Epilepsy is a condition wherein a disturbance in nerve cell activity can result in uncontrolled and unexpected seizures. The seizure can result in abnormal behavioral changes, vivid sensations, and even loss of consciousness. Nerve pain medications, sedatives, anticonvulsants, and changes in one’s diet can help you manage the symptoms of the chronic condition.

Here are a few essential points to consider to ensure proper nutrition while following an epilepsy-friendly diet.

Deficiencies
Vitamin, mineral, and nutrient deficiencies can aggravate the symptoms of any medical condition. A calcium and magnesium deficiency, in particular, can result in convulsions caused due to epilepsy. Therefore, it is important to incorporate dairy and non-dairy calcium-rich foods in one’s daily diet to supplement and maintain optimum levels. Common sources include cheese, yogurt, milk, sardines, leafy greens, fortified cereals, soybean, and fortified soymilk. Note that the sources will vary depending on the type of diet one plans to follow during their epilepsy seizure treatments.

Planning the diet
Ketogenic diet, Atkins diet, and Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) are among the popular choices when it comes to the neurological condition. Diet forms a crucial aspect of treatments for epilepsy seizures as something so simple as failing to plan a meal or not having enough food can affect the frequency of the seizures. Different people experience different levels of seizures as a result of varied types of epilepsy. It is important to have a well-balanced diet but it is also crucial to plan meals and incorporate the right quantity of foods and beverages. One must consult with a nutritionist to understand the benefits of diets proven effective during ongoing treatments for epilepsy seizures.

Foods to avoid
One must also consider the foods that are bad for health in order to overcome the symptoms of epilepsy. Research indicates that fluctuations in blood sugar levels can trigger a seizure in some cases. Foods that are rich in sugar must be eliminated or consumed in moderation depending on the diet plan. These include cakes, bagels, white rice, white pasta, white bread, among other processed foods. As an alternative, one can consider increasing the consumption of whole grains, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, and an assortment of healthy nuts. One must also avoid eating high glycemic fruits including mangoes, bananas, and dates. High levels of glycemia can trigger an unexpected seizure. Foods that have common additives and flavoring like monosodium glutamate must be avoided as these compounds can alter the chemical structure resulting in an imbalance. It is imperative to take the requisite physical efforts to complement a well-planned and balanced diet for epilepsy. Apart from common treatments for epilepsy seizures, alternative therapies including meditation and yoga can help deal with mental stress more effectively.