What diet changes may help in PANDAS/PANS
A seemingly easy thing to do is make some diet changes. Many children with PANDAS develop restrictive eating. When that happens any diet changes can be extremely challenging. I feel you there loving parents. When your child will only eat 4 food items, diet changes are impossible. Do what you can, and don’t stress yourself about it. Make one manageable change at a time. Don’t try to do too many at once.
Remove Artificial Dyes and Flavors
The first thing I removed from my son’s diet was artificial dyes and flavors. It was very helpful in calming his moods. For years, he was very sensitive and would have almost immediate mood changes when consuming certain artificial dyes and flavors. Somehow in the mix, I discovered he was also very sensitive to the natural dye and flavoring annatto. Removing that was tremendously helpful. I saw almost immediate benefits removing these from his diet, and even with restrictive eating, it was not too difficult. Now that he is older and recovering, dyes and flavors are only minimally triggering.
Remove Dairy
The second thing I removed from his diet was dairy. It was a tough one. He lost some weight in the first couple of months. It takes about 2-3 weeks to notice a difference when removing dairy. After about a week my son’s asthma improved and over time became almost non-existent. Dairy was definitely out for him, but after about six months I was able to add in some cheese and cream without adverse effects.
Removing Gluten
It can take 3 months to see a difference after removing gluten from the diet. There are many benefits to removing gluten for anyone with autoimmune issues. I have never successfully removed gluten. Even with my son being older and on board with trying changes, he is still restrictive in food. I can’t personally speak the benefits for removing gluten.
Focus on Whole Foods Diet
A whole foods diet is best for everyone. The closer you can eat food straight from nature, without processing, the better. Processing adds sugar, fats, and many other additives for freshness and quality. This does not mean you can’t enjoy processed foods at times, but try to eat mostly simple whole foods. Another thing to consider, is eating organic. For children with PANDAS, they don’t need any extra toxins. If you can afford to eat organic, then you should highly consider it. It is an investment in your health. This is not something they you may notice results from, but it is something can will help and can’t hurt to do.
Other Considerations
You should consider other food sensitivities and allergies. Some children can’t tolerate eggs, corn, or other foods. Removing those irritants from their diet may greatly improve their health. Because children with PANDAS/PANS don’t always display typical symptoms, they may not have upset stomach or hives with a food allergy. Allergy testing may be helpful but will not show sensitivities. Keeping a food journal and tracking symptoms may provide clues, and then foods can be removed by trial and error.
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