I am being treated for Babs - currently on mepron and azithrom. My LLMD suggested I follow the MS diet - the one that combats inflammation. Is anyone else on a special diet? Is this typically part of the treatment plan. I also have to take vit d ( my level is down at 13) but aside from meds, that is all I am doing. What do you think of this diet and is there anything else you experienced Lyme people can tell me I should be doing or should not be doing? Thanks
Posted by Lauralyme (Member # 15021) on :
YES! Diet is key in getting well. Best to follow the diet mentioned in Dr Burrascano guidelines. The link is on this website.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
-
Specifically, the vitamin D that you want is probably D3 (rather than D2).
-------
As for diet - your nutritional choices and self-care are vital. One of the most important aspects for many is eating organic food, free of pesticides and preservatives.
One hard and fast rule is to avoid sugars and alcohol (and of course, cigarettes) . . . also avoid ALL artificial sweeteners and MSG (you will have to google for all that names that MSG can mask itself as).
For sweetening, Stevia is nice. Stevia is from a plant. Just a touch or a drop. I prefer Stevia Clear liquid by SweetLeaf. But, really, even that I rarely use.
For some very low carbs work but, for others, they need more carbs.
Still, simple carbs are out. Complex carbs are in. Veggies and proteins and good fats all in balance. Whole grains in moderation.
Fruits can be frozen or fresh dark berries or tart apples. The more color and variety in your vegetables, the better.
This can actually be a gourmet experience with flavors from garden herbs and about 9 servings of vegetables and low sugar fruits a day.
There is actually much freedom in dropping processed foods and experimenting with different teas.
Within some basic guidelines, it may take a little while to find what works for you but variety is key.
--------
I recall one MS diet book (by Dr. Swank) - I knew several people on that about 10 years ago and it helped them tremendously.
As I recall, one of the keys was high quality good fats but in limited amounts and no trans fats. There is much more to it and, although in many cases MS can be undiagnosed lyme, the improvement (or at least some symptom relief) I saw in 3 women on the diet was remarkable help to them.
Dr. Swank's groundbreaking research about MS and diet can be found in the pages of this book. ... 2006 by The Swank MS Foundation.
=======================
Below is the link for Dr. B's treatment guidelines. There is much here about self-care and you can search nearly any term and be taken right to the page you need.
A Gluten-Free diet helps many lyme patients for reasons that I can't get into right now.
A Mediterranean Diet can also be of help.
For anyone with issue of yeast (candida) overgrowth that often goes with antibiotic use, there is "The Yeast Connection" by Dr. Crook. He has "candida diet" information that is echoed by some of the sources above (Singleton; Burrascano).
To help prevent candida, probiotics and (for myself) Olive Leaf Extract have been wonderful. It's far easier to prevent it in the first place if possible. Some need the Rx Diflucan.
=======
Other books of interest are "The Cure is in the Kitchen" and "A Spoonful of Ginger"
The Eye Care Revolution: Prevent and Reverse Common Vision Problems - by Robert Abel, Jr. M.D.
You can read customer reviews and look inside the book.
==========
Some of the books listed above (especially Swank) are at your library or could be requested through inter-library loan.
The books more specific to lyme might be able to be borrowed through your local lyme support group.
-
[ 03-14-2009, 01:07 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by donaldmn (Member # 16717) on :
My husband and Sister both have LD, and absolutely NO sugar is allowed. Also, no flour,(white or wheat,)starches,certain fruits,no smoking, alcohol, etc. Lots of veggies and salads.
Also tons of expensive supplements to help with detox.
Posted by Dekrator48 (Member # 18239) on :
Absolutely! No gluten, no sugars, no milk products, no processed foods. Eat 5 times daily with 1/3 of meal being lean protein and 2/3 of meal being complex carbs.
I also take alot of supplements that my LLMD recommended.
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
quote:Originally posted by donaldmn: My husband and Sister both have LD, and absolutely NO sugar is allowed. Also, no flour,(white or wheat,)starches,certain fruits,no smoking, alcohol, etc. Lots of veggies and salads.
Also tons of expensive supplements to help with detox.
I second that, I always do much worse with sugar. What ever I have, its much worse with sugar and breads.
I have been having to eat this way for years.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Dekrator48: Absolutely! No gluten, no sugars, no milk products, no processed foods.
Me too! and I'm not even on abx!
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
no sugar
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
Yep, if you don't mind I will copy my diet from lisamarie's thread "tips for daily functioning? long one.." - there are some other diets listed there so you might want to check it out along with your own thread replies: http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/78618
My diet:
Avoid/remove- sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dairy, gluten, simple carbs, processed foods, artificial/synthetic food additives (MSG, aspartame, splenda, food dyes, etc.), nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc. Apparently up to 60% of the population is sensitive to this family of plant foods - they cause a lot of bad GI, Neuro, and inflammation problems for me)
On my good foods list- organic always (unless something really important I need and cant get any other way), grass-fed, true free-range, local, whenever possible.
( www.eatwild.com is a great free resource to find local farmers in your state/area that supply grass-fed, and sometimes also organic, meat, poultry, dairy, and produce - we have been amazed at the cheaper prices for organic and grass-fed when buying direct from farmers, or even ordering from them online.)
leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables (great for anti-inflammation), eggs, apples, colorful fruits and vegetables, eat as many fruits and veggies whole as possible (juicing removes vital fiber, and can easily be very highly caloric and high in sugars), wild-caught salmon, cod liver oil, some grass-fed lean organic meats, in moderation, small amounts of honey in place of sugar in baking cornbread - made with corn meal and oat flour,
wild rice, oatmeal, brown rice rice cakes, real hominy (made from sun-dried corn we buy in bulk, then boil with wood ash for several hours - it makes corn much much more nutritious, by making more of its proteins available - this is what indigenous people were doing with their corn well before colonization), squash, beans, nuts, berries, organic chicken, almond milk, organic and wild-crafted medicinal herbs to be made into detox and other teas..