When it comes to Gilbert’s Syndrome our advice is to read through Gilberts Web, because being educated is the key to combating GS and it can also help to avoid potential health scares. Below we have compiled a list of what we find to be the most useful steps for minimizing Gilbert’s Syndrome.
How To Minimize Gilbert’s Syndrome
What Foods To Consume:
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.
What Food Not To Consume:
Pickled Foods, Cakes and Fatty Foods (in large quantities or as a replacement for nutritious foods).
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 (and I for one do – I brew my own!) 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.
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. Extract of thistle milk can be very useful too. Echinacea (a herb) is possibly useful when ill with flu or upper repertory 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 wish to e-mail us with others which you recommend.
Exercise:
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.