Last time, we talked about the importance of knowing as much as possible about your underlying condition that may be contributing to or causing your neuropathy and related symptoms.
For example, carpal tunnel syndrome, shingles, and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy are conditions that are drastically different, but they are forms of neuropathy. This is important to know because it will allow you to seek the best possible care. But regardless of your underlying diagnosis, there are some basic principles that can help all of us become healthier and happier.
This revolves around our own lifestyle and diet. For example, we know that in almost all conditions, eating a controlled carbohydrate diet, low in sugar and animal products, can go a long way toward helping us feel and function better.
It makes sense, doesn’t it? You know your car runs its best when all preventative maintenance services are performed and the best fuel possible is provided.
Our bodies are no different.
Of course, your health conditions, such as insulin-dependent diabetes, may require very specific dietary changes.
With all of that said, we know that there are some specific things that can be done to help almost anyone with neuropathy and chronic pain.
Here are my big three:
1. Eliminate milk and milk products from your diet.
2. Avoid gluten whenever possible, minimize grains, and limit or eliminate meats.
3. Make the majority of your diet plant-based (vegetables). Be very careful with starchy fruits and vegetables, aiming for about 15 g of carbohydrates per meal. The only exception to increasing carbohydrates might be during times of intense exercise.
Eating more frequently will boost your metabolism, or how efficiently you burn fat instead of storing it, keep your blood sugar more even, and actually help you stay warm. For patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy, all of these things are crucial.
But this does not mean that you can eat whatever you want. What we do know is that by consuming relatively low amounts of carbohydrates in our meals, along with regular snacks, we become much more metabolically efficient.
What I tell all my neuropathy patients, and indeed all patients, is try to eat something no more than three hours apart.
A typical day might start with a shake with added protein powder or a small amount of gluten-free granola with coconut, almond, or rice milk. Three hours later, a small snack, like half an apple and some nuts.
Lunch is a salad with some lean protein (fish, chicken, or tofu) and added olive oil. Snack again in 3 hours.
Finally, dinner can consist of some grilled vegetables with another helping of lean, low-fat protein.
Many patients ask us, “Can my diet really be that simple?”
The answer is a resounding yes!
