Re: Some more questions.

Hi Zule!

I don't see why you couldn't add the caprol right in with the HH shake...it's not like Bentonite that would absorb the herbs from the HH...and you probably want to keep it as simple as possible. I hope that you ordered the Special Bulking Agent or the new Bulking Agent III...more suitable for candida.

About your energy level and mood...make sure that you are eating enough and also a variety of foods that are allowed on the candida diet. There are some differences of opinion regarding this diet...they are all in agreement that you need to eliminate sugars and processed/junk foods...but beyond that there is a lot of debate about what is okay and what is not...I would suggest that you experiment some and see what you are able to tolerate well. Also keep in mind that you may be experiencing die-off and cleansing reactions that would result in energy dips and mood swings.... unfortunately the only way out of that is 'through'...you just need to learn ways to navigate when you're feeling at your lowest and find healthy things to offset the uncomfortable effects. You may also need to slow down with cleansing in order to give your system a chance to catch up with the overload of toxins that it is trying to eliminate.

Where candida is concerned, some people can handle some fruits and others can't...you'll have to experiement and see how you respond. When I was at my worst with candida I would react to anything with Sugar and could have no fruit except lemons. As I got better I found that I was able to add some tart berries, apples and kiwis with no problem...provided I didn't overdo it.

Finishing up a doctorate is MAJOR stress...this is not something to overlook! Make sure that you are taking time for regular periods of relaxation and exercise...practices such as meditation, yoga, taiji or qigong are very beneficial for allowing you to cope with ongoing stress and also reversing some of the damage that stress does to your nervous system. One thing that stress does is deplete your reserve of B vitamins...that's why the usually call them stress tabs! Make sure that you are taking a good B complex on a daily basis...you need B vitamins for energy and also to convert naturally-occuring tryptophan into serotonin...helping to keep your moods up. BTW some of these B vitamins are also manufactured from the beneficial bacteria in your intestines...if it is imbalanced from candida &/or other pathogens, your body is probably not synthesizing enough of its own Bs...once you address the candida, complete a thorough Colon Cleanse and begin using a high-quality probiotic you should find improvements in your energy and moods, as well. Also, make sure that you are getting plenty of sleep...sleep deprivation is one of the triggers of depression.

There are several natural methods of treating Depression and the low energy that comes with it...5HTP is very good...it is the intermediary between tryptophan (which is no longer availabe, thank you FDA!) and serotonin, eat allowed foods high in tryptophan such as turkey and chicken, also make sure that you are getting sufficient essential fatty acids...mercola.com has a lot of excellent information on the value of fish oil for depression. Herbs that may be helpful include St. John's wort, kava, valerian, and passionflower.

*FYI...when I was writing my dissertation I was under incredible stress and felt like I was running out of gas all the time...which stressed me even more because I was afraid I wouldn't have the energy to meet my deadlines. I started taking Wachters vitamins (Futura 400 and B-Complex) and was amazed at the difference it made in my stamina, mood and concentration! I have tried many, many vitamins and these are the only ones that make a noticeably significant difference in the way I feel. Over the years I have run out of them and gone for a while without taking them and each time my energy dips and then returns when I start taking them again. They are only available through distributors or directly from Wachters....I am not currently distributing them and make nothing from this suggestion. I just believe that they make some of the best supplements on the market...at least they have had tremendous benefits for me! You can learn more about them at www.wachters.com