I've been thinking about this and read your post to my dh (whom I consider to be far, far wiser than I). This is what he dictated to me and what I fully agree with. You need to find out who's seen this event and be able to ask them fair questions. Let them bring the person who has seen this event in front of you and let them answer your questions. That way you will know better as to the validity of this claim. If they cannot bring anybody in front of you, then it's hard to justify any kind of claim and I wouldn't pay them anything. While this is definitely a cultural problem and a cultural difference, clearly there are family loyalty issues with your landlord. Nonetheless, this does not change the fairness aspect of this situation When somebody makes a claim, that claim has to be substantiated and the person who is being accused has a right to ask his accuser for proof. Regardless of culture and family ties, that's the right way to go about it. So sorry that you have to all go through this. :glare: :grouphug:

but ... amazing. :thumbup: I know that music, books, food, etc. - are all very subjective. Tastes vary. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Listening to this make me happy and lifts my mood. :D

Peela, thank you so much, as always. :grouphug: Quick question for you or anyone else who can answer this: ghee here is quite expensive. What are its benefits versus having say, regular butter? Thank you for the links. I need to read more. I do have some basic ideas of Ayurveda. In fact, I read the Deepak Chopra book many years ago. I wish I had kept it. I didn't put too much stock into it at the time. But now I'm ready to learn and read more. I remember thinking that I'm a mixture of 2 doshas. Not sure ... Thanks so much, Jean. I did a quick search and yes, you're right, the diets are quite similar. He has been taking so much garlic. As of last night, he officially stopped the anti-candida diet without any pressure from me. He's had enough - enough of not feeling well, losing far too much weight, lower abdominal pain/cramping, etc. He would still love to get rid of the candida, but he just had enough. He stuck with it for a much longer time than I would have.

I love your avatar. :) I used to live across the street from where he was shot (my grad school years). His mother was Grenadian. But you probably know that already. :)

Thanks, Rosie. Right now, I really want to read up more on Ayurveda. I really, really miss these books. Wish I could find more books like this. I loved the storyline. Yes, he did tend to go off topic at times, etc. But I love the excitement behind all the books. I love this sort of book that I can't put down. He was partway through the 4th book when he died of heart failure - 12 cups of coffee and 3 packs of cigarettes a day. One day the office elevator wasn't working. He went up 7 flights of stairs and died of heart failure once he got to his office. Sad. He planned to write 10 books in this series. I love how Grenada is described in his 2nd book. Very accurate description. He used to visit here frequently.

:iagree: Absolutely hated this. You stuck with it longer than I did. I gave up on it fast.

:iagree: BTW, love the Brain Bleach :D :lol:. I tried, really tried this one and didn't like it either. It failed my 10% Rule - if a book doesn't grab me within the first 10%, I stop. Life is too short to read books that are not engaging. :) Me too. Hated it. I also throw books away at times. :lol: :iagree: Hated it with a passion. But we love, love, love Roald Dahl. :)

:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: Having read every single response to this very interesting thread, I have to fully agree. This was my initial reaction after reading the OP, also, but you have said it much better than me. :D

Pretty much the same here. We laugh a lot and are each other's best friends. For us, it's almost 15 years. We feel so blessed.

:iagree: with everything you mentioned.

