Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (201 page)

Magnesium in the week leading up to your period.

Zinc citrate, as there is often a zinc deficiency associated with this condition.

EXTRA TIPS

Do not dry-clean your clothes. Women suffering from this condition may be sensitive to the solvents used in this process.

Regular abdominal massage can help to increase lymph movement and break adhesions of tissues. Use oils of lavender and marjoram.

Get good bacteria into the gut to keep your colon healthy to deal with excess estrogen.

If you are overweight, you will suffer more. It has a negative effect on hormonal balance.

Take sitz baths. These involve sitting in a tub of hot water covering only your hips and buttocks for up to 20 minutes (you can also alternate between a tub of hot water and a tub of cold water every three minutes). Sitz baths are thought to help improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation and may be taken up to three times a week, but should not be taken during menstruation or pregnancy.

Exercise can help immensely. So find something you like that will keep you fit.

EPILEPSY

An epileptic fit is a spasmodic disturbance of electrical energy in the brain, causing a seizure. Loss of consciousness, heavy breathing, spells of staring, and upturned eyes are common symptoms.

Fits can be classified according to type, including grand mal, temporal lobe, and petit mal. Petit mal fits are most common in children and are usually indicated by staring into space and being unaware of what’s going on. They tend to last for less than a minute. Triggers include becoming too warm, flickering television or computer screens, flash photography, stress, lack of sleep, and hypoglycemia.

Action plan

Conventional treatment for fits includes drugs such as phenytoin that help to reduce their frequency. However, the following nutritional pointers may help.

EAT/DRINK

Oats. Oats are relaxing to the central nervous system and contain slow-releasing carbohydrates that keep blood-glucose levels stable. This is important for proper brain function, as the brain cannot function without glucose.

Fruits, vegetables, and pulses. These are a great source of potassium needed to balance sodium for proper signaling in the central nervous system.

Green vegetables for their magnesium content. Magnesium is relaxing to the nervous system.