Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I saw my Lyme Dr. and he is aware of what I'm about to write. He is the one that recommended the Paleo diet:

I've been suffering from Lyme disease x 5 years. Antibiotics and other treatments have not helped and I've only gotten worse. I'm 11 days into the Paleo diet and I'm having what feels like severe die off and flaring of symptoms. Is this to be expected ? i.e. not just flu like stuff, but off the wall anxiety that Xanax doesn't help, shaking, trembling, cold to the bone, body aches, crying jags, off balance, head stabbing pains in the back of the head, spine pain, the list goes on.. Thanks in advance..

Instead of cutting out like sugar one week, then dairy the next, etc., I cut out all the bad stuff at once. I now know this was wrong, but 11 days in, I don't want to re-introduce anything and just ride it out.

I have blood flow issues to the brain from the infections, and even they are flaring, or so it feels. Doing everything I can do, including enemas to detox.

Thanks again...

flag	asked Jan 16 2012 at 20:02 Gary 71●3

It is DEFINITELY to be expected. Everyone feels bad the first 2 weeks. The third week should be fine. I wish you luck, Gary. What's your diet like atm? Maybe you're eating too many nuts, so we gotta know a bit more. – Bruno Jan 16 2012 at 20:11

I am snacking on Almonds, but not too much. Basically, I'm eating 2 eggs omlet style with spinach or ham and spinach for breakfast, snack on nectarines or green apples here and there, dinner is a small salad, and lots of turkey, pork sirloin, or other red meat. All the meat is from Whole Foods and is Grass Fed animals, steroid free. Every one of my Lyme symptoms is Flaring. I felt similar while on the Antibiotics, but have never felt better ever from treating, so I'm treating this way now and hoping for a miracle. Oh yeah, I'm Juicing Organic Lemons with Stevia to make my own Lemonade – Gary Jan 16 2012 at 20:17

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"Doing everything I can do, including enemas to detox." - What does this involve other than the enemas? (not a good idea - skip those) – Karen Jan 16 2012 at 21:23

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Have you checked your calorie intake and your actual carb, protein, fat intake? A lot of people starting low carb paleo don't add enough fat. Unless you are overweight enough to live off your fat stores for a while, going low carb w/out fat will make you truly miserable. I'm suspecting this could be a problem since I don't see actual fat listed, or lunch. Also, if you are eating the apples and nectarines throughout the day and without protein and fat for lunch, you could be running your carbs up too high and getting reactive blood glucose swings. Plug some of this into Cron-o-meter to check. – Karen Jan 16 2012 at 21:29

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jackkruse.com/hey-lyme-disease-meet-leptin it a Herxheimer Rxn. But you need to realize that this disease is tied to leptin. Going paleo is going to make a huge difference to you. Good Luck and plus one. Keep us informed how you fare going forward. – The Quilt Jan 16 2012 at 22:14

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Bill1102inf · Answer 1 · 2012-01-16 21:04:00Z UTC

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First off, go get yourself a nice teaspoonful of salt and eat it.

Unless you plan on being in ketosis for the rest of your life, you might as well stop the enemas and whatever 'detox' is and eat aprox 100 grams worth of carbs/day in the form of whatever veggies/fruits you are eating plus sweet/white potatoes, white rice, or some other agreeable carbohydrate.

IF you do plan on being in ketosis forever, stop the enemas and whatever 'detox' is anyway, as they are not helping. About the only thing that helps one feel better while switching over to ketones (other than eating carbs) is salt, about 1 teaspoon. (And your flushing your sodium away with enemas).

P.S. If your Dr' recommended Enemas or 'detox', you need to fire that quackanuts and get someone else.

answered Jan 16 2012 at 21:04

Bill1102inf
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+1 for salt recommendation. Ketosis could be desirable for the neurological benefits. – Karen Jan 16 2012 at 21:19

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Definitely can the enemas! – Karen Jan 16 2012 at 21:20

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"P.S. If your Dr' recommended Enemas or 'detox', you need to fire that quackanuts and get someone else." Hey hey, look at te bright side. At least his doctor pointed him in what could be the right direction instead of saying "You'll have to learn to live with it". The man deserves some credit too imo. – Sam Jan 16 2012 at 21:40

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Second (third?) the motion on stopping with the enemas. You're just flushing out gut bacteria that's there to protect you from the toxins you're trying to get rid of. If you're having stomach problems or diarrhea on top of your other problems, start grabbing some probiotics (yogurt, keffir, water keffir, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, natto, etc.) to help "recharge" your system. – cerement Jan 16 2012 at 21:52

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Until your sodium levels normalize, stay away from Enemas and Epson Salt baths. There is no recommendation for 'detox', your body is 'detoxing' all by itself 24 hours a day 366(leap year)days this year. Stay hydrated, but do not over hydrate. And 'Paleo' does not mean living in Ketosis, although, you might want to give ketosis a shot and see if it has any neurological benefits, or not. Right now, my main concern would be to get you to some kind of baseline where your not "shaking, trembling, cold to the bone, body aches, crying jags, off balance, head stabbing pains.." – Bill1102inf Jan 16 2012 at 22:47

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sage_ · Answer 2 · 2012-01-16 23:58:03Z UTC

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i haven't read the article but it may contain something helpful.

answered Jan 16 2012 at 23:58

sage_
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Dragonfly · Answer 3 · 2012-01-17 16:21:25Z UTC

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Many folks with Lyme have had significant relief by making sure their D levels are sufficient to high.

answered Jan 17 2012 at 16:21

Dragonfly
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Pedrita · Answer 4 · 2012-01-18 00:36:05Z UTC

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I would test cutting on the lemonade for now, just in case it helps.

answered Jan 18 2012 at 0:36

Pedrita
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paleomonster · Answer 5 · 2013-02-03 06:18:06Z UTC

I have Lyme as well and have similar symptoms of die off toxicity in ketosis. My understanding is that toxicity is stored in fat cells. If you have induced a continuous fat burning state, you are jarring all of the other wise stored toxic crap from the die off out and into your system to get flushed out. Herxhiemer reaction in this case seems like a logical thing to expect if you choose this way of eating. I purposely put myself in to ketosis for this very reason. In short, my non professional opinion is that if you might have a herx reaction under normal circumstances with fat stores in place to hide your toxic waste, then to be burning that hiding place would naturally lead to more toxins (herx-ing) to be released in to your body. Try some epsom salt baths, drink tons of water with a little sea salt added, get massage to drain your lymphatics... maybe stop the enemas as it seems that might be a little harsh on your already taxed system. Good luck!!

Claire · Answer 6 · 2012-01-18 04:01:35Z UTC

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Stevia is a liver toxin. Get rid of that!

answered Jan 18 2012 at 4:01

Claire
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Really? formerfatguy.com/articles/stevia-safety.asp – air_hadoken Jan 18 2012 at 5:08

I have Neuro Lyme disease… Feel so much worse 11 days into Paleo Diet

6 Answers