Testimonials & Reviews
Healthy Options - Janet Matthews, Dip ION
'Candida Can Be Fun!' - A Survival Guide for Yeasties
What is Candida Albicans?
I recently came across a book called 'Candida Can Be Fun!' by Rebecca Richardson. It seemed, initially, to be a strange title as, to be honest, having Candida is anything but fun. Candida Albicans is a yeast that resides in our gut. Normally, it is kept in check by a large percentage of good bacteria, but sometimes, due to lifestyle and other factors, Candida gets out of control and instead of being part of the 15% of bad bacteria in the gut, it proliferates and can completely take over the bacteria in the intestines. It can get so bad that it becomes systemic (affects other organs in the body) resulting in a long list of very debilitating symptoms.
How to Get Rid of Candida
Getting rid of Candida Albicans is a very difficult thing to do, as once it takes a hold, it affects our whole immune system. The good bacteria that resides in our gut is responsible for 80% of our immune system, so you can see that if Candida takes over, the immune system is serious depleted. the only way to deal with Candida is to starve it of the foods that help it grow and multiply and to attack it with high doses of probiotics and anti-yeast products. So, I am sure you will understand what I mean when I say "How can Candida be fun?" Over the years, I have helped several people with Candida Albicans and have even been on an anti-Candida diet myself. One of the most difficult things is knowing what to eat. We are so hide bound by our rituals regarding the food we eat that any enforced change sends us into a panic and a frenzy. I was delighted to find that Rebecca's book really does make Candida fun. She has put together the most wonderful recipe book, beautifully illustrated with lots of 'fun' recipes to try and lot of new and exciting ideas. If you have Candida and want to bring some fun into your life, then I highly recommend this book.
Rebecca Richardson was a typical teenager who enjoyed regular boozy weekends and a diet of bread and pasta. The problem was that this lifestyle continued for almost two decades until Rebecca's health stopped her in her tracks. Headaches, itching, cystitis and thrush were just a few of the regular symptoms she was experiencing. Eventually, in her desperation to find a cure, she stumbled across a nutritionist, who was able to diagnose her condition as Candida Albicans and immediately put her on a strict anti-Candida diet and a regime of supportive supplements. In her book, 'Candida Can Be Fun!', Rebecca discusses what to do when you are diagnosed with Candida. She gives you a detailed list of the foods you are allowed to eat and also the brands of the foods she uses in her recipes. The recipe section is exquisitely presented with photographs of the finised dish for every recipe. The recipes are Rebecca's own creations, or adaptations. She includes breakfasts, soups, salads, meat dishes, fish dishes and plenty of vegetarian options. Of course, there are no desserts, as sweet foods feed Candida and are, therefore, banned on an anti-Candida diet. However, the recipes she includes are so nutritious and filling that you wouldn't have room for anything else!! With 100 savoury recipes to choose from, you will never be short of ideas of what to eat.
Rebecca also discusses the treatment protocol she followed with her nutritionist with a week by week suggestion of how to implement it. Of course, she very sensibly points out that the information is to educate and inform and doesn't replace the need to have the support of a nutritional therapist when embarking on a supplement programme such as this. Because of recent research I have done, I would recommend that the only oils/fats you use to cook with are coconut oil, ghee (clarified butter which has the casein removed) and olive oil, but only if being used at low temperatures. Vegetable oils are very unstable at high temperatures and are very prone to oxidative damage. However, I recently visited Rebecca's web site and notice that she has added this point and I am pleased to see that she has taken the trouble to draw attention to this updated information. My only other reservation is that, personally, I wouldn't use any soy products, as there is a lot of controversey surrounding the health benefits versus dangers of soy and the evidence seems, as yet, to be inconclusive, so I would err on the side of caution. It is, of course, up to the individual to make that decision and the soy products can easily be substituted, if that is your preference.
I highly recommend 'Candida Can Be Fun!' and I am convinced you will enjoy the fun recipes and the lighthearted approach to this very debilitating illness. It is available from Amazon and www.candidacanbefun.co.uk
MCS Aware Magazine - Article and Christmas Recipe
Read my article ' MCS and Candida - What is that smell?!' and enjoy my Roast Turkey with Lemon Gravy & Sesame Seed Parsnips recipe. Remember - it doesn't have to be Christmas to enjoy turkey!
Sally Duffin, Nutritional Therapist, Nutrition in York
Many thanks to Sally at Nutrition in York for her book review contribution to her blog at: http://www.nutritioninyork.co.uk/candida-can-be-fun-thanks-to-rebecca/
Patricia Peat (RGN Dip PallC Dip Pall Med Founder of Cancer Options), Specialist in Cancer Consultancy
'Candida Can Be Fun!' - A Survival Guide for 'Yeasties
Far more than just a recipe book for yeast-free diet, Candida Can Be Fun! is the most comprehensive guide to dealing with the impact of yeast on our daily health published.
