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The Epi-diet was formulated for those with epilepsy to help prevent seizures. However, you may want to look into it just
to lose weight. All who wish to follow the diet are welcome here.
I am not a doctor. I am a person that has had epilepsy most of my life and felt I had put
up with enough. I was unable to keep a full time job, because every time I got one I'd have a seizure at work and have to
quit.
I had a grand mal seizure that caused me to hit my head on a cement floor. I had a concussion, bruised
ribs and wasn't sure I'd ever be the same again. I had a scar on the back of my head the size of a half dollar coin that was
bald and, because of the concussion, I couldn't complete a sentence or a thought for a few days. I was confussed, tired, frustrated
and unable to do much of anything until I got my mind clear. Once my head was clear enough to think straight, I told
my husband that I was going to find a cure for this so that I would never have another seizure. When I did I would have a
better job than he did. He was all for that, but has his doubts. I can't blame him, we've been married for 31 years and nothing
much has changed.
I've been studying nutrition for years in hopes of finding ways to prevent seizures. I even took a
course through the mail to learn more. Now, I was ready to dive into the research with everything I had. I won't give up until
it's done. What I put here will be updated whenever I have something new to report. This diet, as it is, shows you a
portion of my findings. I have used myself as a lab-rat in my research. I have found claims and tried them to either confirm
or disprove them. Some of it was different for me because of food allergies, but I found no problems with the adjustments
I made.
I looked into many of the diets out there. I couldn't do the ketogenic diet, because it was too strict.
I can't be vegetarian, because I can't eat soy or wheat, two staples of the diet. I couldn't do the macrobiotic diet, because
I am allergic to lecithin, a natural component of many seeds and grains. I had to find out what I could eat that would help
me.
I found a list* of foods that we should eat and another that we shouldn't eat. It says that animal
protein isn't good, but because of my allergies I figured I had to eat something. I chose fish. Fish has omega 3 oils and
other nutrients that are important to anyone. It hasn't hurt. I also found that I could eat poultry. The biggest thing to
remember about protein is that too much protein will inhibit the absorbtion of calcium. If I eat more than 1-2 ounces
a day I have to deal with aching lower ribs before the day is through.
I am now studying to be a nurse. This will help me to research more effectively. I will make changes
as I discover new information that would be of interest to you.
The recommended foods are: Soured Dairy, Cherries, Eggplant, Beets and Beet Greens, Chard, Eggs, Green
Leafy Vegetables, Raw Dairy (unpasteurized), Peas, Red Grapes, Sea weed & Sea Vegetables, Olive Oil (2 Tbls daily)
and the recommened herbs and supplements.
The things to avoid are: Pasteurized Dairy, Citrus, Wheat, Sage, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Sugar, Tartrazine,
Benzoic Acid, Nicotine (even 2nd hand smoke), Chocolate & Cocoa, Caffeine, Artificial Sweeteners & Animal protein
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I checked the Food Pyramid (FP) and the Glycemic Index(GI). They are fine for many people, but don't meet the needs
for someone taking Anti-epileptic Drugs (AED's). AED's drain your bones of calcium that can't be replaced with 3-4 glasses
of milk. The usual recommendation of 1,000mg of calcium daily isn't enough. I find that 1,500 - 2,500mg is better. This may
sound like a lot, so ask your doctor. I have developed a pyramid for us:
The Epi-Diet Pyramid.
7) Sweets & Fats - Use sparingly
6) Potatoes, Rice & Bread - 1-2 servings a day
5) Grains, Cereal, Nuts and Seeds - 1-2 servings a day
4) Protein - 1 serving a day, may be split
3) Dairy - 3-5 servings a day
2) Fruits - At least 3 servings a day
1) Vegetables - At least 4 servings a day.
Servings are:
7) 1Tbls butter or fat, 1 teaspoon sugar or equivelant artificial sweetner
6) 1 potato, 3/4 cup rice, 1 cup rice milk, 1 slice of bread, 1 cup tater tots or fries
5) 1-4 oz fish, 1-2 eggs or 1 inch cube of raw cheese. This depends on your goal weight. I am 120, right where I
want to be. 1 1/2 oz a day is plenty for me. For those who are athletes or body builders, your weight will be more and
you'll need more. 4 ounces is the same size as a standard deck of playing cards.