Peela, I agree about the long-term. I think that the plan is meant for short-term. I think ... Like hcg or some other extreme diets, I think it's meant to help those who like or prefer to have a jump start on weight loss. These days, I'm in the mood for jump starts. Slow and steady just hasn't been cutting it for me. :confused: I'm really only interested in kick-starts also. I'm no longer interested in losing and regaining the same exact few pounds - back and forth - like a see saw/teeter-totter. Enough with that, for me. Hence why I like hcg and some more extreme plans these days. I never used to like extreme plans and was always against them. Somewhat like yo, I also love playing around with different plans and and researching them to see what works. Right now, I'm just not as interested in moderation and don't find it very effective at all. These days, I need to see big weight losses at first to keep me motivated. I have never succeeded on the NoS plan. I've actually gained with it every single time. Very frustrating. This book sounds very interesting. I just don't know if I could apply it to where we live - which has 2 seasons - rainy and dry. And the temperature is pretty much the same year-round. :confused: We love it, but when it comes to this book, I don't know if it's applicable. Do please share your opinions if and when you remember. :D Here are some copied and pasted stuff (for my own knowledge and clarification - and for anyone who may be interested). What sparked my interest is that it's French, and the French, as we know, are not really obese on the whole. Or at least it's very rare. When they talk about diet or skin care, I listen, or at least I try to. The Dukan Diet has taken France by storm, selling 3.5 million copies in 14 different languages and being hailed as a life-long weight loss answer. His own diet's high-protein, low-fat approach is organized into four phases: Attack Encourages dieters to eat as much as they want of nonfatty, protein rich foods, including oat bran (a key component) washed down with oceans of water No caloric restrictions Average length: 5 days - to lose lots of weight, 10 days are recommended Cruise Introduces vegetables, but no fruit 100 unlimited foods (72 from animals, 28 from plants) Average length: 3 days for each pound you want to lose - lasts until the desired weight goal is achieved, lean protein, oat bran, and water days (as above) alternate with lean protein, oat bran, water, plus vegetable days. There are 28 vegetables to choose from -- no peas, carrots, corn or potatoes. The dieter is supposed to drop about 2 pounds a week. Consolidation 2 slices of bread A serving of cheese and fruit 2 servings of carbohydrates a day 2 weekly "celebration" meals with wine and dessert (the diet is French, after all) No second helpings. Average length: 5 days per pound lost No additional pounds will be lost, but weight should remain stable. Stabilization 6 days a week of "anything goes" and one day of reversion to strict protein-only stage one -- for the rest of your life. One pure protein day every Thursday for life No more lifts (elevators) or escalators 3 tablespoons of oat bran a day The French know a great deal about food and how to prepare it; they've taken pride in their national cuisine for centuries. It was a Frenchman, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, who famously wrote in 1825: "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are." In Larousse Gastronomic, the monumental food encyclopedia edited by Frenchman Prosper Montagné, the entry on American cooking disparagingly mentions the countrywide distribution of factory-produced foods -- and this was in 1938! (Montagné goes on to observe, years before McDonald's served its first Happy Meal, that it is characteristic of Americans to eat as quickly as possible for as little money as possible). The great French chef Auguste Escoffier died before the Larousse was published, but not before he wrote the book's preface, which he begins with these words: "The history of the table of a nation is a reflection of the civilization of that nation." This long cultural history of respecting food is likely a major reason why the French have had considerable immunity to the obesity epidemic. French women really don't get fat, or at least nine out of 10 don't -- according to the 2010 OECD Factbook a mere 10.5 percent of French adults are obese, in contrast to almost 35 percent of Americans. Nevertheless, for those who need help or just think they do, we imported Weight Watchers to France, and last year Jenny Craig opened shop. When queried as to why Jenny Craig (a company that sells low calorie prepared meals) made that decision, Eric Moreau, the company's chief executive in France, explained: "The French have a negative reaction to American food. But in terms of weight loss, the Americans have credibility here."