A great guide to the subject, clearly detailing how to approach it. You will be walked through all the best food types, what to avoid, how to introduce these into your diet and a shopping guide for products. Following this is 100 beautifully illustrated recipes, well explained, easily sourceable and delicious. Candida Can Be Fun! could be a book that is a blueprint for anyone wishing to avoid ill-health. For people with yeast intolerances it is a must!
Andrea Baines, Founder of Holistic Network Ireland
'Candida Can Be Fun!' has reached Irish shores and I would like to thank Andrea for this glowing review and for spreading the word in Ireland.
First off, despite the title, let me tell you this book is not just for people who suffer with Candida infections though, let's face it, we all have some Candida in our systems and there's certainly no harm in trying to reduce, or avoid, the effects of that! 'Candida Can Be Fun!' is a beautifully presented, full-colour, savoury recipe book for anyone who is sensitive to (or wishes to avoid as much as possible) sugar, wheat, dairy, gluten, alcohol, fruit, and many other foods that wreak havoc with our bodily functions.
Rebecca has presented a selection of 100 delicious and nutritious recipes, verified by her qualified nutritional consultant, Katherine Dempsey. But what has impressed me most is that Rebecca, after having gone through her own desperate journey with Candida, wrote, self-published, cooked and photographed all of the dishes in this book, alongside working full-time and taking care of her own family; her humour and personality shines through from every page.
At the back of the book, there is a whole section written by her nutritionist with lots of advice about supplementation, complimentary therapies, ongoing support, and even how to stave off sugar cravings. Also included is a great resource section for useful products and suppliers.
I have so far tried several recipes in this book and they are a delight to cook. There's nothing too complicated here, and you will have, at hand (or easily find) most of the ingredients. The book includes a great variety of interesting recipes, including more exotic ones like a take on the Indonesian national dish, Nasi Goreng, and a very delicious Rhubarb and Spinach Curry!
Shirley Briars, Nutritional Therapist at Shirley Briars Nutrition
http://www.bant.org.uk/bant/getPractitioner?id=41385
Rebecca gives a very personal and honest account of her experience of Candida. It is written with warmth and humour and contains a wealth of helpful information and advice for anyone struggling to come to terms with the condition. The recipes look delicious and are well presented and easy to follow. I think this book is a must have "bible" for Candida sufferers and will make the Candida diet not only accessible but appealing! When faced with what appears to be an enormous amount of restricted foods, this book is a revelation of the wonderful array of foods that can still be eaten and turned into delicious meals. The recipes are also suitable for anyone looking to reduce wheat, gluten, dairy and sugar in their diets and I look forward to recommending it to clients in my practice and trying many of the recipes myself. Thank you Rebecca for a wonderful resource.
Institute of Optimum Nutrition (ION)
Whilst written with the Candida sufferer in mind, this cookbook is in fact a useful aid for anyone with dietary restrictions or food intolerances. The book provides 100 savoury recipes and easy meal ideas that are wheat-, gluten-, dairy- and sugar-free. It includes family favourites such as fish pie, spaghetti bolognese and shepherd's pie, as well as more exotic dishes, such as rhubarb and spinach curry, vegetarian paella and tabbouleh. Each recipe is pictured and the methods are easy to follow. There is also a useful chapter on suppliers of the brands used in the book, making it easy for the reader to find the exact ingredients.
ARCH - Association of Registered Colon Hydrotherapists
Linda Booth ARCH Vice-Chair
http://www.colonic-association.org/
A REVIEW OF REBECCA RICHARDSON’S CANDIDA COOKBOOK, CANDIDA CAN BE FUN!
Gill (ARCH Chair) and I first came across Rebecca on Twitter. We all started ‘following’ each, and we eventually met her in person at camexpo in October, 2011. She bounced up to the ARCH Stand with a big smile on her face, and full of beans. She was as colourful as her book cover, and even had a beautiful cardigan on, the exact same teal colour. We liked her immediately. Her enthusiasm for helping other people with Candida was evident, and she had a great personal story to tell. She asked if I would review her book, and I gladly accepted.
However, not sure if it was such a good idea to a cookbook, whilst staying at the World famous Viva-Mayr Clinic for Modern Medicine. http://www.viva-mayr.com
I am here at the Clinic in Klagenfurt, Austria for two weeks, studying with Dr. Harald Stossier, recently voted one of the top 5 Diet Doctors in the World, but I’m also on the ‘cure’ here. For the past 5 days, my diet has consisted of dry spelt bread, herbal teas, clear vegetable broth and water, so probably not the most sensible thing to read a book that contains recipes and pictures of the most delicious, healthy looking food. My salivary glands are working overtime.