4) 1 cup hot cereal, 1 cup cold cereal, 1/2 cup nuts, 1/2 cup wheat germ or 1/2 cup dry corn meal
3) 1 cup raw milk, 1 inch cube raw cheese, 3/4 cup yogurt, 3/4 cup cottage cheese or 2 Tbls. sour cream
2) 1 whole fruit ( small or medium), 1 cup chopped raw fruit 1/2 cup cooked fruit,
1 cup fruit juice or 1/4 cup dried fruit
1) 1 cup chopped raw vegetables, 1/2 cup cooked vegetables or 1 cup fresh vegetable juice
This may not seem like much, but if you keep track of what you eat and try to get in all of it you
will find yourself satisfied at the end of the day. After a while you get to know what a 1/2 cup or full cup looks like on
your plate without measuring it.
Try to eat all the foods at a meal from the same food group. For breakfast have a banana, an apple
and a glass of grape juice. Don't eat three meals a day. Eat when you get hungry. Don't over do it, but you will find that
a few pieces of fruit won't last you more than a couple of hours. That's okay. Your next meal have all dairy or all vegetables.
If you find yourself in a restaurant or as somebody's dinner guest, that's alright. Eat the protein first. It takes more enzymes
to digest protein than any other food. Don't eat raw fruits and raw vegetables at the same meal. It will cause an upset stomach
and gas.
As I mentioned already, keep track of what you eat. Notice how many of each food group you have consume
and don't go over the recommended amount of each. Make sure you keep track of the number of acid and alkaline foods so you
can keep your PH balanced.
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It is important that you keep your PH balanced. All the things you put into your body have one of
two effects on it. They cause you to form acid or alkaline from it. The more acid you form, the lower your PH will be. You
need to keep your PH between 7.35 and 7.45. A PH of 6.9 or less is a breeding ground for diseases - including cancer. A PH
of 8.5 will kill cancer. However, you need to be very careful, because too much alkaline can cause seizures and death. You
can buy litmus test strips to test your urine or saliva. This will give you an idea of what your PH is so that you can adjust
your diet as needed. To do this count the number of pills you take in a day, not supplements, only medicines and other drugs,
thenadd in the number of acid forming foods you have consumed. Multiply that by four and you know how much alkaline forming
foods you need for that day.
If you smoke, I suggest you quit or at least cut back. Every cigarette you smoke counts as an acid
for the day. If you smoke one or two packs a day you may not be able to eat enough alkaline foods to keep your PH balanced.
If you take a lot of medicines, drink a lot of herbal teas. It will help you add alkaline to your day. Supplements can usually
be counted as alkaline, especially minerals, herbs and most vitamins.
Alkaline forming foods are:
Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, Sea weed and Sea Vegetables, Mushrooms, Edible Flowers, Soured Dairy Products ( yogurt,
cottage cheese, sour cream...), Raw Dairy (unpasteurized), Chicken breast, Tempah, Sprouts, Lecithin, Minerals, Stevia, Bee
Pollen, Tofu, Miso, Night shade Vegetables, Probiotic Cultures (Acidophilus...), Some nuts and seeds ( Almonds, Chestnuts,
Flax Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Squash Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Millet), Some spices & Seasonings (Cinnamon, Curry, Ginger,
Mustard Powder, Chili Peppers, Garlic),
Whey, Apple Cidar Vinegar
Acid forming
All Drugs, Nicotine (including 2nd hand smoke), Cranberries, Cocoa, Citrus, Caffeine, Corn, Beans, Soy, Grains, Sugar,
Artificial Sweeteners, Flour, Pasta, Rice, Pasteurized Dairy Products, Butter, Cashews, Brazil Nuts, Peanuts, Pecans, Walnuts,
Red meat, Pork, Lobster, Sea foods, Rabbit, Tuna, Venison, Vinegar, Wheat germ, Potatoes, Pesticides, Herbicides, Alcoholic
Beverages, Lentils, Rice milk
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