Re: Candida Diet Shortcomings

My thoughts on your diet are basically to do the McCombs Plan at some time in the future. I understand that you've invested time and money in the approach that you are using, and you should see some results. I've only found caprylic acid to be effective for about 3-4 weeks in eliminating the fungal candida and after that not much more. I think that due to some of the inherent toxicity with caprylic acid, the body interferes with its long-term effectiveness. I prefer the undecenoic acid, which I have about 20 years of experience with. I find that it takes about 8 weeks to reverse the yeast-to-fungus conversion with candida. Both of these fatty acids are produced in small amounts in the body.

I find brown rice to be a more neutral grain and so I use it instead of the quinoa, which isn't bad. I think that sugar or anything that is that sweet will stimulate learned reflexes within the body. So while stevia will be a better longterm choice, I do think that it will cause problems that can interfere with eliminating the candida.

I don't advise fasting on the McCombs Plan as it takes a lot of energy to fuel a detoxification process in the body. In the past, when I've had patients who were doing a fast, I would have them support their Phase II detoxification pathways through a product like Metagenics UltraClear Plus. I don't have a lot of experience with a coconut oil fast, but you're essentially using caprylic acid as the active anti-fungal.

Candida Force is a better choice, but I have found that it takes the whole approach outlined in the Plan. I haven't found the "do-everything-at-once-approach" to be effective. Many people do antifungals, probiotics, etc all together and I don't think that is optimal.

You haven't necessarily been starving them out of the body. If the approach that you're using works for you, great. You should have seen some results with it. Garlic does have antifungal properties, but I don't think that it would work systemically enough. I have found Caprylic acid to have been a little hard on the kidneys in some people.

Caprylic acid

Related Terms:
Alpha-hydroxy caprylic acid, medium-chain fatty acid, medium chain triglyceride (MCT), monocaprylin, octanoic acid, suberic acid.

Caprylic acid is an eight-carbon fatty acid naturally found in palm and coconut oil, and in the milk of humans and bovines (cows). Caprylic acid is classified as a medium-chain fatty acid and chemically known as octanoic acid. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved caprylic acid with generally recognizable as safe (GRAS) status. It is used as parenteral nutrition in patients who require nutrition supplementation, as well as in some drugs, foods, and cosmetics.

Nutritionists often recommend caprylic acid for use in treating candidiasis (yeast infection) and bacterial infections. However, there is insufficient clinical data available to support the used of caprylic acid for any claimed therapeutic uses.

Uses
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. Grade*

Epilepsy (children)
Some forms of epilepsy respond to diets that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates. Currently, the effects of caprylic acid alone to treat epilepsy in children are not well studied. Additional study is needed in this area.

C
*Key to grades: A: Strong scientific evidence for this use; B: Good scientific evidence for this use; C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use; D: Fair scientific evidence against this use (it may not work); F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likely does not work).

Antibacterial, antifungal, chylothorax, dialysis (hypoalbuminemia in maintenance hemodialysis), digestive disorders (dysbiosis), malabsorption (lipid), nutrition supplementation.

Adults (18 years and older):
There is no proven safe or effective dose for caprylic acid. In general, 300-1,200 milligrams daily, preferably 30 minutes before meals, has been ingested.

Children (younger than 18 years):
There is no proven safe or effective dose for caprylic acid, and use in children is not recommended.

Allergies
Avoid in individuals with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to caprylic acid and its derivatives, such as caprylate salts.

Side Effects and Warnings
The most common side effects associated with high fatty acid intake are nausea, bloating, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These side effects can range from mild to severe. Patients taking large amounts of triglycerides may also experience belching, heartburn, and indigestion. Otherwise, caprylic acid appears well tolerated at doses appropriate for nutritional supplementation. It is also possibly safe when used under the guidance of a physician for intractable seizures.

Although not well studied in humans, caprylic acid may increase susceptibility to carbaryl exposure and decrease the body's ability to clear carbaryl, a highly toxic insecticide.

Hypocalcemia (low calcium blood level), drowsiness, lethargy, kidney stones, hypouricemia (low uric acid), acidosis, growth retardation and increased rate of infection has been reported in human studies using a ketogenic diet to treat epilepsy. The effects of caprylic acid alone are not well understood in this diet. Avoid in patients with kidney stones or a tendency of developing kidney stones. Use cautiously in infants, children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and those prone to get an upset stomach.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Caprylic acid is not recommended in pregnant or breastfeeding women due to a lack of available scientific evidence.

Interactions with Drugs
Caprylic acid may alter the effects of drugs that are highly bound to albumin. Patients taking any medications should check the package insert, and consult with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist.

Theoretically, caprylic acid may increase susceptibility to carbaryl exposure and decrease the body's ability to clear carbaryl, a highly toxic insecticide. Caution is advised.

Indomethacin can inhibit the cardiovascular effects of octanoic acid. Patients taking cardiovascular medications should consult with a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist, about interactions.

Although not well studied in humans, caprylic acid may also interact with inotropic agents, nimodipine, phenylbutazone, warfarin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).

Interactions with Herbs and Dietary Supplements
Octanoic acid may alter the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Caution is advised in patients taking herbs and supplements that have similar effects as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.