Low fat diet

[bluejadedwho]

Does anyone still follow the old assumption that a low-fat diet can aid in normalizing VLCFA levels and thus slow progression?

[COwithAMN Administrator AMN EASIER Volunteer]

No, it doesn't have any effect on AMN disease progression. But anything you can do including keeping to a healthy diet should make you feel better and keep you healthier overall.

And plenty of exercise!

Chris

[julie_]

No, in fact I've been following the paleo diet, bordering on ketogenic, both which dictate high good fat. These diets also focus on unprocessed foods which means if foods are low-fat, then they have been processed chemically to be low-fat. I am not on a strict diet, but after 4 years, I know what ingredients/foods to avoid and I know cooking my own meals is the best solution.

As Chris mentioned, healthier eating habits (doing your research and choosing what's right for you) plus exercise helps coping with all our symptoms. I definitely feel the consequences when I've gone off course with diet and/or exercise in less than a week's time.

[bluejadedwho in reply to julie_]

I completely agree with this approach. I feel better when I follow this way of eating coupled with activity.

[monkeybus]

It's hard for me to say one way or the other. I was a vegetarian for 12 years. Was when I started eating meat that my symptoms exploded. Then again, my (older) brother loves his meat and his symptoms are much less severe than mine.

Most vegetarians I know eat a highly unhealthy diet, most unbalanced. Was when I was worried about my brain lesions I seriously started reading up on diet and from what I read myelin needs fat for repair. Especially the myelin in your brain.

All that said, I feel better when I eat a low calorie, low fat diet, so who is to say? There is meat and there's meat.

I've been walking a lot lately, never felt better (that's a lie). But but I used to be very active, athletic, even. Now I'm resigned to quickly wearing out my shoes I'm planning to walk as much as I possibly can.

I remember when lard and butter were considered unhealthy. Now Margarine is the enemy. I read that olive oil is only healthy as long as you don't heat it. What's going on?

[julie_ in reply to monkeybus]

I have a few (non-AMN) friends who have given up meat or are vegans and they love it. I also love my meat!

Ever since I started on the paleo/keto route, I've also heard about those foods you mentioned that were once bad but now can be brought back into pantry. It is the latest health news that it is not (good) fat that is your enemy but ... sugar! Lard is now a good fat (however Crisco was manufactured and therefore not good) and olive oil loses most of its benefits when heated especially as it has a low heat point. Other oils better for cooking/heating are avocado oil and coconut oil - you'll need to research to distinguish the good vs bad quality oils.

[COwithAMN Administrator AMN EASIER Volunteer in reply to monkeybus]

I read some time ago that cooking oils like canola (rapeseed), corn oil, peanut oil should be avoided once you heat them for cooking as this makes them carcinogenic.

See telegraph.co.uk/news/health...

But oilve oil did not. I have switched to olive oil for frying.

Haven't researched the findings quoted by the scientists in the article.

[monkeybus in reply to COwithAMN]

Yes, pretty scarey how they make Canola into the bargain.

I'll take a cold pressed extra virgin over Canola any day of the week.

[Aaron98 in reply to monkeybus]

"I'll take a cold pressed extra virgin over Canola any day of the week."

Hear, hear. I go through gallons of extra virgin olive oil every year.

But I also love my butter, lard, tallow, and coconut oil, too. Basically anything natural.

[bluejadedwho]

I waste away without meat. Something I think that should be considered is not all of us have adrenal dysfunction. I need to eat frequent high energy such as high healthy fat foods.

[fightald]

It doesn't hurt to avoid or at least eat in moderation foods high in saturated fats. They are also high in VLCFA's.

[bluejadedwho]

I don’t think this is the general consensus now however. High VLCFA is merely a bio marker of the disease. It’s been shown that regardless of dietary intake, the body still will produce it.