Migraine Experiment: High Protein, Low-Sugar, Low-Carb MCT Oil Diet - Day 10

Experiment update: Day 10

Today is the last official day of the experiment.

Looking back, I think I should have named it - Low-Sugar, Low-Carb, High-Protein, High-Fat Diet with MCT Oil instead of the train wreck of a name that doesn't emphasize one important bit - dietary fats.

MCT oil is fat. That and fats from my meals and snacks have been the only energy source for me for the last ten days.

The fats took over sugar (putting it simply) in powering my brain and I've managed to survive. I also haven't had a single migraine actualize during this time even though it came pretty close on a couple of occasions.

Even though it's the "official" last day of the experiment, I am thinking of dragging it on for a couple more days. The reason for it is as follows:

I kinda like it.

I know I'll have to eat some carbs and introduce sugar in my diet in several days. However, this is only because I need to see the changes they will bring. Not because I feel a need for them.

Plus, I don't have any fruits or vegetables at my place anyway :P .

I am going to tidy up my records and do a write-up on this experiment as soon as I feel like it.


One more important bit. A blogger friend of mine, Eileen, left a comment yesterday which I think addresses a couple of points that I missed.

She writes:

"Hi! I was looking through your posts to see what preventive medications you are on and didn't see you listing them....maybe I just didn't see them?

Anyway - the reason was because if you are doing a low carb/high protein diet - there are certain preventives this can be a problem with - example: Topamax. The low carb diet and Topamax are not friends. Low carbs with this drug can increase the risk of kidney stones.

I am assuming you spoke with your doctor before trying this out?

Just looking out for ya!!

Hugs!"

Lets start with Topamax. Both taking Topamax as a preventive and being on a ketogenic diet have two major similarities.

First, they both raise the levels of acid in blood. However, with the diet the acid levels tend to more or less level out as the body gets used to a new source of fuel (ketons) while with Topiramate it's a persistent condition that can even lead to metabolic acidosis.

Secondly, both Topiramate and ketogenic diet will (it's not a maybe, it's a certainty) shift the calcium-magnesium balance toward calcium. Kidney stones are the least of the problems for a person who's on either of these things.

A very good friend of mine lost a gallbladder just recently. Topamax and no magnesium supplementation would do it to people.

So would ketogenic diet if I stick with it for some years and don't double up on my mineral and vitamin supplements.

However, I've been taking extra magnesium during these ten days and my multivitamins are a high quality with lots of trace minerals. I think I am OK there.

As for the preventives... My doctor is not a big believer in pills. The last preventive I could wrangle out of her was a calcium-blocker. It kinda worked at first. After taking it for a year I realized that I still have migraines.

It's a long story, would make for an article in itself, but I am not taking any preventives right now.

And the final bit, whether I told my doctor about my "experiment". No, I did not. Just like I didn't tell her about a dozen or so experiments I've performed before.

She is a nice woman and very, very busy. I just don't want to bother her with this. And it takes like a month to schedule an appointment.

Now, kids, don't do what I do, do what I say. And I say - do talk to your doctor if you try something like this.

Eileen, valid points. Thanks :P