Diet Changes for PN?
 

Yikes! I purchased the book The Wahls Protocol which was recommended reading for people with PN, autoimmune illnesses, MS, etc.

OMG :eek:

I don't know. That diet looks so complicated. So extremely limiting. Also expensive.

My docs haven't said anything (yet) about my diet except to limit carbs.

I am contemplating the Atkins, eliminating carbs almost completely.

Has anyone here adjusted their diet and seen results?


I have added B12 supplement, soaking feet in Epsom salt, trying to be as active as I can (difficult with my other illness, myasthenia gravis), and cutting down on carbs.

Anyone here used/using the Wahls Protocol?

Or Paleo diet?

Any Insight? Results?

Thanks in advance for any input.

SoftTalker
aka
SoftWalker

I've been on a Paleo/Primal style diet for years. I basically don't eat grains, dairy or legumes. To be more specific, for me, this diet means I eat whole foods and I don't eat sugar. I only have an occasional non-gluten grain (rice), I eat lots of vegetables, and my carbohydrate amount depends on my level of activity. I was eating this way before I got sick, so I can't say how it's impacted my symptoms. I do notice if I eat slightly off my diet template, I don't feel so great. It also made me realize that I have sensitivities to artificial sweeteners.

There are 3 levels of the Wahls diet depending on what level of strict you are will to adhere to. All of us on this forum are looking for answers as to what is causing our medical problems. I think trying an elimination diet (Wahls, Paleo, No Sugar No Grains, GAPs etc) for a period of time certainly can't hurt. And it might help get a few more vegetables into your life - there are worse things!

I don't feel like any of these diets are necessarily more expensive, unless you are currently eating all processed foods out of a box. Where they do get expensive is when you start trying to buy more quality meat and vegetables. If someone can't afford this, then I feel that they shouldn't worry about it and it will not stand in the way of a healthy diet. There are always strategies to cut costs - hunting, fishing, growing a garden, buying organic for only the "dirty dozen", shopping at Aldi, Costco, Walmart, or Farmers Markets, stop eating at restaurants etc. There are also some good blogs out there about how to do Paleo on a budget.

The one good thing I would say about the Wahls diet is that it has been professionally analyzed for nutrient content. So if you are to do her strictest diet (Ketosis diet), you won't have to worry about being short on nutrients, which is more than I can say about some of the other Ketosis diets that have been put out there by medical institutions.

I have been eating vegan for 18 months in a few days. It is hard to know for sure how it has helped, but I have a few educated ideas. Bear in mind my neuropathy is diabetes related-

1. I dropped 1/4 of my weight, which has helped my bulky left knee, legs in general and my A1C is now 5.8. I am still having progression in my symptoms.

2. I move more, too. Though I have to change parking spots soon, closer tp work I had two miles of walking built into my day. I am trying to notice when to adjust before it is a more severe problem, but my legs can't handle the mandated pounding right now.

3. I had the shingles earlier this year and I am certain that it would have put me in the hospital had they struck when I was in my former condition. They did a number anyway- essentially resetting a lot of pt/exercise stamina I had developed.
Pushing the boulder back up the mountain, adjusted grade, rest spots planned for, baby steps.

I worked my first 40 hour week in who knows how long. I really feel that I am in a better place for my drastic change, though as I said it has not turned off the progression faucet yet. I hold out hope.
I say find one you feel is worth the commitment, give it time and see where it goes. This vegan experiment was planned for a month. I keep asking doctors if they feel I should change, they say as long as I get my protein via other sources ride it.

So I do.

Thanks for both of your replies.

Yes, I am cutting out everything (most) white; refined foods, bread, sugar, etc. Until now I have been eating these in moderation.

Trying to eat mostly low sugar fruits and vegetables and once in a while, lean meat, e.g., chicken, pork, and fish.

By more expensive I meant that the Wahls Protocol advocates local vegetables, meat and fish. This would be almost impossible for me, geographically and financially.

We have Sprouts where I live; this is where I purchase most of my fresh vegetables, fruit, etc.

I rarely eat processed food.

Admittedly, I do bake cookies from scratch occasionally, which are now history.

Again, I appreciate the feedback from this group, immensely!

Try baking with half cashew or almond flour/half unbleached?

It all depends on how you are, I guess. My Aunt who convinced me to try vegan on for size brought up cheat days- that is a sure derail for me. We had som whey incidents and such, but I just keep moving.

I am sure most people could benefit from some tweaking. If rewards of a cheat day work for you, go with it.My idea of cheating was some vegan Girl Scout cookies my dauggter was selling. Delicious, but the extra sugar let me know it was around. I won't say never again, but limiting excess sugar is key for me.

I have adjusted my diet to low carbs (20g - 60g per day), and the best I can say is that my symptoms haven't progressed. It's been about 7 months now.

IMO, since high blood sugar levels are an absolute known insult to nerves, anyone with neuropathy would be wise to cut back on carbs. I have intermittent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), yet sail through normal diabetes screening. I'm not even close to pre-diabetes according to those blood results, yet my blood sugar rises to high and potentially nerve-damaging levels when I eat carbs. I hate to think how many other people like me are out there and have no clue. I was on a high "healthy" carb diet for a long time, and I'm sure drove myself to this state.

I looked at The Wahl's Protocol awhile back and just gulped. I'm just trying the low carb/high fat approach for now and see what happens.

Atkins Experience
 

Hello Softwalker, I too am in search for a diet that I can live with. I will only relate my Atkins experience. It tool about four days for me body to start burning fat for fuel and had run out of Glucose. I felt fine and was generally feeling energized. I would pig out at breakfast and eat eggs and a fistful of bacon and was still losing weight. It is a qualitative diet. Not quantitative. If you eat anything that turns to glucose your body will revert back to burning it. Long story short, I was tripped up by craving an apple, not your ordinary,every day, run of the mill, average craving, but get in the car and drive to wherever you have to and eat an apple. I'm not disciplined enough, Mayby if Rambo and GI Jane had a child? Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

I got over apple cravings really quickly when I did a blood sugar check after eating a medium-sized one. Major blood sugar spike.

Then I looked into them nutritionally which I had never done:

1 medium apple = 19 g sugar
1 tsp sugar = 4 g sugar
1 medium apple = just under 5 tsp of sugar

And when I looked at the sugar content of other fruit, it was equally depressing. I guess that's why it's called "nature's candy."

My big challenge will be with blueberry season coming.

1 C blueberries = 15 g sugar

I can still eat them, but in limited quantity, and it would be best to eat them after I've eaten a lot of fat and protein to slow down the sugar absorption.

Well, there goes my every other day apple.

But thank you. I knew they could be hard on my stomach if eaten first thing, but that sugar, wow.

Is that most apples or red delicious?

Most of the sugars in fruit are fructose.... these are metabolized slowly and therefore are considered "safer" for diabetics. They still have calories however, but should not move glucose readings quickly.

There are some other food considerations too....
The nightshade veggies contain solanine--which is an alkaloidal poison. It is being thought today that this is not eliminated by the body, and can become cumulative over time. They can cause burning and stinging in the skin, long after consuming them.

Nightshades are tomatoes (also a histamine releaser), potatoes, peppers (all of them), eggplant, and some spices like paprika.
Never eat a green potato... cutting off the green is not enough...the solanine can be in the white portion of a green potato.

Many people use hot sauces and peppers, for taste variety...and in fact these may be causing many paresthesias for some.