The Right Diet Can Help Neuropathy Patients Better Manage Symptoms
For patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy, the pain, tingling, and numbness associated with peripheral neuropathy symptoms may be exacerbated by what they eat. Patients and caregivers must be conscientious of foods that may help to alleviate peripheral neuropathy symptoms, as well as the foods that may increase these symptoms. Knowing how the body responds to certain foods may be key to reducing peripheral pain.
Following are some foods that patients should avoid to reduce neuropathy symptoms.
How a balanced diet fights pain
My wife’s family comes from a strong Midwestern background. Family gatherings usually involve soft drinks, salty meat dishes, and starchy foods. These foods are familiar to my mother-in-law, and she will continue to eat them. She is unwilling to try another diet, and this presents an obstacle when trying to reduce her peripheral neuropathy symptoms.Â
As her caregivers, it’s tricky to monitor her intake of salty foods, soft drinks, and carbohydrates. These foods are quickly digested, increasing blood sugar levels and contributing to increased inflammation in the body. Extra sodium in the bloodstream can lead to elevated blood pressure, which can slow blood flow and lead to peripheral nerve damage.
Caregivers should focus on incorporating foods with anti-inflammatory properties into a balanced diet. These foods include whole grains, lean meats, vegetables, nuts, and fish. Lean meats such as poultry and fish are high in vitamin B12, which helps to keep blood cells and nerves healthy.
Foods to avoid
Starchy foods such as white bread, pasta, and pizza are high in gluten. Even boxed mashed potatoes may contain gluten. Recent research suggests an association between gluten sensitivity and nerve pain. Symptoms of gluten sensitivity include pins and needles, itchy skin, digestion issues, and headaches. Neuropathy patients might also experience worsening of preexisting skin conditions.Â
As high levels of blood sugar can contribute to nerve damage in peripheral neuropathy, patients should avoid foods such as candy, ice cream, soft drinks, fruit juices, and pastries.Â
Salty foods such as potato chips, processed meals, cold cuts, and fast food can also be problematic for neuropathy patients, as high levels of salt may restrict blood flow, which can contribute to numbness, as mentioned above.
Patients should focus on maintaining a well-balanced diet rich in vitamin B12 and antioxidants to control their peripheral neuropathy symptoms and manage their overall well-being. By avoiding sugary and salty foods, they can help to improve their quality of life and make their caregiver’s job much easier.
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Note: FAP News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of FAP News Today or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to familial amyloid polyneuropathy.
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Comments
Linda Larson
Very helpful.
5 stars!
GERALDINE BOLDEN
CAN YOU SEND ME A RECIPE FOR A DIATE TO EAT PLEASE.
Angela awright
Thank you
Marcieta Bush
I suffer with Neuropathy in my left thigh ..I get B12 shots once a week..since the Pandemic I missed quite a few because I am 66yrs old and have underlying health issues. I am not Diabetic..it feels like the pain
Is spreading
Janet Murphy
I have and neuropathy so what food that helps that go away
Margie Lanchester
Info was very helpful. Thank you.
Robert Neri
Very useful
Angela. Crealey
Well thank you for the sugar free diet I have side ffects from lymphona my legs are twisted with cramps as I ate 2 bags of sugar jellies and that evening I got it very bad I had a feeling dear gd never sugar again .excuse trying to put weight on I will try the gluten free bread and see but all the answers are to much sugar I am in my 70 and that is farewell sugar Ange it was well put together but what do we eat gluten free is horrible do u stay off all foods “ trying
Bruce Hood
I need desperately some receipts as I love to eat and have preifereal NEUROPTHY in my feet and my hands tinge at times . They bother me mostly in the evenings when I sit down to relax and when I go to bed . Would love to have a list of foods to eat and not to eat . Thank you !!
Strang Craig
My wife has severe weight loss due to neuropathy and does not know how to gain weight.She is allergic to most foods
Cara
I found the information about nerve damage on this site very informative and helpful thank you
Kathaleen
So helpful. Confirmed as well reinforced knowledge on this subject. Thank you!
Luis Pagan
I would like more information about diet foods for neuropathy I'm constantly suffering from tingling,cramping and numbness all the left side of my body is in constant pain take gabapentin but that doesn't help me.Need more help with my diet live by myself.
Don Sutherlin
How much does alcohol affect peripheral neuropathy?
penny
I have copd depression neuropathy and joint paint I love sweets but but not so much salt take gabapentin but not everyday. Is ivt better than over the counter aleve for my pains
don l brumley
I am going to try the no sugar and a lot less salt to see if the nerve in my feet help. I have a hard time when I go to bed each night.
