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Knowledge gives a person many options for managing epilepsy and
they can then personally take charge of the effect this disease is having on their life. |
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Nutrient |
Product Suggestion |
Vitamins:
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E-Kit
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Amino Acids:
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Nutrient Cofactors:
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There is considerable controversy surrounding the role of nutrition in treating epilepsy. Only one type of diet, a ketogenic diet or a diet consisting of high proteins and low carbohydrates, has been proven to help epileptics and even this type of diet isn't effective with all epileptics. Supplementing provides powerful nutritional support and can assure the daily presence of important nutritents. The following diet suggestions can be helpful in epilepsy.
Drink fresh "live" juices made from beets, carrots, green beans, green leafy vegetables, peas, red grapes, and seaweed for concentrated nutrients.
Include beet greens, chard, eggs, green leafy vegetables, raw cheese, raw milk, raw nuts, seeds, and soybeans in the diet.
A diet virtually devoid of starches and sugars and high in fat has been used as a treatment for children whose epilepsy cannot be controlled with drugs or who have to take such high doses of drugs that side effects become intolerable. Children can be especially responsive to supplements.
Lifestyle Changes
Work toward a well balanced diet. Keep drug dosages as low as possible, and work toward becoming as free from drugs and seizures as possible. The correct diet and nutritional supplements are very important in the control of epilepsy.
Eat small meals, use olive oil instead of vegetable oil in cooking. Consider having an intake of 2 tablespoons of olive oil daily. As much as possible, avoid stress and tension. Learn stress management techniques.
Get regular moderate exercise to improve circulation to the brain.
Don't drink alcohol. People who drink alcohol have a greater chance of developing epilepsy, a risk similar to that of people who've had head injuries or central nervous system infections.
- Ease up on coffee drinking. Robert J. Gumnit, M.D., president of the Minnesota Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and director of the Epilepsy Clinical Research Center at the University of Minnesota suggests that, "Although most can tolerate two to three cups of coffee or tea a day without trouble, a small percentage of people with epilepsy are very sensitive to caffeine and shouldn't take it at all."
Medical Options and Precautions
Possible side effects of antiseizure medications include blood disorders, fatigue, liver problems, and mental fatigue and/or fogginess.
Other types of drugs can interact with antiseizure medications, lessening or intensifying the effects of one drug or the other. Alcohol, birth control pills, the antibiotic erythromycin, and some types of asthma, ulcer, and heart medicine are known to interact with certain epilepsy drugs. Anyone who takes medication for epilepsy should always check with his or her doctor or pharmacist before taking other drugs whether prescription or over-the-counter.
Possible side effects of antiseizure medications include blood disorders, fatigue, liver problems, and mental fatigue and/or fogginess.
Other types of drugs can interact with antiseizure medications, lessening or intensifying the effects of one drug or the other. Alcohol, birth control pills, the antibiotic erythromycin, and some types of asthma, ulcer, and heart medicine are known to interact with certain epilepsy drugs. Anyone who takes medication for epilepsy should always check with his or her doctor or pharmacist before taking other drugs whether prescription or over-the-counter.