Christina, thank you so much for all your very helpful tips. Thank you :grouphug:. I agree and am beginning to believe that it may very well be a hoax. I researched it as well. I also read that osteopenia is a hoax as well. Back to candida, dh believes that he has it. And that he's healing. His health feels up and down. Some days/moments, he feels very good. Other times, not good at all. I don't support or believe in this diet. My attitude is "whatever floats your boat". :confused: Quite frankly, whoever invented the term candida, I want to clobber on the head and shout some choice words. :glare: Thanks so much, Peela. :grouphug: The info is all from online sources and some books. :confused: So, would you say, that some fruit is okay? What about brown rice, etc.? What would you say he absolutely should not eat? - Bread, white flour, is whole wheat okay?, some fruit okay? He's fine with no sugar. He's always been a sugar addict. But going on the candida diet has made absolutely zero difference in his sugar cravings. I'm shocked. I'd always read and continue to read how those who have candida see their sugar cravings disappear after going on the anti-candida diet. As far as I'm concerned, that's such rubbish, or, at least not true in my dh's case. Oftentimes, he says how he would gladly eat 10 Snickers bars. So there goes that theory right out the window. Sorry that I sound so angry and bitter. I'm just annoyed at the false promises and false sense of hope. I hate it when one tries something and gets no results. Especially when one sticks to it to a "t". Very frustrating to put it in all that effort and get nowhere much. We will look into the Ayurveda. I'll try to convince him. He's quite open to suggestions, but is very attached to this stupid, stupid, stupid candida. Sorry to sound so opinionated :lol:. Thanks so much. No, you're not undermining anything. Trust me. I'm ready to clobber whoever came up with those whole thing. :glare: Thanks in advance. No need to reply if you're busy. Thank you all. :grouphug: Peela, is there a site that you would recommend for Ayurveda? It'll take forever for a book to arrive here. Thanks so much. I see some sites, but is there one that you prefer?

Rosie, which Ayurveda book are you reading? I don't think you mentioned it yet. ;) I do agree w/you. Many years ago, I think one of those books told me that I shouldn't eat persimmons (which I love and might get to eat once every few years, if that). I can't understand how much damage that could do. I'd love to read this one also. It's on my wish list. Unfortunately, no good library here. I have to buy all my books. Not fun at all.

I really like this one. Dh and I are huge Dickens fans. We also love the A&E/BBC versions of these. Very nicely done. Very true to the story. :lol: I really want to start reading up on this more also. This is worrying. I didn't ever think that they would break or need repair work. :confused: Oh well, silly me, of course they would eventually. I had just never considered it. I've just started Little Bee. Not sure what I think of it yet :confused:. Quite disturbing and painful so far. It's one of those books where I won't know if I like it until the very end, I think. As some of you may know, for me, ending is everything. With the dc, we're still reading the same books. I cannot stand long chapters for read-alouds :glare:. Both of our books have very long chapters. Still reading The Time Garden which is a nice and entertaining way to include some history :D. As well as Just William - an absolute blast and I love doing all the accents :D. I grew up watching this series on TV in Britain. I didn't even know that this was a book series, until someone here mentioned them. :)

Just seeing this ... Your dh is right. Yes, everything you say is right. I remember reading a very, very interesting and disturbing article in National Geographic a few years ago about the Indian caste system. Some parts of it were really upsetting. Might be hard to do, but I guess it could be done - volunteering, etc. It's just hard when we have families to take care of and get so busy and involved in our lives - it's hard to take care of everything. You have such a good heart. The fact that you care so much is solid proof.

We've always been huge Jim Weiss fans and he and I used to keep in touch via email many times. He's so sweet and so kind. Sadly, our dc have now outgrown most of the CDs. But they were great memories. We did listen to his Tale of Two Cities on our recent trip to the U.S. That was nice.

This has been in Europe, and is about to arrive (or has already arrived) to the U.S. Anyone try this yet? Know anything about it? Sounds interesting so far. http://www.dukandiet.com/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/18/dukan-diet-french-atkins_n_837609.html

I hate, hate, hate the candida diet. I hate the whole concept. :cursing: It might be great for those who want to lose weight. I really want my dh to stop the diet. Oh well ... The diet is excessively high in protein. I don't think it's healthy at all. I wish that we'd never heard about candida. I curse the day that we did. :confused:

:grouphug: Praying for them. :grouphug:

:lol: :lol: :lol: Sorry, you're making my cheeks hurt. Umm ... I'm not that sort of person either. :lol:

Loved these. :D

Or you could try amazon.

