Thanking God for 2016. I thank God for 2015 too!

2015 has been awesome! It was full of nice things and lessons.

In this year, I graduated - twice; in the same year! I still cannot cannot believe it. I give God all the glory for that.

I cannot thank God enough, especially for my masters. The journey was not easy. It took a lot of sacrifice and opportunity cost. Sometimes I slept hungry (mostly because I forgot to eat), I lost friends. Sometimes I would spend 20 hours per day in the library. The sacrifice was real (and not even close to being nominal at all :))  ).

My friend Socrates and I on our graduation's rehearsal.

My friend, Geoffrey (Governor) and I on the graduation rehearsal day.

I am also thankful to God for the opportunity that I got in 2015 to accompany with my friend, Alecia, in ministering to women in Tanzania. It was amazing. I learnt so much especially from my interaction with Alecia. I hope to get more opportunities to do missionary work in 2016.

I got into a relationship in 2015 just as I had desired to at the end of 2014. I allowed myself to be free and vulnerable; I dared to trust. Although it did not end up well, I learnt my share of lessons . I am now a smarter person than I was then. I am glad I dived into that relationship. I believe that it was a necessary stage of my growth. I refuse to beat up myself because of my failed relationship. I refuse to give up just because of a failed relationship. In fact, I choose to practice the lessons that I learnt in my future relationships. I hope and pray that I will get into (and stay in) a relationship in 2016. I pray that the next relationship that I get into will lead into marriage. However, I will not be too hard on myself. I will take it slow, if need be. Marriage is never an emergency. I am no longer worried about the 12 healthy eggs that have gone in 2015. I am more concerned about having peace in my heart and in pleasing God in all that I do.

I am thankful to God that I got posted at the exact place/area/department I wanted to work in within my organization. I enjoy it and I love my job (sometimes).

I pray that God will continue to walk with me in my journey in 2016. 

I still believe that God isn't limited to operating within a certain system. I also believe that He does not operate on a budget; I will not limit Him to one. Where He leads, He provides.

Dear God, may everything that I do in 2016 be for Your glory and honour. Please give me the grace to go through all that comes my way.

CANDIDA

Candida is a fungus, which is a form of yeast, and a very small amount of it lives in our mouths and intestines. It's main job is helping out with digestion and nutrient absorption.

But when overproduced, candida can break down the wall of the intestine and penetrate the bloodstream — releasing toxic by-products into your body and causing leaky gut. This can lead to many different health problems, from digestive issues to depression.

The good news is that the healthy bacteria in your gut typically keep your candida levels in check. However, a few factors can cause the candida population to grow out of control:

• Eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar
• Consuming a lot of alcohol
• Taking oral contraceptives
• Eating a diet high in beneficial fermented foods
• Living a high-stress lifestyle
• Taking a round of antibiotics that killed too many of those friendly bacteria

 When a person has an overgrowth of candida, they are said to have candidiasis. Candidiasis can affect both male and female.

  Common symptoms of Candidiasis

1. Skin and nail fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot or toenail fungus
2. Feeling tired and worn down, or suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
3. Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
4. Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma, or multiple sclerosis
5. Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, lack of focus, ADD, ADHD, and brain fog
6. Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, hives, and rashes
7. Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, or depression
8. Vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, rectal itching, or vaginal itching
9. Severe seasonal allergies or itchy ears
10. Strong sugar and refined carbohydrate cravings

Candidiasis in Women 

 The vagina, like most organs of the body, are self regulating and heal themselves. However, problems can arise which need attention. There is nothing new here that isn't widely known and used. Many women having been using these natural remedies throughout the Ages - because they do work. However, they are not a substitution for medical attention if they fail to provide relief after a reasonable time.

Vaginal discharge is part of life. Some women will have regular monthly discharge for life. Some do not. Both are normal. Problems are caused by yeast or bacteria. When the discharge is no longer clear, the general indicators of a bacterial infection are when the discharge becomes milky, or yellowish or has an odor (smell). A vaginal yeast infection may or may not discharge but will usually be raw, red and itching.

 When I was in high school, I remember being educated by our headmistress about candidiasis after it had become so common in the school (I was in a missionary girls school). According to her at that time, candidiasis was caused by uncleanliness. She emphasized that we, as ladies, should always be clean... and that cleanliness is second to godliness. From my research, candidiasis is definitely not caused by the failure to be clean. 

 How do you treat candida overgrowth?

To successfully treat candida, you need to do three things: stop the yeast overgrowth, build up the friendly bacteria, and heal your gut so that candida can no longer enter your bloodstream.

First step: getting rid of the candida overgrowth, which mainly requires switching to a low-carbohydrate diet.

Sugar is what feeds yeast. So start by eliminating sugar in all of its simple forms — such as candy, desserts, alcohol, and flours. At the same time, cut back to just 1 cup a day of the more complex carbohydrates, like grains, beans, fruit, bread, pasta, and potatoes. This will help prevent the candida from growing and will eventually cause it to die.

Elimination of all fermented foods is recommended. That’s because, while it’s common knowledge that fermented foods help to feed the good bacteria, most people don’t realize that bad bacteria feed off of these foods as well.

Natural home remedies for candidiasis

• Yogurt & probiotics
• Boric acid
• Garlic
• Tea tree oil
• Douching (especially with vinegar)