Epilepsy patient taboos: Foods and things that increase epileptic seizures
Epilepsy patients must follow a certain lifestyle, in order to help reduce seizures. Following this system means eating certain foods and avoiding other foods, as well as avoiding certain behaviors. For this reason, we present the epilepsy patient’s prohibitions through this article, so that epileptic patients can Avoid seizures as much as possible.
Things that increase epileptic seizures
There are a number of things that patients with epilepsy should avoid, although they are not prohibited for patients with epilepsy, because they may increase the possibility of exposure to epileptic seizures, and the most prominent of these things:
- Not taking the epilepsy medications prescribed by the doctor on time, as missing a dose of medication may lead to an epileptic seizure.
- Not getting enough sleep, which the body may need to feel rested.
- Feeling a state of tension and anxiety, especially with the great impact that anxiety may cause, such as sleep deprivation and other negative habits that may lead to an epileptic seizure.
- Exposure to intense or bright light, such as camera flashes, exposure to television, computers, or video games. Light may trigger seizures in some people.
- Not eating meals on time.
- Infection with some diseases and not others, especially infections that may lead to high fever, which in turn leads to seizures.
- Menstruation. Although it can’t be avoided, some women may be more likely to have seizures during their period.
Epilepsy patients are prohibited
Epilepsy patients may be prohibited from practicing some activities and not others, and these prohibitions may be for a period of time until the patient can control his seizures through medication, and so that he can deal with epileptic seizures, and among the most prominent prohibitions for epileptic patients are the following:
- An epileptic patient must stay away from swimming so that he can control his seizures, and an adult must accompany him in case he decides to swim to help him in the event of a seizure.
- People with epilepsy should avoid heights as much as possible, as climbing heights with the potential for seizures may put them at risk.
- It is forbidden to take alcohol and drugs, as they may lead to epileptic seizures.
- An epileptic patient should refrain from driving cars, motorbikes or bicycles if he cannot control his seizures with medication, as it may endanger his life.
Food prohibited for epilepsy patients
Many people wonder what food is forbidden for patients with epilepsy, or what foods may cause seizures? The fact is that there are no forbidden foods for people with epilepsy.
However, there are certain foods that must be avoided to maintain the health of the body in general in order to avoid epileptic seizures, especially with the possibility of linking some foods with an increase in the possibility of epileptic seizures, and the most prominent of these foods and drinks that must be avoided:
- Caffeine: Caffeine may have an effect on the nervous system in the body, which means its ability to stimulate epileptic seizures in some, but more studies are needed to confirm the matter, so you should avoid tea, coffee, soft drinks, and energy drinks.
- Foods rich in harmful fats and saturated fats, which may lead to an increase in cholesterol, such as vegetable margarine, cow fat, palm oil, and ready-made cakes and biscuits.
- Industrial food additives, there are indications that some food additives that sweeten it, such as aspartame, may be related to the occurrence of epileptic seizures, and although future studies are needed to confirm the relationship between epileptic seizures and these substances, it is better to avoid substances that contain Like candy, soft drinks, baked goods and canned food.
- Stay away from foods that contain large amounts of sugar.
Hence, we advise you, dear reader, to follow a healthy diet based on useful foods that contain healthy carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and proteins, and to obtain healthy fats found in fish, eggs, dairy products, and avocados. The Atkins diet can be one of the useful diets in dealing with Epilepsy.