Dietary Advice-Crashing all the time

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rungeek82
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Joined: Wed Aug 14, 2013 12:20 pm

by rungeek82 on Wed Aug 14, 2013 12:34 pm

Dietary Advice-Crashing all the time

I am a CFS sufferer for 3 years. I am having real trouble managing energy levels in relation to diet. I am barely able to go 2 hours without having to eat in order to stop 'crashing' as i refer to it.

About 2 hours after eating I start to feel light headed and brain fog sets in. I then seem to sometimes get the shakes and start sweating if i leave 3 hours between meals.

I currently eat LOW GI food and a healthy balanced diet. I do not drink or smoke.

Any advice would be appreciated

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Sue Luscombe
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Aug 07, 2013 11:19 am

by Sue Luscombe on Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:20 pm

Re: Dietary Advice-Crashing all the time

Hello

You are doing exactly what is recommended to minimise “crashing”, also sometimes referred to as “energy slumps”. You are not alone in getting these symptoms and quite why this happens in CFS is not clear. The symptoms of shaking and sweating are similar to what happens when the blood glucose is low, so eating a little and often of slow release, or low glycaemic index (G.I.) starchy carbohydrate food, should help.

Conversely, it is not uncommon for those with CFS to report “energy crashes”, after having high sugar drinks and foods, which release glucose more rapidly in the blood. So to help symptoms it is suggested to avoid sugary drinks and too much high GI foods and have more low GI foods. If you want to check out more about Glycaemic Index this is the link to the British Dietetic Association Food facts on GI: http://bda.uk.com/foodfacts/GIDiet.pdf
Sue Luscombe
Specialist Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant - R.D.

73booradley
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2013 10:19 pm

by 73booradley on Thu Aug 15, 2013 10:51 pm

Re: Dietary Advice-Crashing all the time

Rungeek82! You and me both. Find I have to eat all the time. My weight does not change. I am 9st whether I eat constantly or try to get my hunger under control. I often get "the crashes" sometimes just shake and sweat, other times I almost pass out and end up in tears! Drives me nuts. Feel as though I need to constantly fuel up just to get through a day. Like you I eat well, low GI, slow release foods, no sugar blah blah but makes little impact on my hunger / need for food. I never go anywhere without food! Have you tried porridge oats for breakfast. I cant stick the stuff, so I opt for 3 Weetabix. This gets me through til mid morning. Nuts (almonds paticularly) and a few raisins, or an apple eaten together for snack. This gets me through my 11am ebb. Quinoa/bean salads with fish and meat. I dont avoid white rice, but I do opt for wholemeal pasta and wholemeal noodles. This does not exclude crashes but I find if I keep to these foods it helps. Please let me know what you are doing to combat these energy lows. Thanks

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