Nancy
Very informative and helpful for this newly diagnosed person.
Liz
I fully agree with this article's food suggestions.
I found that I was allergic to iodine, & since avoiding it, my previously regular lower leg burning during the night has ceased.
It took me 5 years to work it out for myself!
Marty Jacksonhttp://fapnewstoday.com/2020/01/22/foods-salty-starch-sweet-high-blood-sugar-peripheral-pain/
I really enjoyed reading your information on neuropathy. My doctor recently diagnosed me with neuropathy. I am reading everything I can about things that might slowdown the progression of this
disease. Although, I thought I had a healthy diet it seems that my healthy diet may be part of the problem. Is it possible to receive a comprehensive list of food that I should avoid? I've read that I should not eat blueberries, cabbage, onions, carrots and dairy foods. This is all becoming very
Confusing. I am willing to change my diet or make any other changes in my life that will contol my neuropathy. Thank you for taking the time to read my message. Marty Jackson
Harry
Also watch out for your cholesterol medicine big time!!!!!!!
Lori
Thank you very much for sharing your personal experiences and observations about FAP.
Denise
I really appreciate the message it help a lot. It help me to learn how to eat better
Mike
I have tried everything and have been disabled for over 10 years now. I don’t know what else to do, sometimes I want to give up. Please contact me and forward any information you can on treatments for peripheral neuropathy. My conditions are severe from toxicity to inhalants.Thank you and please help
Pamela Voros
Unfortunately, all the foods that I like are all on the taboo list eg. White bread, pasta and sugars...This article tells me what foods I should avoid and what foods to eat.
Abdullahi Ibrahim
The doctor send me MR scan to check the nerve system and he find sensory neuropathy headaches , I feel burning as well minner numbness and headaches so could you tell me which kind of food I can eat and which food I can avoid ??.
Rose Wesley
That information was very helpful and enlightened me of food I need to eliminate from my diet. Thank you.
Omar othman
Thefood mentioned in your write up is been consumed immensely and as such my neuropathy pain seems to be constant. I wonder if one can help me because l am in serious pain.
emiro molina
I lñive in Venezuela my problem is focussed in my left foot, always tingling, and fall asleep, my right one is less affected but is too. finally I feel my legs as if I have been climbingmountains
for the time being I have been treated with some drugs. and the last one prescribed is carbamazepina 200 mg. But the tingling seems not to improve substantially
Thanks for your attention, if you kindly offer me options to improve my health God will paid you with much health. God bless you forever
Lisa Carten
I suffer so bad I can't rub my skin in the shower it hurts to dry off it hurts me to have clothes on it feels like I'm putting my socks on raw skin I'm in pain and I'm on insulin as well as metformin so tired of suffering from nerve pain please send me a diet plan to improve my health thank you so much for letting me comment
Elvisina
Thank you for reminding me to cut way down on the salt. I already have almost eliminated sugar but still get terrible burning and aching in extremities. Night is terrible. Forget sleep. For those who are saying that gluten free is awful, there are many things I've found that are very good. Staying away from gluten has also helped my migraines. Best wishes, everyone. Unless you suffer from neuropathy you cannot imagine how life-altering it is.
Lori
Replace equal amounts of stevia for sugar replacement. For replacement of ice cream I put 3 frozen banana half’s in ninja blender along with a handful of frozen strawberries, handful of blueberries, start with a 1 1/2 cupsHEB brand unsweetened almond milk, add more if needed to blend fruit, about 2 teaspoons stevia( sugar replacement) to taste more if desired. You can use whatever fruit you prefer but these are healthier especially if watching ur sugar intake. You can make ahead and freeze for later.
manoj suresh chavan
Want to converse with you.I am a diabetic for 25 years.now nerves are paining.diabeties H1Anc is 8.8.Whats to be done to reverse neuropathy.Avoiding all sweets
Meena
Kristine Grosland
Tell her to quit eating fruit and salt for a while -but mainly fruit
Bo's Dreams
Darn...my three favorite food pizza, bread and pasta : (( Well, I have to do something if I want to get better with the damn feet problems...
Tommy Bollinger
This has been very helpful for me! Thank you! I need all the help possible! I was taking chemo for Overian cancer from May21’-Dec.10. I am dibetic, and already had numb feet,and numb left hand. They had to stop my chemo because my neuropathy got so bad! God bless you! Thank you!
Shirley Pacheco Vega
I was told blueberries are great for neuropathy