To stay fully functional, joint cartilage has to be fully hydrated. As children, our cartilage was made up of almost 85 percent water, but as we get older that usually drops to 75 percent—and even lower if we don’t drink enough water. Lots of water translates into more resilient joints. Drink at least eight, 8-ounce glasses of pure, clean water. And avoid sodas and other carbonated beverages that can leach minerals from your bones. Acupuncture reduces pain in 90% of patients EXERCISE – Begin with a daily 10-minute walk, take up a gentle yoga class, or try the slow movement of Tai Chi. Water aerobics and swimming help also. Keep moving: even though pain and stiffness can make you feel like skipping your exercise routine, research shows that staying active can help keep arthritis symptoms under control. Try to swim as often as possible. Going to the pool—better yet, the indoor heated pool—is an excellent way to exercise your joints. The buoyancy of the water takes pressure off your joints. If you don’t like swimming try water walking, and don’t forget to move your arms too. Joints and muscles tend to wake up stiff, and the warmth of the shower helps to make your whole body easier to move. Arthritis is one of the many symptoms of a congested lymphatic system. Things that help to clear up the lymphatic system: • Daily Rebounding (if possible, although there is a company that makes lovely chairs for those who can't stand or prefer not to) • Deep Breathing • Daily Dry Body Brushing • Massage and/or Reflexology • Swinging (yes, sitting on a swing!) Aim to lose weight if necessary. Hot or ice cold compresses for 15 minutes Epsom Salts Soak: Mix 2 cups Epsom salts in gallon of warm water. Wet a towel with the solution and hold it against the painful joints for 15 to 25 minutes. Then remove the towel and massage in castor oil. Can take an Epsom Salt bath a few times a week Topical capsaicin cream – 0.025% or 0.075% cream 1-4 times daily Healthy joints need movement. In fact, they thrive on it! Joint health is a clear case of “use it or lose it”—and here are some easy ways to get moving. One of the more common areas for joint problems is the shoulder. As people become more sedentary, they often don’t perform the motions that require raising the hands and arms above the head. This lack of movement means that these joints won’t get the opportunity to receive needed nutrients, and release waste, like they should. Each morning do some neck and shoulder exercises. Turn your head from left to right, side to side (ear to shoulder), chin up, chin down. Then, continue down into the shoulders, pushing them as far back as possible, then as far forward, and then rotating them in circles. Also stretch your arms up above your head—as far as you can without discomfort. These exercises help to keep your shoulder joints flexible and healthy. Knees are often our "weak links" when it comes to joints because they carry much of the weight and do so much of the work! "Knee strengthening" is really quadriceps strengthening—that's the large muscle group that runs down the front of your thigh. Remember, your joints are no stronger than the muscles and ligaments that support them. Tiger Balm - especially effective with plastic wrap Oil of Oregano Rub a few drops of Oil of Oregano into the skin covering the affected area. You can apply it as many times a day as you like. Oregano oil has the ability to penetrate through the skin right into the synovial fluid of the joint where its anti-inflammatory and pain-killing properties will provide relief. Lidocaine patches are as effective as Rx pills. Get enough sleep. Your body needs a full night of quality sleep to fight pain. CHIROPRACTIC/MASSAGE – both help immensely with pain Be aware that you should wait for any inflammation to subside before starting either. Hydrotherapy has been proven to help with arthritis. No medicine on the market can rival the physiological effects of water. Warm to hot water eases joint pain by reducing swelling and increasing blood flow to fight inflammation.

