Cocoa - allowed?

[Emster]

Hi, Shelley and everyone! My first post. I was referred to your site yesterday by Jhan on Cure Zone and have been rabidly absorbing all the good info here.

From what I've read since discovering I have candida, cocoa shouldn't be allowed because it contains caffeine. Caffeine is not allowed on candida diets. Even after nearly 3 months on this diet, I still fantasize and lust after a good cup of coffee, and the mojovation I get from it. I do not miss the added physical anxiety, but I do miss the flavor and rush.

Thanks!!!

Emily

[shelley]

Please feel free to ignore all other candida diets and just go by mine. Seriously, there are some really stupid guidelines out there by people who just don't know what they're talking about.

The rule with caffeine is it depends on your dosha and adrenal health. Caffeine is a lot like alcohol - we all have different tolerances of it, and no one can tell YOU what YOUR tolerance is.

If your dosha is Kapha and your adrenals have not been compromised at all by the candida or the attending stress, you can have caffeine occasionally, preferably as green tea or the occasional cocoa. Best way for candida people to have cocoa is as a sort of pudding, mixed into unsweetened Kefir, with Stevia as a sweetener and Udo's Choice oil blend as the fat.

Some people who have been on a no-sugar diet for awhile (3 months) can get away with making hot cocoa out of Vanilla Rice Dream or Almond Milk.

[Emster]

Boy, I guess I have a lot to learn about myself. For instance, I have no idea what my dosha is...for that matter, I don't know what dosha is. I also don't know the status of my adrenal health. Is this something I need to read a lot about, or do you have something -- like the candida questionnaires out there -- that helps you to figure that information out? I'm still learning my way around your website. I do know that if I would have had a cup of coffee this morning, I either would have had a hard time falling asleep tonight, or I would wake up in the middle of the night and not get back to sleep until just before the alarm goes off.

By the way, I have to say you must be a very fulfilled person. I've always had an interest in alternative therapies and love learning about new research. My niece suggested to me recently that I should become a nutritionist, and I've been thinking about it. I love helping people help themselves.

[shelley]

yep, I would have to agree. I don't have huge messes in my life and get to make a difference in the world - when people let me.

Dosha is an Ayurvedic concept. The VHMS relies heavily on several Ayurvedic principles, body type being one of them. It's explained a bit in the FAQ, but since there are already many many web pages online that explain it adequately, I won't be expounding on the basic definitions a whole lot. I do have a Dosha Test that will help you quickly determine your dosha, there's a link to the page in the "how to get help" page, which is a post you should read first, then start reading the FAQ. Adrenal management is there too, including symptoms of exhaustion.