I decided and I amazed myself, I eliminated all three essentially. I gave myself permission to cheat on big holidays or when I am out with friends. I haven’t really needed to cheat but once so far in my 2 months.
My husband generously joined me on my quest. I watched many videos with Dr. Wahl’s story and progression through MS. I bought her book, “The Wahl’s Protocol”.
I committed and personally, I have found some terrific changes. I do not consider my right side neuropathy at all anymore. This had been my major complaint. So if this is my only improvement, I won’t be going back to my old diet soon. I should probably add that I also went for the intermittent fasting at the same time.
I plan to faithfully follow the diet for a full 200 days, as recommended in the book. I will report back at that point.
PS - I lost 10 pounds and my husband has lost 20 pounds. I need to hold steady now but my husband could a cut a few more 😉.
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PalmSprings
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Congratulations! Obviously, I hope this proves to be beneficial for PD, but even if it does not make a dramatic difference regarding PD, it's going to be beneficial for your overall health. Sometimes, I think I focus too narrowly on PD and not enough on my overall health when it comes to diet, exercise, and lifestyle. We are much more than People with Parkinson’s.
Intentional eating is empowering. I can’t go all out KETO but like you, elimination of dairy, gluten. & sugar are attainable. I’m not a perfectionist but believe to be experiencing subtle positive changes esp. w intermittent fasting. I love that Keto Clean feel of working out in a Fasted State. My husband had. Me going on these morning smoothies before workout that really didn’t matter: now I take them at noon and feel much better. It also simplifies. Meal planning for the day!
Because the oxalates will be absorbed faster if the veg are whizzed up or juiced, resulting in a surge in oxalate levels in blood which is harder on the kidneys and more likely to result in stones and crystal formation in other parts of the body (joints).
Remember that Dr Wahls is 6 foot tall and she says cut back in proportion to size. Even if you are a big person I would still keep her suggested proportions but cut back on amounts. Because i intermittent fast I only eat 6 cups a day, well seven, because I eat an avocado every day in addition to my 6cups. I think the biggest thing is cutting the gluten/grains, sugar and dairy.
All questions online, Will this be the next best thing? will we have the coldest winter for 50 years? is this an amazing cure cure for cancer found in your kitchen cupboard? Basically no!
Congratulations and keep it up. We are drying to do it too, my husband has PD and is Italian lots of goodies to give up, but we are beginning with level 1.
Be careful losing weight too fast as toxins bound up in the fat can make you feel ill. Also be careful of oxalates and , salicylates. But that looks delicious. We went this way too and both lost weight fast.
I am not sure yet. I am doing the full 200 day trial before I will really be able to analyze. I will report again and give a final report after the 200 days?
Thanks. I really admire what you’re doing cause it’s hard. I tried several diets when I was diagnosed but gave up after a couple of months as I noticed no benefits. But maybe the answer lies in the long term. Good luck 🤞
If you have hoopla through your local library you can read her book for free. I would recommend that if you listen to the book and decide to go with it you may want to buy the book because I had to refer back to it constantly the first several months.
I have gotten tremendous relief from my neuropathy issues. I have really good energy. No daytime sleepy periods. And I am hoping I see even more benefits after my 200 days. But as is, I don’t think I would go back to my old ways of eating?
I am still on the diet and plan to do so forever. Now keep in mind I immediately changed my diet and exercise when I first suspected I had PD, and I became very intentional, also, with meditating to calm my brain. What a saw at about five months were my fingernails were becoming hard a nails. My nails had always been paper thin and tore easily. Also, my cuticles were no longer ragged. My hairdresser commented that my hair was in better condition and thicker. If those were the things I could see on outside the body, I had to assume something good was happening inside my body. I was overweight, and have lost nearly 35 pounds to date, with about 15 more to go. I feel really good. Whether my symptoms going away is due to diet or exercise or even meditating, I don't know, but I am really happy with my plan. I keep fine tuning it.
I did the same thing, cold turkey, two years ago: no gluten, sugar, or milk products. Once I got into the swing of things, I never saw a reason to go back. Like you, I give myself permission to cheat every once in a while--yes, I had that piece of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving! I lost 20 pounds (which I needed to lose) over the first year and have stabilized since then. I fluctuate up and down by about two pounds. I also do Rock Steady Boxing 90 min a day and water aerobics 60 min a day. Except for some foot cramping and mild right hand tremors, I've never been healthier.
My Thanksgiving cheap was a taste of the sweet potato soufflé my husband made. I made a pumpkin panna cotta using coconut cream instead of regular heavy cream. The cheat there was using Swerve to sweeten.
