Common Foods That Trigger Epilepsy and Treatment Options
Seizures, brought on by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are a defining feature of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a brain condition that disrupts normal brain function. Although this disorder is more common in younger individuals and the elderly, it may afflict anybody. Collapse, tremors and jerks, rigidity, and a blank expression are among epileptic symptoms. Epileptic individuals can also suffer from anxiety, sadness, and sleep disturbances. An epileptic patients’ diet requires special consideration as a seizure may be triggered by the following foods:
1. High-sugar drinks
Patients prone to epileptic seizures may have their attacks triggered by sugar, which increases neural excitability. Sugary beverages like sodas, fruit cocktails, and energy drinks may be hazardous for epileptic people and may lead to diabetes and other health problems.
2. Cookies and candy
An epileptic patient may have a seizure if their blood sugar suddenly rises. If you have a brain disorder, the most significant thing you can do to prevent random episodes is to cut out processed sweets and biscuits. Consuming sugary treats like cookies and sweets is dangerous for people with epileptic brain disorder, especially if the treat also contains chocolate with caffeine and other stimulants among the ingredients.
3. Salty snack foods
A reduction in salt consumption is associated with improved seizure control. Epileptic patients should maintain healthy sodium levels in the body to prevent additional seizures. The first step in finding a remedy is cutting canned foods and salty snack items.
4. Tea or coffee
Caffeine may build up in the body if you drink a lot of tea or coffee. When consumed in large amounts, caffeine may stimulate the seizure-inducing region of the brain. Caffeine in these beverages may also reduce the effectiveness of anti-epileptic medications, making it more challenging to treat the illness and more likely that symptoms will recur.
5. White bread
The majority of epileptic patients may experience a seizure after eating white bread. Sugar is abundant in processed foods like white bread. The symptoms are brought on by the high amounts of sugar in the affected person’s blood. Doctors recommend patients adhere to a rigorous diet because it helps the body gain strength by gradually releasing sugar into circulation.
6. Honey
Energy spikes from honey consumption may set off a seizure episode in those who are prone to them. Sugar levels in processed honey are too high for an epileptic person, prone to fits of violent trembling and jerking.
Patients with epileptic syndrome need to pay close attention to what they eat. Without assistance or medical attention, an epileptic may suffer irreparable harm from their symptoms. Resolving the issue may be as simple as avoiding the foods mentioned above. Further treatments for epilepsy include doctor-prescribed anti-epileptic medications, brain surgery, and dietary changes. A doctor may also prescribe adopting a Keto-style diet as part of the treatment process to prevent seizures. Another epilepsy therapy method involves the implantation of an electrical device inside the body to manage and reduce triggers that spur seizures.