Limit or avoid: Nightshade foods: Cayenne Pepper Eggplant Paprika Peppers – sweet and hot peppers Potatoes Tabasco Sauce Tomatoes 74-90% of people with ache from any cause have a nightshade sensitivity. Temporarily avoid all foods with any amount of nightshades. Read labels carefully. Spend a day or two getting ready for this experiment. Then eliminate all nightshades entirely – 100% - for 2 full weeks. Did your pain subside or disappear during this time? If so, nightshades are a problem for you. At the end of 2 weeks, eat one food from the nightshade family by itself – like a tomato or bell pepper, and watch for any reactions. You may feel tired, agitated, your heart may race, you could have more pain, or you could have other undesirable side effects. If you react, continue to avoid the entire nightshade family for 3 months or more. If not, bring them back into your diet. Some people with arthritis who have a nightshade sensitivity can eventually add small amounts of them back into their diet – like the amount found in salad dressing. Others can’t. But if they trigger your arthritis pain, you’ll need to avoid them completely for at least 2-3 months. Even tiny quantities of nightshades hidden in other foods can contribute to excruciating arthritis pain, and nightshades are everywhere. Potato starch is disguised in many frozen and processed foods in the form of modified food starch, modified vegetable protein, modified vegetable starch, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. Look for it meatballs, mock crab, sausages, and deep-fried foods that have been cooked in the same vegetable oils as French fried potatoes. Some Rx and OTC medications use potato starch as their fillers. You need to find out. Tomatoes are an ingredient in brown meat sauces like Worcestershire sauce and steak sauce, as well as salad dressings, some luncheon meats, gravies, and baked beans, so read labels carefully. Green olives may be stuffed with pimentos, a sweet red pepper, and dried pepper flakes are often sprinkled over pasta dishes. Avoid sauces, especially Thai, barbecue, Cajun, Mexican, Southern, and Jamaican dishes, as well as Tabasco sauce, prepared mustards, and Cayenne pepper. Safe foods you might think are unsafe include sweet potatoes, yams, and black pepper. You may not react to vegetables in the nightshade family, but if you do, you need to stop eating them. You can test yourself at home. Limit or avoid the following: Corn Oil Soy Oil Sunflower oil Safflower oil Margarine Vegetable shortenings Processed foods that contain these fats Fewer animal products Inflammation and pain go hand-in-hand, and food sensitivities cause inflammation. Limit milk, red meat, sugar, citrus fruits, and salt for a few weeks and see if your symptoms improve. These foods all affect cartilage.

Olive Oil’s high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids (particularly oleic acid) seem to protect against joint inflammation. In one study, participants who consumed about 3 tbsp of olive oil a day lessened their chance of developing RA by 61%. But be sure to use it as a replacement for less healthy saturated fats like butter, since 3 tbsp can add almost 400 calories to your daily diet. A Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, fish, and olive oil has been found to give great relief to arthritis patients. It contains less red meat and dairy products than do Western diets. Bone broths are easy to make. Begin with bones from fish, poultry, beef, lamb, or pork. The bones can be raw or cooked, and they can be stripped of meat or still contain meat remnants and skin. You can also add leftover eggshells because the membrane that separates the white from the shell contains four joint-boosting nutrients—hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, chondroitin, and collagen. Place the bones and eggshells with water in a pot—and add a couple of tablespoons of one of the following per quart of water: apple cider vinegar, red or white wine vinegar, or lemon juice. Gently stir and then let it sit for about 30 minutes to let the acid go to work. After 30 minutes, bring the pot to a boil, then cover and simmer for 4 to 6 hours for fish, 6 to 8 hours for poultry, and 12 to 18 hours for beef, lamb, or pork. Keep a lid on the pot, and add water when necessary. Once it’s done, you can strain it immediately and sip it as a soup (but don’t reheat the broth in a microwave—certain amino acids may become toxic if microwaved). Juicing “Live” juices help rebuild the body and the joints—and all you need is a juicer to make them. Alternate between these two combinations: carrot & celery juice one day (8 oz of each), followed the next day by 10 oz carrot and 6 oz spinach juice. Make them fresh every day and consume immediately. Carrot juice is loaded with zinc, vitamin E, copper, and beta carotene. Celery provides potassium and sodium, and it has an alkalinizing effect on the body. An alkaline diet supports joint healing. Eat cherries as often as possible. Consuming 20 a day (about 2000 mg of cherry fruit extract) has been proven to provide more pain relief than aspirin and other painkillers.