Epilepsy is a condition wherein a disturbance in nerve cell activity can result in uncontrolled and unexpected seizures. The seizure can result in abnormal behavioral changes, vivid sensations, and even loss of consciousness. Nerve pain medications, sedatives, anticonvulsants, and changes in one’s diet can help you manage the symptoms of the chronic condition.
Here are a few essential points to consider to ensure proper nutrition while following an epilepsy-friendly diet.
Deficiencies
Vitamin, mineral, and nutrient deficiencies can aggravate the symptoms of any
medical condition. A calcium and magnesium deficiency, in particular, can
result in convulsions caused due to epilepsy. Therefore, it is important to
incorporate dairy and non-dairy calcium-rich foods in one’s daily diet to
supplement and maintain optimum levels. Common sources include cheese, yogurt,
milk, sardines, leafy greens, fortified cereals, soybean, and fortified
soymilk. Note that the sources will vary depending on the type of diet one plans
to follow during their epilepsy seizure treatments.
Planning the diet
Ketogenic diet, Atkins diet, and Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) are among the
popular choices when it comes to the neurological condition. Diet forms a
crucial aspect of treatments for epilepsy seizures as something so simple as
failing to plan a meal or not having enough food can affect the frequency of
the seizures. Different people experience different levels of seizures as a
result of varied types of epilepsy. It is important to have a well-balanced
diet but it is also crucial to plan meals and incorporate the right quantity
of foods and beverages. One must consult with a nutritionist to understand the
benefits of diets proven effective during ongoing treatments for epilepsy seizures.
Foods to avoid
One must also consider the foods that are bad for health in order to overcome
the symptoms of epilepsy. Research indicates that fluctuations in blood sugar
levels can trigger a seizure in some cases. Foods that are rich in sugar must
be eliminated or consumed in moderation depending on the diet plan. These
include cakes, bagels, white rice, white pasta, white bread, among other
processed foods. As an alternative, one can consider increasing the
consumption of whole grains, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread,
and an assortment of healthy nuts. One must also avoid eating high glycemic
fruits including mangoes, bananas, and dates. High levels of glycemia can
trigger an unexpected seizure. Foods that have common additives and flavoring
like monosodium glutamate must be avoided as these compounds can alter the
chemical structure resulting in an imbalance.
It
is imperative to take the requisite physical efforts to complement a
well-planned and balanced diet for epilepsy. Apart from common treatments for
epilepsy seizures, alternative therapies including meditation and yoga can help
deal with mental stress more effectively.