All epilepsy can be treated with medication. In fact, 80 percent of patients stop having seizures after taking medication. However, because some medications can have side effects, more and more doctors recommend using diet in combination with medication to control the condition.
Some studies show that in some rare cases, a lack of vitamin B6 and vitamin D can trigger seizures. Vitamin B6 is found in meat, whole grains, and legumes; vitamin D is found in oily fish and some animal products, especially cheese and fortified milk. Patients should only take vitamin supplements under a doctor's guidance.
Certain minerals can help some patients, such as magnesium (found abundantly in whole wheat flour, millet, figs, meat, fish, nuts, and legumes); zinc (found in meat, organ meats, malt, nuts, crab, oysters, and lentils) and calcium (mainly found in milk and dairy products) which can help some people prevent seizures.
Preliminary evidence suggests that congenital epilepsy may be related to a lack of manganese in the mother's diet during pregnancy, but this claim is still highly controversial. The main sources of manganese include rice, whole wheat bread, malt, buckwheat, lima beans, nuts, cornflower, sardines, blackberries, figs, and pineapple.
In a few cases, malnutrition and low blood sugar are associated with seizures. Therefore, patients should eat at regular intervals and pay attention to a balanced diet to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Some unconventional practitioners believe that mixed salads and raw fruits can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures.
People prone to this condition who drink excessively can accelerate the onset of seizures. Evening primrose oil can also trigger seizures in some people and should be avoided.