Column #18

Changing the foods you eat for health reasons is one of the most difficult tasks you can do. There are many reasons why. Traditions, habits, social events, addictions, fear, and availability are all roadblocks. But there’s another big roadblock many don’t expect and it is very frightening. It happens when they change their diet and they get sicker!

The impact of dietary changes can vary depending on the situation. Is the person experiencing severe symptoms of disease? Are the symptoms caused by bacteria, fungi, or something else? In terms of food chemistry, is the change beneficial?

For instance, let’s assume a fungal infestation is causing a severe rash. The fungi feed on sugar and carbohydrates. If people change the foods they eat from carbohydrate-loaded oatmeal to organic oatmeal, they will experience little or no difference in their symptoms. That’s because the chemistry of the oatmeal helps fuel their fungi and being organic has no bearing on the chemistry of the oatmeal. But if sugar and carbohydrates, including oatmeal, are eliminated from the diet, a negative reaction may occur.

The reaction to a dietary change is caused by the body’s immune system. When fungi are being starved they can emit even more mycotoxins than while they were being fed. Withdrawal symptoms may last for several days until the fungi are suppressed. While the body is fighting the increased toxic inflammatory load the symptoms of “feeling sick” can be worse than before the cure was started.

The name for this phenomena is the Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction. It’s a term that describes the body’s reaction to endotoxins (from bacteria) or mycotoxins (from fungi) that are released by the death of the harmful microorganisms within the body during treatment. The treatment for bacteria is usually penicillin. The treatment for fungi is the elimination of sugar and carbohydrates.

Years ago I had an experience with a severely bipolar person. Her emotions would swing from ecstasy to severe depression and rage. Mostly she lived with rage. She had a sweet tooth for candy and ice cream and a craving for carbohydrates and beer. A doctor finally convinced her to cut out all sweets, beer, carbohydrates, and high glycemic foods from her diet. She did and for four days lay in agony on a couch virtually unable to function or even walk. She thought she was going to die.

Then suddenly she started feeling better. In one week her mental outlook had improved significantly. The rage was gone. It was almost like a miracle. Unfortunately, about six weeks later she fell back on her old habits and the bipolar symptoms came back stronger than before.

Her experience with “the cure” was a perfect example of the Herxheimer reaction. Sometimes that reaction causes people to quickly stop the dietary changes that are actually curing them. Therefore it’s something one should know. It does illustrate the power of the diet. It’s also another reason why positive change isn’t always fun.

To your health.

Ted Slanker

Ted Slanker has been reporting on the fundamentals of nutritional research in publications, television and radio appearances, and at conferences since 1999. He condenses complex studies into the basics required for health and well-being. His eBook, The Real Diet of Man, is available online.

For additional reading:

Herxheimer Reaction