Narcolepsy Diet: One Food Per Meal Diet

Narcolepsy Overview

Narcolepsy is a condition that causes sufferers to suddenly fall asleep. This can happen at any time, and is often accompanied by a loss of muscle tone or partial paralysis, a condition called cataplexy that is triggered by the experience of a strong emotion, usually laughter or anger.

These cataplexy episodes occur during the day, sometimes many times a day. Then, at night, people with narcolepsy may suffer from sleep paralysis, a condition of being unable to speak or move even though fully aware of external events.

Narcolepsy Diet: Single Food Per Meal Diet

Richard Wilkinson, MD, of the Yakima Allergy Clinic in Yakima, Washington, recalls a patient—a high school principal—suffering from narcolepsy. The onset of narcolepsy in meetings with teachers and students caused him great embarrassment, so he sought the help of Dr. Wilkinson who prescribed a single-food diet (eating only one food per meal) as a diagnostic measure.

Almost immediately, the patient’s narcolepsy disappeared, and several days later, when a meal of potatoes caused the patient to fall instantly asleep, Dr. Wilkinson determined that the patient had an allergy to potatoes. In the future, the patient could avoid narcolepsy completely by simply avoiding the consumption of potatoes.

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  « Narcolepsy & Symptoms
  Narcolepsy is a rare neurological sleep disorder…It is most characterized by Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS). . .
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• « Narcolepsy Sleep Attack
  In healthy individuals, sleep begins with the NREM phase. After 60 minutes or so of NREM sleep, REM sleep begins. A short time later, the entire cycle begins again. In a narcoleptic sleep attack, in contrast, researchers have found that REM sleep begins almost instantly, with no introductory NREM sleep. . .
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  The cause or causes of this disorder are unknown, but brain infection, head trauma, or brain tumors may be behind some cases. It is known that narcolepsy almost never the result of insomnia or sleep deprivation. . .
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• « Narcolepsy: Test & Diagnosis
  Your doctor may make a preliminary diagnosis of narcolepsy based on your experience of both excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden loss of muscle tone (cataplexy). After an initial diagnosis, your doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist for more evaluation.
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• « Narcolepsy: Treatment & Drugs
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• « Narcolepsy: Herbal Remedies, Diet and Supplements
  As always, get your doctor’s OK before taking any herbs, supplements and when changing your diet…Eat a low-fat diet high in cleansing foods such as leafy green vegetables and sea vegetables. Also eat foods high in B vitamin, such as Brewer’s yeast and brown rice…
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Source: Alternative Medicine, The Definitive Guide, compiled by The Burton Goldberg Group, p. 839