**I posted this as a reply in the Calcium Study thread, but thought I would post it as a separate thread since it compiles some info I've gathered that I think might be valuable**

For better sleep, zinc has helped me tremendously. But as you mentioned, it is also antifungal (through activation of intestinal MT as one route: MT kills candida (so overgrowth is common when MT is blocked by zinc deficiency/copper toxicity for example)).

Read here for more on Zinc and MT (page is mostly about autism, but is also relevant to candida if you read closely)

http://www.bbbautism.com/dan_william_walsh.htm



So if you have candida, you need to start zinc real slow, with about 5mg a day. Break open capsules and measure powder with a milligram scale if you have to. Zinc picolinate is the best form for raising blood levels of zinc.

Zinc has another way in which it can make you feel bad at first. And that is if you are copper toxic (alot of copper plumbing, etc). Zinc and copper balance one another. If you are copper toxic, then you are also low-zinc. So as you start supplementing zinc, you can start getting increased copper toxicity symptoms as the zinc starts forcing copper into circulation. Unfortunately one of the symptoms of copper toxicity is insomnia. So when you start supplementing zinc, and mobilizing the copper in your body, you can get insomnia and think "Oh no, zinc causes insomnia". But it's really just from the increased excretion of copper.

So start slow with zinc. I went from 5mg zinc up to my maintenance dose of 30mg zinc per day over about 3 months, and my sleep has improved dramatically.

Check this link for some more info on how to get a good sleep balance.

http://www.understand-andcure-anxietyattacks-panicattacks-depression.com/5-ht...



I dont supplement B vitamins since it seems to make my candida worse. I get my B's from probiotics and meats/eggs etc.

Also I balance calcium:magnesium around 1:1 (600 mg of each per day in divided doses). I also take 2mg Silica(Biosil) and 5 mg Boron per day, as well as 8k IU vitamin D3 per day. This makes for very strong teeth and bones. Some people get toothaches or other problems if their C:M ratio is below about 2:1. If the 1:1 C:M ratio causes any toothaches, you may want to consider supplementing with some biosil(silica)/boron/D3 also, to improve your utilization of C&M. It has worked great for me and eliminated my tooth problems. But start slow with Boron, it is also antifungal.

Some boron info:
http://regenerativenutrition.com/boron-osteoporosis-arthritis-allergies-menop...