- What foods/drinks should I eat/drink
- What foods/drinks should I avoid
- Help For Vegetarians
- Help On Alcohol
- How Will Gilbert’s Syndrome Effect My Life
- How Sick Will Gilbert’s Syndrome Make Me
- How Useful Are Supplementary Vitamins
- How Does Exercise Help With GS
What foods/drinks should I eat/drink
We have found it helpful to eat/drink the following:
Cheese, Cottage Cheese, Eggs, Prunes, Figs, Milk, Bananas, Yogurts, Apricots, Whole meal Bread, Tuna, Other Oily Fish, Muesli, Lemons, Mineral Water, High Protein, High Carbohydrate Foods with Vitamins C, B Complex and Iron.
NB I am not a meat eater and therefore cannot comment on the advantages or disadvantages of meat products in relation to GS. However a meat eater may wish to consider cutting out fatty meats.
This list is not intended to be prescriptive.
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What foods/drinks should I avoid:
We have found that eating/drinking the following inhibits the prevention of a GS attack:
Alcohol (in large quantities), Pickled Foods, Cakes and Fatty Foods (in large quantities or as a replacement for nutritious foods).
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Vegetarians
It seems that vegetarians need to take extra care due to the need for proteins and carbohydrates to feature highly in their diet. The use of vitamin supplements (C, B complex and iron) may be considered too.
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Alcohol
A tricky one. The Message Board will tell you that everyone has a different view. Clearly anything which effects the liver (both GS and alcohol) needs careful consideration particularly on initial diagnosis if the symptoms of fatigue are in evidence. If you really want to drink alcohol try and find foods which will cleanse the liver and go for moderation if you can. Milk thistle, mineral water, fruit juices and herbal teas can be very useful.
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How Will Gilbert’s Syndrome Effect My Life
GS effects people in different ways and to varying degrees. In fact some people are not effected at all or have just one GS episode and no further symptoms. The official medical diagnosis states that GS is benign. However this may minimize the symptoms which are real to those who experience them e.g. fatigue, involuntary shaking. People with GS may need to eat certain foods, regulate their exercise, take longer to recover from vigorous activities and ensure that they don’t go without food or sleep for long periods. This will effect a persons life depending on their expectations of the lifestyle which they are used to or wish to adopt.
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How Sick Will Gilbert’s Syndrome Make Me
Although some GS sufferers report problems with their colon and bowel it is generally accepted that GS does not make people sick. However a feeling of being unwell may result from being initially diagnosed and feeling depressed and run down. It is important to remember that GS is not harmful and a positive outlook can enable a GS sufferer to control and manage most, if not all symptoms through their diet and regulated exercise.
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How Useful Are Supplementary Vitamins
Supplementary vitamins can help ensure that the goodness in food consumption is maximized. Vitamins and minerals noted as useful by myself and others are Vitamins B complex, C, and Minerals- iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. Echinacea (a herb) is possibly useful when ill with flu or upper respiratory illnesses as it stimulates the immune system, therefore indirectly helping since influenza can induce GS symptoms in GS sufferers.
Milk thistle extract can be particularly useful in helping to cleanse the liver. This relieves pressure on the liver (caused by “everyday” toxins) and can therefore help to reduce fatigue. (Please see the extracts from medical books in the “What the doctors say” section.)
You may with to e-mail us with any other vitamins and supplements you recommend.
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How Does Exercise Help With GS
Many people with GS find that vigorous exercise brings on fatigue. However exercise should not be avoided but regulated in order to get in control of GS and then manage the symptoms. It depends on what exercise a person is used to and their metabolism. A persons diet just after exercise is important e.g. eating bananas or high carb food can compensate for the liver not breaking food down quickly enough and can replace energy fast! This can be a useful preventative/coping strategy particularly for people who are usually active but experiencing fatigue. Regulated exercise can be a first step in beginning to deal with GS symptoms.
The use of Milk Thistle can enable Gilbert’s Syndrome sufferers to get in control of their symptoms by becoming active and then sustaining exercise. This is due to the ability of milk thistle to help cleanse the liver and alleviate fatigue.
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