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Old 05-11-2020, 02:35 AM #1
Atticus Atticus is offline
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Default A Dietary Approach for Managing Peripheral Neuropathy

Hi guys
This is an article I've abridged and reproduced from NutritionFacts.org. The whole website seems a fantastic resource. Dr Michael Gregor is an able communicator, though I had to get used to his voice, before I could enjoy it. (I was the same with Neil Young.) To summarise, he proposes a plant based diet pretty much for all conditions and backs it up with strong evidence. The article below is not proof and not subject to the rigorous analysis of a double blind placebo controlled peer reviewed paper, however it offers hope. Hope is important. Although this is concerned with diabetic neuropathy I wondered if this describes the mechanism for all PN? :-

A remarkable study was published 20 years ago on the regression of diabetic neuropathy with a plant-based diet. There are two types of diabetic neuropathy: a relatively painless type characterized by numbness, tingling and pins-and-needles sensations and a second form, which is painful with burning or aching sensations to the point of excruciating, lancinating or stabbing pain. This study concentrated on the painful type of diabetic neuropathy.

Twenty-one diabetics suffering with moderate or worse symptomatic painful neuropathy for up to ten years were placed on a whole food, plant-based diet along with a half-hour walk every day. There were years of suffering and then complete relief of the pain in 17 out of the 21 patients within days.

Numbness noticeably improved, too, and the side effects were all good. They lost ten pounds, blood sugars got better, and insulin needs dropped in half. And, in five of the patients, not only was their painful neuropathy apparently cured, so was their diabetes. Their blood sugars were normal, and they were off all medications. Their triglycerides and cholesterol also improved, as did high blood pressure. In fact, it was gone in about half the hypertensives an 80 percent drop overall in need for high blood pressure medications within three weeks.

Now, this was a live-in program, where patient's meals were provided. What happened after they were sent home? The 17 folks were followed for years, and the relief from the painful neuropathy continued or improved even further for all except one person. How did they get that kind of compliance? According to the researchers, Pain and ill health are strong motivating factors.

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most painful and frustrating conditions to treat in all of medicine, and 75 percent of patients were cured within days with a natural, nontoxic, and, in fact, beneficial treatment: a diet composed of whole, plant foods.

How could nerve damage be reversed so suddenly? It wasn't necessarily the improvement in blood sugar control, since it took about ten days for the diet to control the diabetes, whereas the pain was gone in as few as four days.

There are several mechanisms by which the total vegetarian diet works to alleviate the problem of diabetic neuropathy The researchers most interesting speculation was that it could be:-

1. The trans fats naturally found in meat, dairy, and refined vegetable oils that could be causing an inflammatory response. They found a significant percentage of the fat found under the skin of those who ate meat or dairy consisted of trans fats, whereas those on a strictly whole food, plant-based diet had none.

The researchers stuck needles in the buttocks of people eating different diets and found that nine months or more on a strict plant-based diet appeared to remove the trans fat from their bodies (or at least their butts). Their pain, however, didn't take nine months to get better, it got better in days.

2. More likely, it was due to an improvement in blood flow. Nerve biopsies in diabetics with severe progressive neuropathy have shown small vessel disease within the nerve. There are blood vessels within our nerves that can get clogged up too. The oxygen levels in the nerves of diabetics were found to be lower than even the levels of de-oxygenated blood. This lack of oxygen within the nerves may arise from blockages within the blood vessels depriving the nerves of oxygen, presumably leading them to cry out in pain.

Within days, though, improvements in blood rheology, or the ease of blood flow, on a plant-based diet may play a prominent role in the reversal of diabetic neuropathy.


I took the article from the top link. There are other resources too.



Best Diet for Diabetic Neuropathy | NutritionFacts.org

neuropathy | Health Topics | NutritionFacts.org


A short video link:-

Curing Painful Diabetic Neuropathy | NutritionFacts.org


An approach to all diseases:-


More than an Apple a Day: Preventing the Most Common Diseases | NutritionFacts.org

Due to our unprecedented situation with Covid 19 and the unique opportunity it affords and as "pain is a strong motivational factor" I have been on a Plant Based Diet for 5 days and intend to follow it until the end of lockdown. If anyone shows any interest I will report back results.

I would appreciate any thoughts about this.
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Old 05-11-2020, 01:53 PM #2
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I personally believe SUGAR is the #1 Killer for all our health. Over intake of carbs as well.
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Old 05-23-2020, 11:24 PM #3
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Would love to hear how your plant based diet is working. Thanks
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Old 05-24-2020, 11:39 PM #4
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Originally Posted by caroline2 View Post
I personally believe SUGAR is the #1 Killer for all our health. Over intake of carbs as well.
Yes, inflammation causing sugar.

Low-Grade Inflammation's Role in Chronic Disease
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Old 05-27-2020, 02:40 AM #5
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Would love to hear how your plant based diet is working. Thanks

Thanks for the response Jane. I was overwhelmed by the interest shown in my diet!

Well I am on day 22 of a Plant Based Diet. I want to begin with a quote from the study I reproduced in the opening message of this thread:-

There are two types of diabetic neuropathy: [1] a relatively painless type characterized by numbness, tingling and pins-and-needles sensations and a second form,[2] which is painful with burning or aching sensations to the point of excruciating, lancinating or stabbing pain.

When I started out I was experiencing the second type of neuropathy, now and for over a week, maybe 10 days I get no shooting pains and my symptoms have moved to the first type of neuropathy. Please note I am not diabetic.

