Even this is off-limits now...

Right off the bat, I have to say, I just love to eat. I love eating things that I actually enjoy eating. I’m not even sure how to put that into words properly... I don’t mean that I’m constantly overindulging or stuffing myself until I can't move, but rather that I have these specific comfort foods that just, you know, lift my mood and help me unwind... I guess you could say food is kind of my drug. And being close to my man is another thing entirely, but that’s a whole different story which I covered in an old thread called "his scent" or something like that 😍: )

The real issue here is that I feel like whenever I actually manage to find a little something that gives me that sense of relief, it gets snatched away from me.
Because of systemic issues with candidiasis and all these various food intolerances, so much of what I love is basically off-limits—and I mean, it's not like anyone is holding a gun to my head or anything, but I am fully aware that if I consume these things, I'm doing real damage to myself, even if I don't notice some immediate "side effect" right away.
Just to give you a few examples: I can't have sweets. Which means no chocolate, no pastries, no cookies, no candy, no hot cocoa, no ice cream, no honey, no granola bars, no sweet fruit... (I think every woman knows the magic of chocolate and how much just a couple of squares can help 😉 ).
Then there's wheat flour (and barley or rye too): so that means no bread (with that warm, crispy crust 😢 ), no bagels, no donuts—basically, nothing from a bakery, and again, no cakes, no creamy desserts, no pasta
I can't even have corn: so no polenta (which I absolutely love), and no popcorn.
I can't have soy: not in beans, not tofu, not soy milk, and don't even get me started on how much soy is hidden in processed meats...
And I really shouldn't be touching all those fucking additives either...
Cow's milk isn't technically "forbidden," but I've realized it wreaks havoc on me—it gives me terrible headaches and makes me feel all congested. So, that means no cow's milk, no cheese, no sour cream, no heavy cream, no whipping cream, no yogurt, no kefir...
There's plenty of other stuff I can't touch, but I won't dwell on it; I'm only mentioning the things that hit me the hardest.

The final straw was that stupid cow's milk: I had been drinking goat's milk instead. But now even that is out of reach because they only have the young kids available right now. I mean, it's nice to know it isn't as commercialized as cow's milk and is available year-round, but it's the only actual milk I can drink without issues.

My go-to "relaxation tool" used to be coffee. Twice a day, morning and evening. With milk. And lots of foam.
And now I can't even do that... These alternative plant milks are just gross to me; they're slightly sweet even when there's no added sugar, and out of all the drinks out there, coffee is the only thing I like bitter. Plus, you can't even make decent foam with them 👎

Hmm, this turned into a massive rant, sorry about that, but I just had to get it out because I feel like I'm going to lose my mind.

So, I intended for this thread to be a space where anyone dealing with dietary restrictions can vent about what's bothering them and maybe find a little solace... How are you guys handling it? How much does it actually diminish your quality of life?

I know this isn't the worst thing that could happen to someone, and I know there are plenty of people facing incomparably harder struggles than mine, and I also know that this part of my life is generally fine—I'm sure I'd find something else to complain about eventually—but the truth is, what I described is really weighing on me right now, and it kills my spontaneity and makes me feel incredibly frustrated...
I suppose it might be a bit easier (and I assume it is for others too) if I can see that I'm not alone in this...

As if you were eating mice😢
So, what exactly is on the menu?
🙂

Carol Grant33 said:if you can't eat mice😢
then what on earth are you allowed to have?!
🙂

Honestly, I totally get where you're coming from—it feels like it would be way easier to just list the stuff you can actually eat 😲. I’m seriously curious how you navigate all this stuff every day.. 🙂
For me, I’ve only got one major rule: no red meat. It’s not even an allergy or anything, it’s just that if I eat too much of it, my stomach absolutely hates me. Like, I’ll hit up a BBQ once and then spend the next three days feeling like garbage because my digestive system just can't handle it.. 😁

I guess I’m stuck eating this pretty "boring" kind of food that just doesn't have any of that spontaneous flavor you eventually start craving so badly...
Basically, it’s just vegetables—though I try not to go overboard on the potatoes—white meat, fish, pasta, rice, millet, buckwheat, goat cheese, seeds, and legumes. They even tell you not to eat too many grains, but honestly, I need them; otherwise, I'm starving immediately, and they really help me feel settled... And I can't have too much fruit either.
Right now, I'm in one of those phases where I've completely lost the will to cook. I just don't have the patience to wait thirty minutes for breakfast to be ready, and since I'm always running around, my meals usually end up being half of the stuff I just listed.