Visually, it is a very attractive book. It’s A4 in size, printed on good quality, thick paper, and the font is of a size you can see without squinting your eyes to read it. It’s a robust book so would do well in the kitchen, and the pages are glossy, so easy to wipe down. The colours are vibrant, and the recipes look healthy and fresh. You almost feel as though you want to lick the photographs to taste the food. You just know this food is going to do you good, whether you have problems with Candida or not.
She has eliminated wheat, dairy, sugar, alcohol, fruit and other, what she calls ‘evils’, but there are no gluten products in her recipes either, so excellent for coeliacs, and she always recommends organic.
There are 5 chapters.
Chapter 1 explains the importance of having a ‘Survival Kit’, containing things like a food diary, a liquidiser, a wok, a clean and organised kitchen, a sense of humour and a bank loan! She’s got a quirky sense of humour has Rebecca.
Chapter 2 lists the staple ingredients. What you can and can’t eat.
Chapter 3 list the brands and products used in the recipes. Very helpful.
Chapter 4. Rebecca has also listed all the websites of the different suppliers she used in compiling the recipes.
Chapter 5. The wonderful recipes all in super high-def colour.
Chapter 6. Her Candida story. What she thinks contributed to developing Candida, how it affected her life, and how she came back from the brink of suicide.
Chapter 7 contains supplement advice and holistic therapy treatments for Candida sufferers.
The book contains 100 recipes suitable for vegetarians and vegans. It has taken Rebecca 6 years to write this book and her love for cooking, and making healthy meals leaps off the page at you. I would recommend this book not just to Candida sufferers, but to those of you (and your patients) that have issues with IBS, Leaky Gut, Constipation, Indigestin and Acid Reflux, Skin problems, including eczema psoriasis and diabetes. Those of you that suffer with Chronic Fatigue and Burn Out, would also find this book useful.
As Rebecca says, this book SHOWS you what you can eat, instead of telling you what you CAN’T.
I am pleased to say that Rebecca will be one of our Exhibitors at our 25th Annual Conference in London on the 9th June. She will be answering any questions you may have about Candida, and copies of her book will be available to purchase.
Positive Health Online
http://www.positivehealth.com/review/candida-can-be-fun-a-survival-guide-for-yeasties
National Candida Society
Book Review: Candida Can Be Fun! by Rebecca Richardson
(2011) ISBN: 978-0-948808-14-2
Self-published. £19.99 (including P+P)
Available from: www.candidacanbefun.co.uk
This is an expensive recipe book but it is 150 pages, A4 size, very glossy with coloured photographs of the meals on every page, so it does have a luxurious feel to it. It contains 100 “delicious and nutritious savoury recipes and easy meals ideas to help you on your road to recovery”.
Rebecca is an experienced candida sufferer, and Katherine Dempsey, a qualified Nutritional Consultant and Reflexologist, collaborated with her. There are a couple of short chapters on what foods to eat or avoid, sourcing foods, useful websites etc., but 90% of the book is dedicated to the recipes. Here’s a cross-section of recipes: Asian Vegetable Salad / Aubergine Roast with Quinoa / Baked Salmon with Dill Vegetables / Bean Salad / Black Bean Jambalaya / Blackened Herb Salmon with Watercress and Potato Salad / Cajun Pork Stew with Black Olives / Chicken with Mediterranean Lentils / Crunchy Veggie Stir-Fry / Kedgeree / Millet and Tofu Scramble / Rhubarb and Spinach Curry / Tabbouleh / Vegetable Pilaf
Note that ALL of the recipes are savoury main meals or starters – there are no puddings. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan dishes; and some exciting exotic-sounding recipes e.g. Jambalaya and Tabbouleh. This is a very interesting recipe book, written with a degree of irony and humour from a candida sufferer’s perspective, which takes the person through the stages of first diagnosis to how to adapt to their new lifestyle. It is effectively a ‘survival guide’. Visit the web site for more information. It is also suitable for candida/ME sufferers, diabetics and coeliacs. As a taster, here is one of the recipes for you to try (Black Bean Jambalaya).
The Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Foundation
Comments
"Hi Rebecca. I have to say, I feel fantastic!!! I'm now down to 9 stone 8lb (the lightest I have been in about 3 years!!!) I don't feel bloated anymore and can fit into clothes that I haven't worn for years (I've been trying on half of my wardrobe today and running round the house shouting, "I'm thin!!!!" LOL!!! It'll be so nice to go out with friends and pick a nice dress to wear rather than covering myself up in leggings and a long tunic top!!! I've even been shopping today and treated myself to some new underwear!!!). No headaches, upset tum or nasty cystitis type symptoms... finally after 4 years I've found a diet that is easy to follow and is yummy! I just wanted you to know I think you're amazing and I would recommend your book to anyone!!!"
