Do most of you out there who are treating with abx follow a low carb - no sugar diet?
I have tried this for the last three days and I have been extreemly fatigued from lack of Carbs.
Also, should a diet like this only be followed when a Yeast problem is identified?
Dr. B's treatment protocal talks to a Yeast Control diet; is this just for patients with a yeast problem or for all patients treating for lyme or coinfections?
Since I have not had any yeast problems yet and I am taking a very good probiotic, I am curious how restrictive a diet I should be on.
Thanks for any insight!
Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :
I think any Lyme patient, especially if on ABX, has to follow a low-carb, low sugar diet.
Posted by mlkeen (Member # 1260) on :
I do mostly low carb( whole grains) no sugar. I need too many calories to not eat carbs at all.
I think I cheat a lot, but after visiting relatives for a week, who have known for years I don't do sugar or wheat, and seeing how much sugar "regular" people eat I feel like I do pretty well.
Just do the best you can. Your body will be happier and better able to heal with as little sugar as possible.
Yeast can creep up on you. I try to do a few days of Oil of Oragano, an anti fungal over the counter product, a month to keep yeast under control.
I do feel like I have made my best progress in healing after two months of diflucan, a prescription yeast killer.
Mel
Posted by Christine202 (Member # 6158) on :
I avoid sugars but I am one of those that need carbs or I get very very ill..... I try and eat complex carbs as much as possible verses processed.
Posted by GotLyme? (Member # 8485) on :
Those of you restricting carbs; what is a total carb intake for you daily.
With a 2500 calorie diet, the recommended carb intake is 375g. Should a reduced carb diet be 100, 200, 300g?
Also, can anyone explain why low carb and low sugar diet is recommended if no yeast problem exists?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by GotLyme?: With a 2500 calorie diet, the recommended carb intake is 375g. Should a reduced carb diet be 100, 200, 300g?
Also, can anyone explain why low carb and low sugar diet is recommended if no yeast problem exists?
Hard to say....The big issue is WHICH carbs you are eating. Complex carbs are OK, like broccoli, green beans, etc. As to your question, I would go with 100g...or less.
you will be fatigued the first few days to a week on a low carb diet. If you feel too lousy, eat some broccoli or a stir fry!
The reason you should be on a restricted diet is because sooner or later you WILL end up with a yeast problem if you do not eliminate sugar and starches, such as potatoes, white flour, etc.
hope this helps!! Posted by mountainmoma (Member # 6503) on :
As was just stated, it is to keep you from developing a yeast overgrowth problem. The amount of antibiotics we take kill off beneficial bscteria in our systems which normally keep the yeasts in balance.
Always fine: Quinoa, millet, buckwheat. These are no gluten, high protein grains. Quinoa and millet cook up like rice. They are good along side a stirfry or leftover heated up with soymilk for breakfast or leftovers tossed into a vegetable soup. Pocono makes a cream of buckwheat cereal which is good for breakfast, as is buckwheat pancakes (homemade). Beans are fine, especially lentils. Almonds. Tofu, unsweetened soy milk.
Usualy fine carbs: Corn is generally tolerated. So, corn tortillas w/ beans, homemade cornbread w/ no wheat flour, popcorn, polenta. Other nuts are fine for most people and necessary for some of us not to waste away. The concern for some is possible mold contamination, so get from a good source if you can, although Im eating costco roasted salted cashews tonite.... The roasting is good for killing molds, only eat raw ones if from a fresh good source.
sometimes need to limit carbs: Brown rice and brown rice products like brown rice pasta, mochi, rice crackers. Red potatoes, these arent as starchy as white potatoes, make sure to also eat the skin and eat with plenty of fat. These are usually fine, but watch the amount used daily when you need to be careful.
always limited, Very rare, the "cheats": Wheat, it is high gluten. and breads contain yeast. If you want to have a bit of wheat, choose whole wheat. Making your own biscuits or pancakes or other baked goods(which have no yeast) out of whole wheat pastry flour is a good choice for a limited wheat fix. Fruit.
Treats: Make your own. Stevia or Xylitol are good alternate sweeteners. YOu can buy candy sweetened with maltitol, although you may want to watch how much you consume still. Some think stevia has a bit of an aftertaste. Xylitol looks and measures like sugar. I like it in my baking, but my teenagers do seem to notice a difference. It doesnt "candy" with butter in baking the same way white sugar does, so there is a bit of a texture difference in a high fat item like brownies or chocolate chip cookies. They dont mind or notice it in pies, hot chocolate, puddings etc... If you want a treat, you are much better off with the homemade pumpkin pie and apple pies you baked yourself, with the whole wheat crust and sweetened with Xylytol, and company like them also.
If you need to eat out, you may need to cheat, do the best you can, which is why it is important to do the right thing in the meals that you do control. You should always be able to avoid sugar. If you must eat a bit of white wheat, limit the amount and eat lots of fat on it. Pasta is deadly, try to eat at home first and just have salad and soup. Tell the chineese resturaunts to leave off the sauce, and dont order rice. I have eaten a baked potatoe, with lots of butter and a large salad as best choice, which is a better choice than pasta, and fairly filling.
Good luck
Posted by mountainmoma (Member # 6503) on :
OOPs, part of my post dispeared and didnt make it. So, I think the part that deleted itself went something like this:
Im a vegetarian. I eat carbs as a basis of my diet, but you need to eat only good carbs. If you feel bad when you cut down carbs, this may be a sign that you already DO have a yeast overgrowth you didnt know about. Ive been there, I know. The yeasts cause cravings, and make you feel weak and that your starving. These feelings are the yeast talking, and they will pass, it may take a few days or even a week. STAY STRONG, dont give in and eat bad carbs during this time.
Always bad carbs: Sugar of any type, white brown honey maple syrup etc...white flour, white rice, wheat pasta (the regular stuff everyone eats), soda, fruit juice. Mold containing foods, ie cheese; yeast containing foods, like bread.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
Yeast is a hige issue for thos of us on abx which are prone to yeast infections.
And a yeast infection can mimic MANY of the sypmtoms of lyme.
Another good reason to give up sugars is that BB thrives on it.BB do not need oxygen but feeds off of suagr.
So when you are trying to kill off the ketes make sure you are not "feeding them" at the same time.
kinda counter ptroductive.Killing them and feeding them at the same time!
Posted by GotLyme? (Member # 8485) on :
Thank you all for your replies! I am a week into this treatment now and some of the low carb low sugar meals are working just fine.
My first mistake was trying to eliminate all carbs and sugars which is impossible and unhealthy.
I am working on a diet of complex carbs and no artificial sugars. Actually I don't consume much sugar anyway so this is easier to do without.
Caffine is something that I have given up as well, but my cup of Yerba Mate in the Morning is not quite the same as a cup of coffee. What are you all doing about your morning hot beverage?
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
Hot tea:black or green
I gave up coffee for three years now but when I get const.I drink a cup at breakfast.Works every time.
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