This TV programme (screened at peak time on Channel 4) continues to fascinate by showing that quite severe health conditions can be improved with dietary changes.
The first patient on this week’s episode was Anne Colins, age 55, who had been suffering from terrible hot flushes for 6 years due to her menopause but was unable to take Hormone Replacement Therapy due to other medical issues.
The doctors on the show recommended smaller, more natural doses of hormones in the form of plant-based estrogen, and developed a food plan for her including tofu, soya, edamame beans, soya milk and yoghurt, together with chickpeas and other calcium-rich foods.
Anne stuck to this diet for ten weeks (despite occasionally having more than their suggested one glass of wine per day!). The episode showed her at two separate later stages, experiencing considerable reduction in both the frequency and intensity of her hot flushes.
The second patient was Kate, age 39, who had suffered from Ankylosing Spondylitis- for 21 years. This condition is a form of arthritis which usually attacks the spine, fusing the vertebrae together and causing limited mobility and considerable pain.
There is no outright ‘cure’, and the standard treatment of anti-inflammatory painkillers had only helped so far in terms of curbing the pain.
The doctors deduced that starchy foods could be contributing to the problem- certain bacteria associated with the disease feed on starch, and the antibodies created to combat them can erode cartilage. They did however state that starch was a key and vital food requirement, so that she would have to be careful to ensure that she still got the required amount of starch, whilst eliminating the excess from her diet.
Kate was advised to avoid eating potatoes, starchy vegetables, rice, pasta, and wheat products, but could still eat small amounts of beans, pulses and bananas to ensure she got enough starch.
Upon returning six weeks later, she felt that whilst the pain understandably hadn’t gone completely, there had been a significant improvement.
The third patient, Taigh aged 19, had a phobia of most foods brought about by numerous food intolerances as a child. She had never eaten a vegetable in her life and only ate crisps, bacon, sausages, pancakes, bread, sweets and ice cream but said that she always feels energetic (ironically this girl is training to be a fitness instructor!). However, her selective phobia-driven diet caused embarrassment, meaning she rarely ate with family or friends.
The doctors discovered that whilst there were no outwardly visible symptoms of ill-health, she was suffering from malnutrition (understandably), and putting herself at risk for problems such as scurvy and anaemia, due to lack of a wide range of nutrients found in a normal balanced diet.
They helped her take things one step at a time to overcome her phobias, and upon returning at a later date, she stated that she was making steady, if slow, progress.
Next week is the final episode in the series, and it will be very interesting to see what dietary measures the experts suggest to combat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
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