posted
I realize there are going to be varying opinions on this issue, but I'd love to hear what experienced lymies have to say about diet. My 8 year old is undergoing treatment for lyme. I've always thought our famies' diet was a little better than average. I try to stick to the food pyramid and we do our best to stay away from a lot of processed food. Fast food is a very rare occurance. Now I'm reading the recommended diet from our llmd and I'm feeling a little stressed. Almond milk, no sugar or flour, only certain fruits are allowed. This diet will take a great deal of effort on my part. The closest health food store is 30 minutes away. I'm willing to do what I have to, but I'm wondering if everyone considers this kind of diet an essential part of recovery.
Posts: 23 | From Prairie du Sac, WI USA | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
johnnyb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7645
posted
Staying away from too much processed food is always a good idea, lyme or not. What fruits are disallowed? Maybe your LLMD is forbidding fruits that are too high on the glycemic index (www.glycemicindex.com as a reference) ? If you can lay off the soda and sweets, that is a great place to start. Omega 3's are good to include in the diet as well, like salmon, ground flaxseed (2 tablespoons ground up each day), walnuts. My LLMD recommended almonds as a good snack. It sounds like you are already doing pretty good by avoiding fast food and processed stuff.....
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
The diet you describe sounds like a yeast prevention diet. It is important because being on antibiotics for a long period of time results in the elimination of good, natural bacteria from your system. As a result, the natural flora is thrown out of balance and candida yeast can grow out of control.
Yeast can cause many symptoms that are somewhat similar, and can get confused with Lyme. This includes pain, fatigue and GI problems.
I had a systemic yeast problem, and it was horrendous. It took about 2 months of antibiotics to cause the problem, and a year to get better.
The diet, combined with taking probiotics, will help to prevent a yeast overgrowth for your child. I personally follow the diet very closely whenever I am on antibiotics. It is difficult, but it is easier to prevent yeast than it is to rid the body of yeast.
Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
Areneli
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6740
posted
I have developed a good system against Candida and you should perhaps know that I nearly died from Candida a few months ago. Well, I didn't know at the time what I know at present.
With every meal I take 1 capsule of 'Candida Stop' (a supplement) up to six capsules per day. If the food is risky (have some sugar in it) I take 2 capsules of Candida Stop per meal. At least 3 times a day I take a small amount of Primal Defense powder inside of my mouth, just enough to make my mouth black inside for a moment; more often if my tongue is getting white. Once a day some natural yogurt - but not much and not everyday.
When I had big problems with Candida I also took some propolis (2x)
In fact at present I am in such a good shape that I sometimes eat real icecreams on cream and sugar and nothing wrong happens. I avoid products on yeast such as bread, but I eat 1-2 slices per day of my own bread made on sourdough which is whole grain. This bread has wild yeasts in it that grows slower than baking yeasts and at least it is OK for me. I drink goat milk, coffee, eat watermelon. Eating row selery sticks helps cleaning my mouth from thrush very well. If I develop thrush overnight I watch my diet a little closer for that day and avoid risky food completely.
It seems that I don't have to stick to the diet as much as was told before on this board.
[This message has been edited by Areneli (edited 30 July 2005).]
Posts: 1538 | From Planet Earth | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Just throwing out what I've learned over the past several months ---
let your food be your medicine, your medicine be your food.
Research food combinations that bring the body to alkilinity.
ie: fruit + dairy
meat protein + veggies (ie: a little chinken with lots of vegies and some friut.)
grain: for example..wholegrain bread toast with honey..
In other words...
mixing grain, with dairy..with protein.. will create an 'acidic' state.
No disease can be fought whilr in an acidic state..
abx create an acidic state, therefore diet is paramount.
Also, one must be eliminating at least 2-3 times per day..otherwise the food from the day prior is left to ferment, ect.. which releases toxins in and of itself.
The 'old docs' who wrote on this KNEW..
an alkaline state allows cells to heal.
Mo
Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks for all of that. I will seriously consider your reccomendations. Mo, how do you "eliminate". I'm afraid I may regret asking that in a public forum, but I need to know. Posts: 23 | From Prairie du Sac, WI USA | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm with Mo! Have been living in a toxic fog for years (thanks to misdiagnoses and many unnecessary prescription drugs). Then when I found out I had Lyme the added antibiotics, though helpful added to the toxic condition. Recently started seeing a Naturopath who has been helping me tremendously. He advocates proper food combining and it has worked like a charm. My fog lifted and I have been able to go back to some of my old macrobiotic diet practices adding the food combining concepts. Am feeling better than I have in years. I took a short break from antibiotics and cleaned up my act and now am starting back on antibiotics but will not revert to old eating habits. No processed foods or sugar, meats, acidic foods etc. for me. Books that may help: "The pH Miracle" "The Macrobiotic Way" Also, you can get a great deal of what you need in regular grocery stores these days, they have organic sections, etc. I use a catalog "Natural Lifestyles" for grains and other nonperishables. They have a website. Don't have the address handy but you can google it. For a basic start on Food Combining try www.leedubelle.com She has a very basic book Proper Food Combining Works", "Proper Food Combining Cookbook" contains simple recipes, "Internal Cleansing is an OLD MOVEMENT" about internal cleansing (obviously). www.diamondorganics.com can deliver fresh, in season organic veggies and meats (if you still eat it) right to your door. Also check out Arise and Shine for internal cleansing education and products. Very good. www.theaimcompanies.com has some great detoxing products, Herbal Release and Herbal Fiberblend, and nutritious vegetable drinks "Barley Life and the Garden Trio, very alkalizing and healthy. I agree with Mo. If you don't eat healthy and keep your body alkalized and detoxed, your body can't fight this disease. Hope some of this helps. Take it in small doses. Don't overwhelm yourself. But diet change can help your whole family stay healthy. (By the way, I don't sell any of this stuff, nor do I in anyway benefit from people buying or accessing these companies or sites. I have just learned about all this stuff over years of trying to heal myself) Good luck. Take care.
Posts: 49 | From Florida | Registered: Dec 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Forget the food pyramid!!!!! The food pryramid has created all kinds of health problems for the public. [especially the "old" pyramid, which advocated tons of grains and starches, which has increased the obesity rate tremendously]
If a Lyme patient doesn't follow the anti-yeast diet they may never feel well. The yeast symptoms can mimic Lyme symptoms, so you'd never even know when you're "well."
I know it's hard, but you can do it....for YOU or for your daughter [not sure if you're ill also]!
You'll end up with a lot of ground almonds, but you might be able to find a creative use for this...in baking, hot cereal, etc.
Commercial almond milk is usually delicious, but read labels carefully to be aware of undesirable ingredients such as chemical additives and sweeteners.
Ask around to see if there is an organic or natural food co-op or delivery service for your area. If you do have to go to the distant health food store, it might be more convenient and economical to buy cases of almond milk or large bags of almonds and other products at one time.
Wishing you the best, Nutmeg
Posts: 386 | From WA state | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
The food pryramid has created all kinds of health problems for the public. [especially the "old" pyramid, which advocated tons of grains and starches, which has increased the obesity rate tremendously]
oops! 
Printer-friendly view of this topic