Question:

I am a 54-year-old female and for the last six months I've been off work for a protruded disc C6/7. I am currently on Lyrica for nerve pain plus two Panadol, and I see an osteopath twice daily. I take four to six fish oil tabs most days, daily LSA, chia seeds, Greek yoghurt with nutmeg, cinnamon and frozen mixed berries.

I love chocolate and eat it almost daily. I eat fish at least once a week and hardly eat rice, pasta or bread but I do have them occasionally. I drink two or three glasses of alcohol four times a week. I look like I'm seven months pregnant and have done for about six weeks now. I have had a pelvic and abdominal ultrasound as my father passed away three years ago due to bowel cancer. They were all clear. Can you help?

Answer:

This sounds like a yeast overgrowth. Maybe you are having too much sugar eating chocolate every day. Alcohol is another factor in promoting an overgrowth of yeast. I know it would be hard but could you cut out all the sugar you are having, and that includes alcohol? Try this for a month and see how you feel.

Assist your digestion by having a glass of warm water with the juice of half a lemon each morning before breakfast and buy a good probiotic to take, such as acidophilus lactobacillus and acidophilus bifidus. Ask for advice on a good one at your health food store. Check also the side effects of the medication you are taking as sometimes this can be a contributing factor.

For more information please visit Alison Johnson’s website.