"Rebecca's book makes it so much easier for someone following an anti-candida diet to eat well and healthily."
"Congratulations on a fab book. I am sure 'Candida Can Be Fun!' will be a best seller."
"This book is full of recipes which are suitable for those following an anti-Candida programme, as well as being gluten and dairy free. It is highly practical with plenty of tips and suggested brands to make shopping easier. All the recipes come with photos making the book an enjoyable read. Well done Rebecca! A really useful resource for my clients following an anti-Candida protocol."
"Hi Rebecca. Web site looks great and your book has some delicious sounding recipes."
“Congratulations on the launch of your web site, Rebecca! We're delighted to be featured and happy to be able to offer a choice to Candida sufferers."
“These are great, Rebecca, especially if you've more than one ingredient you have to avoid ... Thank for sharing with us."
“I heard about you on Riverford’s Facebook page. Thanks for sending the book so promptly.
I have to admit I did cry (again!) when I read it, as I have been on a rocky journey since my diagnosis last May with conflicting advice about what I can and can't eat. Your book is the strictest yet, but I do love the pictures to choose what to eat and have really enjoyed the recipes so far. Love the section telling you where to order ingredients. That will come in handy. Really pleased that you had this vision to do the cookbook. I'll be spreading the word amongst fellow ‘Yeasties’.”
“My book arrived, thanks. I ordered it after reading about it on the Goodness Direct web site blog and I am really pleased. The Hungarian Aubergine with Polenta was not only really easy to make, but it tasted delicious. Even my fussy hubby loved it! I made the parsnip soup this afternoon, which we both enjoyed. I have been off wheat for a long time now but, since cutting out dairy and potatoes a week and a half ago, I have already lost half a stone. I am really impressed by the book. I also ordered some Liquid Chromium (after reading it in your book), which should especially help hubby with his sugar cravings and his depression. We have now also tried the Courgette and Butternut Squash Pasta. The only problem we had was that we wanted more … lots more. Lol. I used some corn tri colour pasta which I picked up at the Allergy + Gluten Free Show and the whole thing was just lovely. Big hit with fussy hubby again!!! I am not 100% sure if I have Candida, although I do have just about every symptom listed. I have endometriosis, so have not been eating wheat for a long time now as it makes the endometriosis a lot worse anyway. good thing for me). I will pop a comment on the gd website for you, I am really impressed by the book. Stuffed marrow for dinner tonight. I also ordered some chromium Yesterday which should especially help hubby with his really bad sugar cravings and depressionThis is all very tough, but I have the support or my hubby who told me that he would do the diet with me ;) Oh and thanks to your book, my hubby is now a huge fan of polenta, which I would never have imagined him having before!”
"I can’t recommend Rebecca's book highly enough. It is witty and insightful and the photographs of the food are stunning. So if you would like to know more about the ins and outs of food intolerances (or even just about the ins and outs of Rebecca herself!) then this is the book for you."
"I have received my copy of 'Candida Can Be Fun!' and just wanted to let you know that I am delighted with it, and that's before I start cooking the recipes :). It is going to be a great help. Thank you very much. Kind regards." Jill
"Oh my gosh I LOVE your book! I just got it today. It's so brilliant, the recipes are so normal, simple and look yummy in the photos. I actually feel excited about starting. Thank you so much!" Katie
"I absolutely love this book. The recipes are easy to follow and delicious. I suffer from various allergies and not Candida but the meal suggestions in this book can benefit everybody as they are as healthy as they are enjoyable. It is written in a light hearted and friendly manner yet does not lose sight of how difficult it can be to find tasty recipes on a 'free from' menu. The author herself has suffered from intolerance to certain foods and you can rest assured that the suggestions are all tried and tested by somebody who really knows the profound effect that diet can have on our well being. I can't wait to try out more of these delicious creations on both friends and family. Beautifully photographed the pictures alone should tempt you. This is a book to keep in the kitchen and not on a shelf in the living room."
Elsewhere online
Natural Connections Magazine (Ireland)
29th Edition (November 2012 - January 2013)
My thanks to Yvonne Fitzgerald for printing the article on my personal journey with Candida: here
Positive Health
Rebecca Richardson - Surviving Candida a Patient's Perspective
http://www.positivehealth.com/article/colon-health/surviving-candida-a-patient-s-perspective
Wilma Kirsten
Wilma Kirsten - Recommends "Candida Can Be Fun!"
http://www.wilmakirsten.com/candida/
Proventus
Proventus’ feedback “Candida Can Be Fun!” at the Proventus blog:
http://proventuscharity.blogspot.com/2011/03/candida-can-be-fun.html
Cardboard Diet
Djinn’s feedback on “Candida Can Be Fun!” at The Cardboard Diet blog:
http://cardboard-diet.blogspot.com/2011/06/candida-can-be-fun-book-report.html