I did this last year as part of a gut health protocol. Gave up sugar, gluten and dairy, which are three sources of inflammation. (The other three are meat, corn and soy.) I also lost quite a bit of weight, but I didn’t see any change in my PD symptoms. Didn’t really feel any different, actually. It surely will as healthier, though.
Definitely read up on oxalates. Beet is very high in oxalates, especially when raw. This could possibly worsen your orthostatic hypotension and afib if you're not careful, especially when complicated by PD with possible B6 deficiency.
It’s amazing when you do cheat after no sugar for ages it is horrible. So sweet and flavourless. I find veges and fruit very sweet now too.We also eat a small amount of 90% chocolate as a treat. For Icecream substitute by freezing bananas then blend with berries and a little Greek yoghurt or soy milk . Instant sorbet! Can add cocoa for Chocoberry. I have been experimenting with adding a small amount of vege like sweet potato, carrot , spinach, and sometimes whey protein for extra protein. Fun.
I have been doing the Wahls Protocol since March when I first suspected I had Parkinson’s. I was diagnosed in August. I am convinced it had helped, along with a very intentional exercise. This former sugaraholic, dairy farmers daughter has given up all grains, sugar and dairy. I’m on level three and also intermittent fast, eating only between noon and 6pm. I’ve lost 35 pounds since March. I’m sold!!!
I've heard of this diet before and the promising claims. Along with this diet are you eliminating meds as well? If not, may I ask what meds are you taking along with the diet? I have Parkinsons and because of side affects from the meds, I stopped Meripex, Azilect, and down to 1 CL tablet. This is until I find an alternative. I've been loosely taking Mucuna and B1 and LThiamine (supplements which I read about on this site). thank you
A while ago, I stopped taking Azilect. I take 2 100/25 c/l, 4 times per day. I take 2 300 mg Gabapentin’s for neuropathy, 4 times per day. I also take 2 50mg Flecainide tablets for my afib and OH issues. I have found the c/l work really well for my PD. I have had to titrate up from 1 (3 times per day) to 2 (4 times per day) over 6 years. I have noticed that meat protein really conflicts with the c/l. I am trying to do one change at a time to try and keep clear what changes effect my PD? Anyway, let me know if you need any more detail? Cheers
A while ago, I stopped taking Azilect. I take 2 100/25 c/l, 4 times per day. I take 2 300 mg Gabapentin’s for neuropathy, 4 times per day. I also take 2 50mg Flecainide tablets for my afib and OH issues. I have found the c/l work really well for my PD. I have had to titrate up from 1 (3 times per day) to 2 (4 times per day) over 6 years. I have noticed that meat protein really conflicts with the c/l. I am trying to do one change at a time to try and keep clear what changes effect my PD? Anyway, let me know if you need any more detail? Cheers
Initially my neurologist, titrated me up on l/c and I knew it worked amazingly on me then he stopped the l/c. He told me that was just to confirm diagnosis (6 years ago). Then he prescribed Azilect as a lone therapy but the Azilect did very little for my pesky symptoms and I got very sleepy during the day. Early on, I did ask if I could add back the l/c and I got some relief by adding back a low dose of l/c. Anyway, 6 years in, I decided to take control and asked my neurologist if I could ditch the Azilect and up my l/c. I felt better, less hazy and with increased l/c near bedtime, I started getting a good night sleep (30 years of horrible sleeps). This was all quite a relief and now I am adding my new diet changes to see if I can help myself even more. I now really clearly understand that no one else can feel what you’re feeling but you. I also feel my time is now.
Thanks for your opinion. I'm not so sure it's doing much for me. I started taking it about 13 yrs ago when they thought it was helping slow the progression. I'm going to try diet next. Thinking about trying the Mediterranean/Dash diet. I think I'll check out Wahls also.
I am essentially still on the Wahl’s Diet and I believe it has made some significant improvements, so I’m sticking with it. I cheat occasionally and when I go out I don’t worry about it. But when I started, I did the 200 day trial. I wanted to give it the college try.
Thank you so much for your quick reply:). I’ve made a couple of tries but it’s hard making the changes when the family keeps eating the same as before. . This post got me inspired to try again, thanks:)!
From everything I've read about PD, diet and exercise are HUGE. I do yoga 5 days/week and walk the dog a couple miles every day. I also follow a no-amylose diet which is very similar to Wahl protocol. When I was first diagnosed my "score" from my neurologist was 24/100. Now it's 10/100. My symptoms have improved and shaking has disappeared from my left leg.
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