onder: what are the effects of diet pop, caffeine, chocolate, and sugar have as trigging a grand mal seizure? Are they the same as a drop seizure? I also have absente seizures. Does diet help keep down the seizures? I have had this disorder since I was 13 I am now 48 I guess with age we want to know more about things. When I was born I was breach, and when I was 8 I was thrown from a horse and fractured my skull and when I turned 13 I had my first grand mal. I am fortunate in the fact that I go almost a year without having another, but its still something I fear daily. any info will help...thanks guys...and prayers to all of you...
in need of education
- Thread starter tlburress
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onder: what are the effects of diet pop, caffeine, chocolate, and sugar have as trigging a grand mal seizure? Are they the same as a drop seizure? I also have absente seizures. Does diet help keep down the seizures? I have had this disorder since I was 13 I am now 48 I guess with age we want to know more about things. When I was born I was breach, and when I was 8 I was thrown from a horse and fractured my skull and when I turned 13 I had my first grand mal. I am fortunate in the fact that I go almost a year without having another, but its still something I fear daily. any info will help...thanks guys...and prayers to all of you...- Messages
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Everyone reacts differently to different triggers, so it can depend on your individual sensitivities. Triggers can cause different kinds of seizures -- grand mal, absence, atonic (drop seizures), myoclonic, etc. (Drop seizures are different from grand mal, since they don't usually involve loss of consciousness).
Diet soda often has aspartame (Nutrasweet). While aspartame is safe for most people, if you have low seizure threshold it can be problematic, since it is the same as aspartic acid, a neurotransmitter that excites the brain. Foods with MSG can be similarly triggering -- glutamate is the same as glutamic acid, another excitatory neurotransmitter. In addition, if you drink a lot of sodas, the phosphoric acid may mess with calcium and magnesium levels in your body. Both nutrients play a role in protecting the brain.
Stimulants, including caffeine, can be seizure triggers, especially in large quantities. Chocolate is for the most part benign, though it also contains small amounts of caffeine as well as two other stimulants (theobromine and theophylline). Again, it depends on the individual.
Anything that causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate can potentially be a seizure trigger. This includes sweets, caffeine and alcohol. Low blood sugar can be a seizure trigger.
Dietary approaches to seizure control work for some, again depending on seizures and individual sensitivities. Diet modification can range from simpley eliminating stimulants, and generally eating a balanced diet, to going gluten-free. The Modified Atkins Diet (low-carb) has show success in controlling seizures, particularly absence seizures. The ketogenic diet, an extreme high-fat/low carb diet as been proven to help control seizure as well. Because it can have long-term health consequences, it's usually only prescribed for children.
You'll find more info about dietary triggers and treatments here: http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f39/
Diet soda often has aspartame (Nutrasweet). While aspartame is safe for most people, if you have low seizure threshold it can be problematic, since it is the same as aspartic acid, a neurotransmitter that excites the brain. Foods with MSG can be similarly triggering -- glutamate is the same as glutamic acid, another excitatory neurotransmitter. In addition, if you drink a lot of sodas, the phosphoric acid may mess with calcium and magnesium levels in your body. Both nutrients play a role in protecting the brain.
Stimulants, including caffeine, can be seizure triggers, especially in large quantities. Chocolate is for the most part benign, though it also contains small amounts of caffeine as well as two other stimulants (theobromine and theophylline). Again, it depends on the individual.
Anything that causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate can potentially be a seizure trigger. This includes sweets, caffeine and alcohol. Low blood sugar can be a seizure trigger.
Dietary approaches to seizure control work for some, again depending on seizures and individual sensitivities. Diet modification can range from simpley eliminating stimulants, and generally eating a balanced diet, to going gluten-free. The Modified Atkins Diet (low-carb) has show success in controlling seizures, particularly absence seizures. The ketogenic diet, an extreme high-fat/low carb diet as been proven to help control seizure as well. Because it can have long-term health consequences, it's usually only prescribed for children.
You'll find more info about dietary triggers and treatments here: http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f39/
I have been tying to keep down the carbs, and doing pretty good I am down 24 lbs but I do have a pop problem I switched from regular to dr pepper 10 yep I am a popaholic I would rather drink pop than eat I know it sounds terrible any ideas to get off of it...lol...
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I have the same problem, I've been a soda drinker (Tab!) for a long long time. But I've managed to cut down to no more than one a day. I'm not particularly sensitive to caffeine, so I substitute coffee or tea if I want a boost, just as long as I don't overdo.
listen to me whine....
DayDreamer
Stalwart
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You could always make your own 'safe' soda with carbonated water or a soda machine. There are natural 'diet' sodas without sugars that contain stevia iinstead of sugar.
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