Re: Preservatives, Taurine, Keppra

[Guest guest]

I can't say specifically what Lowell is allergic to. I automatically

assumed that processed foods were a problem. There was a stretch (a

couple of months) before he started on medication when I would buy

everything for him from the health food store and he did well with few

asleep seizures. It was only after he had the BIG awake seizure in

September and had to be hospitalized that we consented to putting him on

the medication. We thought it would be best for safety's sake to put him

on the medication until our family was able to make necessary health

changes. We are moving in this direction daily. In the meantime, I'm

trying to improve Lowell's health with juicing, flax oil, more raw foods,

and supplements.

Speaking of supplements, what brand of Taurine are some of you using?

Using amino acids in isolated forms makes me uncomfortable. I tend to

use a whole foods approach to supplements. For instance, barley green,

flax oil, and just recently I ordered a whole foods multi for him with

chelated amino acid minerals. I am also going to order him liquid

calcium/magnesium (almost a 1:1 ratio with a bit more magnesium) from

Flora Inc. And it's a whole foods product and should be the most

absorbable.

As of today, Lowell's dr. wants to put him on Keppra. Any thoughts? He

isn't doing well on the Trileptal. He seems to have a weak palsy effect

on his right side, along with being off-balanced. So out with new and in

with the newer.

Thanks for your comments.

Bianca

[Guest guest]

Hi Bianca,

In her book, " Treating Epilepsy Naturally, " mentions

a study in which half of the subjects with epilepsy had abnormal

carbohydrate metabolism (as well as low B6, calcium, and magnesium).

I do know that the empty carbohydrates the ones that quickly are

broken down into glucose, were part of what had to be eliminated from

my diet (refined flour, white rice, sugar as much as possible). For

years, I would consistently have a seizure after eating lunch,

usually a sandwich. Eliminating gluten was a big help, but even my

own gluten free bread made from flour I make myself, can sometimes be

more than my digestive system can handle, which seems to trigger some

of the neurological symptoms, and certainly was a trigger for my

seizures.

I have been taking taurine since 1998. I use twin labs mega

(1000mg) capsules as it is convenient and seems to digest easily. I

have been seizure free since July of 1998. I do take the taurine with

a meal as I read it can cause some distress on an empty stomach. I've

had no problems in just about four years now. You may want to do some

searching for in-depth information on the B vitamins, since

deficiencies of some can interfere with the proper synthesis of other

nutrients and other B vitamins with seizures being a possible result.

B's must be taken together in order to be properly used by the body.

There's lots of information on how to get more of these in our daily

food ( I prefer that approach also). If Lowell is having any trouble

digesting one food, allergy or no, maybe this is upsetting the

balance of his system which is already seizure prone.

Processed foods have already had much of their fiber broken down

and many of the enzymes needed for proper digestion of the vitamins

they contain. I'm not sure how much vitamin content is lost in food

processing, canning, or freezing, but it seems well worth checking

out.

You may also want to look at the fluids in his daily diet, any

chance he is getting artificial sweeteners, or caffiene (a

diuretic)? Anything that disturbs the body's fluid levels(too much

or too little) can change the electrolyte(mineral) balance and lower

the seizure threshold. It is the minerals, such as calcium,

magnesium, potassium, as well as the others, which are critical to

normal nerve function. Also, you may find Dr. Blaylock's

book, " Excitotoxins, the taste that kills, " very informative in

finding ways to identify what foods might trigger Lowell's seizures.

It really is a question of balance, isn't it?

Zoe