Lately, though, I feel like I've been slipping a bit. I'll find myself snacking on some sour cream, or having red meat, or maybe a little something sweet like that cookie I had yesterday at Panera Bread 🙏 😍. Then there's a spoonful—well, maybe two, three, or four 😢—of whipped cream, or just some homemade jam (just fruit, no added sugar) with butter on rice cakes.

And honestly, I can't stand preparing fish; I hate it when my food stares back at me with eyes... So most of the time I just grab a can of tuna or a frozen fish fillet. Maybe once a month I'll actually sit down for a whole fish at a restaurant, but mostly just because it's so expensive.

They’ve banned all dried fruit from my diet—not that I ever really ate it outside of maybe some muffins, so it's not like I'm missing out on much. But now, I can't touch anything porky unless it's specifically lean ham or turkey bacon! 😂 Honestly, I can live without that... I can still have fats like oils, and whole wheat pasta... though I haven't actually tried the pasta yet. And hey, apparently, even moderate alcohol is fine, whatever that means. It doesn't seem too bad, right?
The only thing that's actually killing me is being told I can't have cheese or eggs....

velvetwolf92 said:I stick to "boring" food—stuff that doesn't have those intense cravings hitting you out of nowhere after a few days...
Basically, veggies (not too many potatoes), poultry, fish, quinoa, rice, millet, buckwheat, goat cheese, seeds, legumes. They say don't go overboard on grains, but I need them; otherwise, I'm starving, and they actually keep me level-headed... Not too much fruit either...
Right now, I’m in one of those phases where I’ve completely lost the will to cook. I don't want to wait thirty minutes just to get breakfast ready, and my schedule is tight, so my meals are basically half of that list I just gave you.

Lately, I've been slipping up quite a bit. I'll grab some sour cream, red meat, or maybe a little semolina dessert (like that cookie I had yesterday at Panera Bread 🙏 😍). Then there's a spoonful—or two, three, four 😢—of whipped cream, or butter and jam (homemade, no added sugar, just fruit) on rice crackers.

I can't stand prepping fish; I hate it when my food stares back at me with eyes... So most of the time it's just canned tuna or a fish fillet. Maybe once a month I'll eat actual whole fish at a restaurant, but mostly just because of the price tag.

So, is this "forever" situation of yours permanent, or is there an actual chance you can recover from this?

2 Angela Wright: Honestly, all the attempts we've made up to this point to try and get rid of "that" haven't really moved the needle much at all. I mean, if I'm being real, it feels like we're just looking at a permanent situation here.

2 nimbledriver81: Yeah, I guess for the first couple of years I actually looked at it as some kind of challenge to overcome 😬 But now? I don't know, I think I've just reached my limit and I'm totally over it.🙂

How exactly did you compile this list of forbidden foods? Did you run your own personal experiments and conclude they were doing you harm, or did you follow some kind of systematic testing protocol? I’m asking because I want to know just how precise these findings actually are.

velvetwolf92, I’m betting there’s some kind of supplement or "herb" out there specifically for this, if you catch my drift. If I’m reading you right, we’re talking about Candida yeast—but this whole "systemic" thing is still a bit fuzzy to me.😕 Did it take root in your digestive tract? Because if it’s the same Candida I’m thinking of, all you really need to do is mess with the pH levels to start killing it off.
I honestly think something like a detox or even fasting could do the trick. I have this nagging feeling that what you’re dealing with is one of those annoying little issues that can be wiped out with something totally basic. Have you ever sat down with an alternative medicine practitioner?
You really ought to boost your immune system with some heavy-duty antioxidants. When I dealt with my own bout of Candida—down there—I cleared it right up using raw propolis. Check out www.naturemade.com and do some digging. It’s a nightmare when it gets out of hand!

hollowraven I’ve completely cut out everything that feeds the Candida—so, basically all the sugar, yeast, fungi, you name it... Everything else was based on my food intolerance testing.

Angela Wright, I honestly have no idea how many different herbs are actually out there. I feel like I’ve tried a literal mountain of herbal remedies, natural supplements, various diets, and anything else meant to boost the immune system, but nothing seems to stick. When you're dealing with systemic Candida, it's everywhere. It isn't just localized in your gut or vaginal area... it's a whole-body issue.
I managed to get my immune system up quite a bit, but I couldn't get much further than that. I recently finished a course of systemic antifungals (I was on Voriconazole) and now I just have to wait a little while before I go back for more testing to see if any of it even worked. Though, to be honest, my GP told me she thinks it might just come right back, even if I manage to clear it temporarily. You can't really "get rid" of Candida from your body because it's a natural resident of our mucous membranes—everyone has it. The real issue is when it starts multiplying uncontrollably because of things like antibiotics, birth control, steroids, or just pure stress... For some people, it stays quiet, but for others (like me), it just goes absolutely wild.

