High protein for seizures?

[Jfpinell]

Interesting...when I was in high school, my seizures started increasing (probably due to a lot of the preserved foods and such we had to start eating in town, as opposed to the farm, as noted in an earlier topic). In college, I started weightlifting and started using the high protein shake stuff from health food stores (GNC to be exact). There was a certain kind there that when I started using it, I noticed a major decrease in them. Anyone else ever hear of this possible solution?

[RobinN]

There are some proteins created in those powders that might actually increase seizures for some. In fact we have had a similar conversation before, and occasionally some of the manufacturers will hide MSG in names that mimic protein. Anything hydrolyzed is MSG. Whey and Soy are questionable and would not be recommended if you consider trying the GARD / GFCD diet.

I do agree 100% in the preserved food, and refined food products making a huge impact on our health. Many alternative doctors will agree. Problem is, many people just don't want to hear this news.

[Nakamova]

Some protein shakes are also packed with vitamins and minerals (like the B vitamins, Vitamin E, selenium, potassium, etc.), so it's possible that those ingredients may have had a beneficial impact on your brain. But as Robin says there are also several questionable ingredients in many shakes, so it's hard to know for sure. It could also be some other factor or combination of factors -- something associated with being in college, being older, having better circulation due to the weightlifting -- that could have contributed to a lessening of your seizures.

If you feel like experimenting with a nutritional change now to see if you'll get the same sort of benefit, you should try to do it gradually and systematically. Maybe check with your doctor. And read the ingredient labels to see what you're putting into your system.

[Jfpinell]

I've actually never noticed an increase in them due to use of any of the stuff, just a reduction.
As far as the being in college, etc. that Nakamova was mentioning, that is when they seemed to increase again -that's when I wasn't using the original prtein stuff I had...I was trying another brand...1 with a higher protein concentration. That's why I asked in an earlier topic if weight gain could increase them.
My only other theory is that you can be on A.E.D. for so many years, that your body just forgets how to handle itself after so long of being babysat, if you will.

[Nakamova]

Can you compare the ingredient list of the two different protein shakes you used? Again, some are full of good stuff, and some aren't. Your other theory is also quite likely -- some people do develop a "tolerance" to their anti-epileptic drugs and it stops working fro them. And as the body changes (hormones, diet, metabolism, stresses), that too can cause an anti-epileptic drug to function differently. It can be a matter of maintaining an equilibrium, so if any one factor changes it can potentially affect others and throw off the balance.

[Bernard]

Paolo is researching the role of alpha-lactoalbumin (ALAC) in stimulating the body to produce a natural anti-convulsant. Most of the body builder protein powders contain ALAC (some more than others). See here:

Does tryptophan help prevent seizures?

That might account for part of your experience. I'm guessing you made other changes to your diet/lifestyle at the time as well if you were serious about the weight training (less simple carbs/sugars in the diet, proper sleep/rest, etc.).

[sparkiesuze]

Wait wait wait... I've been drinking Nutrament religiously and have only recently started getting seizures - tests showed I had a slightly raised amount of protein in my system, u don't think that could be a cause right?

[RobinN]

.... could be.
What are the ingredients?