quality company) and ask them.

With all the rice proteins, it's very hard (if not impossible) to find one that's pre-digested to the degree that the whey isolate is in Absorb Plus. Thus, it's very hard to judge what the effects of it will be. With elemental diets, we have all the clinical research, plus hundreds of customers' feedback to The IBD Remission Diet. When you start deviating from that, you need to realize you're doing an experiment, and who knows how it will go? As long as you're fine with that, then carry on.

I am strongly opposed to the schedule you're trying to adhere to whilst on an elemental diet. What's making you drive yourself so hard? Do you need someone else to give you permission or a directive to just rest and heal? If so - you have it! REST.

Healing takes a LOT of energy. So does a newborn. To load a rigorous exercise and work schedule on top of that is severely limiting your chances of a positive outcome.

If you will not reduce your schedule, then yes, take in as many calories as you wish - it's very unlikely you'll gain weight from this. Even if you do decide to give your body a break and rest, you should still consume as many calories as you wish - since tissue repair and healing takes a lot of protein. Also, depending on your baby's metabolism and needs, baby could require 2-3 times the calories the books say a baby requires (this I know from experience).

Absorb Plus and Udo's Oil will not add fat to your body, since there's nothing in there that your body doesn't need - so it will be utilized for healing, internal processes, skin, hair, etc. and also to build muscle. Don't go by the scale, because remember, muscle weighs four times as much as fat. So just go by how you look and feel.

And remember, the more you rest - I usually advise people (without babies and toddlers!) to take a few weeks off work, or at least go part-time - the greater your chances of healing are.

Sounds like you would really benefit from our teleseminar with Dr. Gabor Mate:
http://www.holistichealthshoppe.com/index.php#52

all the best,
Jini

Jini,

I have no idea how I missed your reply! It's been a few months, I'm sorry! I'm having symptoms again so I am back on your website, and just saw your post. I just ordered both that teleseminar as well as the EFT one, and I'm very excited to read them. I know that I sabotage myself constantly, I am extremely driven and cannot seem to give myself permission for anything. I constantly feel like a "bad mother" because I'm not doing "enough" whatever that means. I don't spend enough time with them, I don't spend quality time with them, I don't read to them enough or teach them enough. Even though I am totally committed to BF (hopefully for 2 years!), and I make all my daughter's baby food (and did for my son also) and spend a ton of time making sure everyone in the family is eating healthily, I then feel like I spend too much time on food and food prep that I could be spending with them, it's a never ending "I should be doing something better than or differently than" I am. This is on top of working (albeit 32hrs/week, not 40) and trying to keep myself healthy and in shape, and having my own permission problems about myself. I try to live in the present moment, but find that increasingly hard to do, not easier. I have probably ridiculously high standards for how my body should look and put a lot of time and energy into my own food and exercise habits, again, then feeling like I spent too much time on myself and not doing other things, even though I feel much better when I exercise regularly. I probably "shouldn't" even be on the computer right now, I should be making everyone's lunches for tomorrow and getting to bed early! I have a list of things to do that I can't possibly keep up with and can't seem to prioritze, It never ends...then of course I end up with a flare up, not a surprise.

I will let you know how it goes after I read these. Thanks for the suggestions...

KT

Oh, doesn't that right a bell! I think that must be a "disease" we mothers have!

There's been a few posts Jini and I have commented on over the years, as well, about taking time for yourself and working past those "permission" blocks. If you do a search for "mother*", you can probably find some good stuff.

Glad you enjoyed the teleseminars - I know Jini will be, too!

Take care,
Nicole

Just wanted to say you all have a great forum. Seems like a good place I can actually be a part of.