Is anyone else here dealing with strict dietary restrictions? What’s your specific diagnosis? And I’m curious, how do you even handle meal prep—are you the only one eating this way, or does your whole family follow suit? How do you manage when you're out at restaurants? Or when you're visiting people? Do you find yourselves breaking the "rules" sometimes?

Hiatal hernia and GERD. I don't deal with quite as many restrictions as you do, but it’s enough to start getting on my nerves, which leads me to overindulge. Now I've been told to cut out bread entirely to help with some weight loss—but there's just no way. What am I even supposed to have for breakfast then? I can't do dairy, and fresh fruit is off the table too... so what am I left with? 😕

Man, I honestly wouldn't have believed it myself 😬 but there are just so many "creative" options out there—and by creative, I mean they really miss the mark—when it comes to food. You've got your rice crackers with whatever topping you can find, or you could whip up some quinoa, buckwheat, or oatmeal and drown it in some kind of almond milk substitute and toss in some seeds... but honestly, nothing ever quite hits the spot like a real slice of bread with something good on it. I know how it is. 😬 I totally get where you're coming from, and I hear you loud and clear 😘

I have to stay away from high-glycemic foods because of my PCOS issues.
It’s pretty much certain I’ve developed insulin resistance—which, let's be honest, seems to be the standard experience for most women dealing with this.
I won't lie, the transition was rough at first, but I’ve finally adjusted. Honestly? I actually feel way better now. My energy levels are through the roof and I don't deal with those massive afternoon crashes anymore. 😍
What I'm trying to say is... you can adapt to pretty much anything if you have to.

To be totally blunt, I've never heard of anyone claiming sweets are bad specifically for Candida? Like, okay, I get the whole milk thing—my body doesn't exactly love it either—but I still put a splash in my coffee or have some cheese, just not in huge amounts, and I'm fine.
But seriously, do you really have to CUT EVERYTHING OUT completely to see results, or is it enough to just cut back on the portions?

Look, it’s pretty simple math—sweets are packed with sugar, and Candida basically thrives on sugar. I guess that means I have to be super careful with grains too, since they just turn into sugar once you digest them (or whatever the scientific explanation is 🤔 😬 ). Until I actually get things under control, I probably need to stay far away from all that stuff, though maybe later on I can try to experiment a little bit...

Is it actually possible to mitigate food intolerances, or at least make them more manageable, by taking specific digestive enzymes to help process certain foods?
I realize this isn't a permanent fix, but wouldn't it be nice to occasionally indulge a craving without the immediate fallout?
If these aren't readily available at a local pharmacy or health food store here, I know they can usually be ordered online from overseas sites.

velvetwolf92 said:Look, it's pretty simple—sweets have sugar, and Candida thrives on sugar. That's why I can't go too heavy on grains either, since they basically turn into sugar anyway (or whatever the science goes 🤔 😬 ). Until I get this whole thing under control, I really need to steer clear of all that stuff. Maybe later I can start experimenting again...

Yeah, I'm in the same boat, though mine is more about dealing with insulin resistance.
But honestly, it’s not like I’m totally banning everything from my life. I'll still grab some of those healthier sugars, especially if I've been super active that day, just in smaller amounts, obviously. And I feel great when I do.

This is actually the first time I'm hearing that you have to avoid it completely because of Candida 😕
Anyway, I really hope you manage to power through this phase. 🙂

velvetwolf92 said:Rice crackers with whatever you want, or maybe cook up some millet, buckwheat, or oats and just toss in some seeds...

See, the thing is, I mostly try to steer clear of all that stuff😬
I even avoid carrots and beets.
But I still eat dark chocolate😍 Just so I don't have to give up everything entirely, I guess.🤣

I mean, I suppose if I were being totally honest with myself, I really ought to probably give up coffee with milk—and honestly, it’s more about the dairy than the caffeine itself, I guess.
No way in hell am I doing that! :2up:

Hi, I suppose I have everything I need regarding my coffee... though I think I might be missing a fruit salad. 😢