I can so relate to what you are talking about with the candida diet. I don't do well on dropping all carbs. I cannot do it. I get VERY weak and just can't keep it up. I also get the urge to binge, and do... usually on fruit, but it's still sugar. I'm actually in a catch 22 with my diet right now, and it's because of the metals, and until they come out, all i'll be able to do is manage things the best I can. If I eat mostly simple carbs, my adrenal fatigue and hypoglycemia are a problem, but my colitis seems better. If I eat complex only, my colitis seems worse, but my adrenal fatigue and hypoglycemia are better. I can't drop to a low enough level of carbs for those things to improve, because I don't digest protein well enough and apparently can't convert it energy very well either. so... danged if i do... danged if I don't.

I've been reading a lot about copper tox lately because I'm starting to suspect I have a problem with it. I go nuts when I consume too many nuts, and get this joint pain. It could be something else, but the symptoms fit Cu tox symptoms. I do this to nuts I'm not allergic to as well as ones I am, so it's not allergy (IgE or IgG reaction). I also fit some of the symptoms and have high copper amalgams, so it wouldn't be a far stretch. Anyway, I have recently been diagnosed with lymphocytic colitis, and one of the diets that seems to work well for LC people is the paleo diet, which is very low in carbs. I've tried cutting back my carbs heavily and my body doesn't make energy very well from protein, like others' seem to do. One of the side-effects of Cu tox can be problems with digesting protein because of the zinc depletion that is associated with it, and Zn is required for at least one of the enzymes involved in protein digestion. Those who do well on diets low in carbs, probably digest their protein pretty well.

If it is Cu tox, like others have suggested, Zn supplements can help, but don't take them at the same time as Calcium. Also, Vit C is supposed to help with Cu tox (I believe it is a direct antagonist). I'm assuming that the sodium ascorbate form would be the best to use. Other things I've seen listed as helpful for Cu tox is B6 (I never like to take the Bs in isolation though; I'd rather use a complex. I also found the coenzymated form much better for me, because I wasn't converting the regular form to a bioactive form very efficiently), molybdenum (no idea how much),and things that improve bile flow, since it is mainly excreted through the bile.

Hope you find out what your toxicities are soon. I'm in the process of trying to find out now about mine. I'm not sure what I think about the hair test, and what it means. I have and have read Cutler's book on Hair Test Interpretation, but haven't so far tested mercury toxic on the test, and there is no doubt in my mind I'm Hg toxic; my copper reads perfectly normal on it. Well, the last one was anyway. I've got a new one on the way right now, so we'll see what it says. I'm thinking of doing the red blood cell test for copper and adding a ceruloplasmin level to that (if you can actually have that tested). I know I'm Hg toxic, and strongly suspect copper, and possibly lead (although there's really no good way to test that that I know of). Any others would be a surprise.

Shonda