Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disease accompanied by epileptic seizures of varying severity. In terms of nutrition, sufferers of the disease can consume almost everything that healthy people eat, with small restrictions. Significant reduction of fluids or increased excretion of fluids is recommended. The consumption of alcoholic beverages, including beer and dry wines, is strictly prohibited. Numerous observations show that alcohol is a major factor causing seizures (even when they have not occurred for years) and complicating the disease.

How do vitamins and minerals affect epilepsy?

Certain vitamins can help reduce the number of seizures caused by certain types of epilepsy. They may help some medicines work more effectively or reduce the daily dose needed. Consult a doctor before taking any dietary supplements.

• Vitamin B6 is used to treat a rare form of epilepsy known as pyridoxine-dependent seizures. It usually develops in the womb or soon after birth. It is caused by the body's inability to metabolize vitamin B6 properly.

• Severe magnesium deficiency may increase the risk of seizures. Magnesium supplements are thought to reduce seizures.

• Some people with epilepsy may have a deficiency of vitamin E . This vitamin increases a person's antioxidant abilities and helps reduce seizures in people with epilepsy whose symptoms are not controlled by standard medications.

• Medications used to treat epilepsy can also cause biotin or vitamin D deficiency and worsen symptoms. In these cases, your doctor may recommend vitamins to help manage the condition.

What does a balanced diet for epilepsy involve?

A balanced diet that includes different food groups helps the body and brain to function properly and keeps a person healthy. Proper nutrition can help reduce the risk of seizures in some people with epilepsy. Cooking at home gives you more control over what you eat.

A balanced diet usually consists of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vegetables, fruits and plenty of fluids. The place where a person lives, his health needs and lifestyle also have an impact.

• Carbohydrates provide energy. They are found in foods such as potatoes, bread, pasta and rice. Whole grain versions of these foods provide extra vitamins, minerals and fiber, which helps remove waste from the body.
• Fats can be obtained from oils, oily fish, nuts and seeds. They help absorb nutrients (vitamins) and keep the body warm and the cells healthy, and also provide energy.
• Proteins build and support muscles, hormones, enzymes, red blood cells and the immune system. Protein is found in dairy foods such as milk and cheese, as well as in meat, fish, tofu, beans, lentils and eggs.
• Colorful vegetables and fruits provide vitamins and minerals, protect against infection, cell damage and disease. It is recommended to consume five servings of vegetables and fruits a day.
• Food is usually healthier when steamed or grilled, baked, boiled or poached, but not fried or breaded.
• Drinking enough drinking water daily helps a person to function normally and concentrate, reducing the risk of seizures caused by dehydration.

Dietary treatment can help some people who have difficulty controlling seizures. Following an individual diet plan with specific amounts of daily intake of fats, carbohydrates and proteins will have a beneficial effect on brain function. The ketogenic diet is a medical treatment performed under the supervision of a nutritionist and an epileptologist. This is a diet that should not be started without medical supervision. It is used mainly in children whose epilepsy does not respond to antiepileptic drugs (anticonvulsants). However, the regime is becoming more widely available for adults.

Which foods are forbidden in epilepsy?

In epilepsy, spicy and salty foods, herring, sprats, salted and pickled vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, mushrooms, pumpkin), spices (vinegar, pepper, horseradish, mustard), products with a high nitrogen content are not allowed. peas), smoked and indigestible foods.

• ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort - can interact with antiseptic drugs;
• kava, passionflower - have a very strong sedative (sedative) effect;
• garlic - may interfere with the action of some drugs;
• chamomile - may prolong the effect of the drugs you are taking;
• schisandra - can lead to more seizures;
• herbal supplements containing ephedra or caffeine - can worsen seizures (these are guarana, cola);
• cops tea.

Which foods are allowed in epilepsy?

You should not go to extremes - do not stop drinking water completely, you can also take contraindicated foods sometimes, but not present in your menu constantly and in large quantities.

It is also important not to overeat, because it also causes seizures in epileptics. The food should be varied, rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables. These products increase intestinal peristalsis and prevent constipation. People with epilepsy are usually prescribed a dairy-vegetable diet. This does not mean that you should exclude meat and protein-containing products from your menu, moreover, that a number of antiepileptic drugs can have side effects on the liver, which is damaged by a protein diet. The amount of fish and meat should be moderate and should be taken mainly in the form of cooked meals. Food should be rich in vitamins.

Can food cause seizures?

Not all foods necessarily trigger seizures in people with epilepsy, with the exception of the rare types of "reflex epilepsy", in which seizures are triggered by the consumption of very specific foods. Reflex epilepsy is when seizures occur in response to a specific cause. This type of epilepsy includes photosensitivity, reading epilepsy - seizures caused by reading and seizures caused by sudden shock or loud noise.

Epilepsy in each person is different and occurs individually. The most common causes of seizures are lack of sleep, stress and alcohol intake. Some people believe that taking dyes and preservatives, monosodium glutamate or artificial sweeteners can cause seizures. Most low-fat foods contain artificial ingredients, so they are avoided for consumption by people suffering from epilepsy.

Grapefruit and pomegranate juices do not cause seizures, but they can cause side effects with some epilepsy medications. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, cola and some energy drinks, has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system. The relationship between caffeine, seizure control and antiepileptic drugs is complex and not fully understood. Caffeine is thought to increase the likelihood of seizures in some people, as well as affect the effects of seizure control medications. Consult a specialist if you are concerned about the effect that caffeine may have on your condition.