All of these improvements might have happened anyway without dietary changes. However I believe a dietary approach to self healing is cost effective and eliminates the need of expensive supplements. What does it matter if arginine improves oxygen transportation in the blood? Are you really going to pay out for that for the rest of your life when nitrate rich foods like green leafy vegetables or beetroot juice will do the same at a fraction of the cost and with all the other health benefits too? Food is the best medicine. Above all making myself the subject of an experiment has given me focus and purpose and has established a clear goal in my mind. That in itself feels good. The next step is the elimination of all symptoms.

Yes I agree Inflammation is the enemy and improved blood and blood flow is our friend. Does anyone have any thoughts on any of the issues I have raised?I have plenty more to say if anyone shows any interest.
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Old 05-31-2020, 10:08 PM #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Atticus View Post

There are two types of diabetic neuropathy: [1] a relatively painless type characterized by numbness,
My [idiopathic] neuropathy is 99% numbness, no trace of diabetes however.

It has been almost 10 years since the sudden onset of my PN, in that period there has been no change, good or bad. Since the PN has not gotten worse, I consider that a "win".
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Old 06-17-2020, 01:20 PM #7
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Atticus, I want to say thank you for posting those links/videos. I was telling my daughter about them and coincidentally she was reading Dr. Greger’s book - How Not To Die. It is sad how doctors are quick to prescribe a medication instead of addressing nutrition with a proper diet, something that is desperately lacking in so many parts of the world.
I too am not diabetic (idiopathic) but decided to give The Whole food plant based diet a try. If it didn’t help my neuropathy at least it might clear an artery or two. After about 3 weeks I have noticed some improvement. Neuropathy is such a fickle disease that I hesitate to even say there’s improvement but so far so good.
Hope you are having continued success. So happy I ran across your post.
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Old 06-18-2020, 07:25 AM #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jane85 View Post
Atticus, I want to say thank you for posting those links/videos. I was telling my daughter about them and coincidentally she was reading Dr. Greger’s book - How Not To Die. It is sad how doctors are quick to prescribe a medication instead of addressing nutrition with a proper diet, something that is desperately lacking in so many parts of the world.
I too am not diabetic (idiopathic) but decided to give The Whole food plant based diet a try. If it didn’t help my neuropathy at least it might clear an artery or two. After about 3 weeks I have noticed some improvement. Neuropathy is such a fickle disease that I hesitate to even say there’s improvement but so far so good.
Hope you are having continued success. So happy I ran across your post.
Hey Jane 85

I saw a film last night on Netflix that I think you will enjoy. It’s called "What The Health." It promotes a Plant Based Diet and features Michael Gregor amongst others. It’s a film everone should see. As I say its on Netflix but this is a link to a YouTube Version.

What The Health Documentary 2017 HD English Subtitles - YouTube


Next is a hardcore breakdown of sections of the film with scientific evidence/papers to back it up.


Facts — WHAT THE HEALTH



For balance. Here is an article debunking the film:-

Debunking What the Health, the buzzy new documentary that wants you to be vegan - Vox


So glad to see a fellow Plant Based Dieter. I love it and its so easy in Lockdown. I'll post an update of my diet/PN experience soon.

Take care.
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Old 06-19-2020, 05:07 AM #9
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Default how not to die

what a great cooincidence. I just ordered the book "how not to die" independently of your post as my cardiologist recommended it. I am also planning to start a plant based diet soon although this will be a big challenge for me.

the study you mentioned sounds promising but I am wondering why the did not make any nerve testing to see whether the improvements could be measured as well. for me that would be a even stronger proof of concept.

Do you have any recommendations where to find good recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner (books, websites etc) ?
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Old 06-23-2020, 02:15 AM #10
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what a great cooincidence. I just ordered the book "how not to die" independently of your post as my cardiologist recommended it. I am also planning to start a plant based diet soon although this will be a big challenge for me.

the study you mentioned sounds promising but I am wondering why the did not make any nerve testing to see whether the improvements could be measured as well. for me that would be a even stronger proof of concept.

Do you have any recommendations where to find good recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner (books, websites etc) ?
You make a good point regarding nerve conduction testing.

Somebody asking my advice about recipes has caused much hilarity amongst friends!

I’m afraid I can only cook to village idiot standard! If I had a top tip it would be to make use of a nutri bullet or similar. I blend broccoli, spinach, kale, tomatoes and yellow peppers for example with mixed herbs, jalapeno peppers cayenne pepper, milled flax seed then combine it with a spicy mixed or Taco beans, from the supermarket. 2x 1.5 minutes in the microwave and its done. That ticks a lot of boxes of the daily dozen ( download the app) . I use this as a sauce over baked sweet potato with roast garlic (useful for social distancing) and roast mushrooms.

My typical breakfast is oats with mixed grains ( more box ticking on daily dozen) and stir in cinnamon, milled flax seed, milled chia seed, cacao, walnuts, mixed nuts, blueberries, strawberries and red or black grapes. Flax, chia is full of omega 3, but must be milled or ground to enhance bio availability. I also occasionally add hemp seed and spirulina. That should keep you going! You may need to build up your use of seeds ( and beans) if you are not used to them (see social distancing)

A very good online resource for plant based recipes is this :-


Plant Based Recipes, A Comprehensive Archive | Forks Over Knives


There are countless quick you tube recipes like this…

YouTube


The Documentary film Forks Over Knives is itself is available on Netflix or here.

Forks Over Knives Documentary - Now on Netflix
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