Trigeminal Neuralgia is a condition in which trigeminal nerve is compressed or inflamed. Trigeminal nerve supplies sensation to face, and other parts of the head. According to Ayurveda, Vata – aggravating foods can cause and be responsible for this problem, so avoiding them and consuming a diet full of anti-oxidants, fats, and the food items that can balance the Vata Dosha will be very beneficial to manage Trigeminal Neuralgia.
DIET CHART FOR TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA
EARLY-MORNING
Luke warm water / Soaked almond -4 / Indian gooseberry -2 / Aloe Vera juice
BREAKFAST
Vegetable Poha (Rice flakes) / Vegetable Porridge (Dalia) / Vegetable Upma (Veg semolina) / Ragi chapatti (Finger millet) / Multigrain chapatti + Vegetable / Fresh Juice
MID-MORNING
Fruit juice / Fruit/ Herbal tea/Green tea
LUNCH
Chapatti / Multigrain Chapatti / Rice / Veg Pulao / Veg + Dal / Salad/ Non –veg (once in a week)
EVENING
Fruit/ Sprouts chat/ Rice flakes / Egg-1/ Soup/Veg or Non-veg (homemade)/ Roasted makhane (Foxnut)
DINNER
Chapatti / Multigrain Chapatti /Brown rice / Veg pulao / Veg + Dal
BED TIME
Skimmed milk+ A pinch of turmeric / 3-4 drops of Cow’s Ghee
DIET INSTRUCTIONS
CEREALS
Cereals to be consumed
Wheat, White rice, Brown rice, Sorghum, Amaranth, Finger millet, Foxtail millet, Pearl millet, Buckwheat, Little millet
Flour Ratio Wheat Atta (50%) + Soybean Atta (20%) + Ragi flour (30%)
Cereals to be avoided
Refined flour and its products
FRUITS
Fruits to be consumed
Apple, Banana, Water melon, Muskmelon, Avocado, Peaches, Pear, Coconut, Pomegranate, Litchi, Custard apple, Sapodilla, Blueberries.
Fruits to be avoided
Orange, Pineapple, Strawberries, Mangoes, Lime, Lemon
VEGETABLES
Vegetables to be consumed
Zucchini, Sweet potato, Pumpkin, Ginger, Celery, Red onion, Coriander, Radish, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Mushrooms, Spinach, Carrot, Fenugreek leaves, Potato, Yam, Bottle gourd, Beetroot, Turnip, Bitter gourd
Vegetables to be avoided
Tomatoes, Lemon, Peas, Okra, Eggplant, Cabbage, Capsicum, Bell pepper
PULSES
Pulses to be consumed
Green gram, Yellow lentils, Red lentils, Pigeon peas
Pulses to be avoided
Kidney beans, Black gram, Chickpeas, Green peas, Bengal gram, Broad beans
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Dairy Products to be consumed
Skimmed Milk, Tofu
Dairy Products to be avoided
Whole milk and cream, Full-fat yoghurt, Cream cheese, Condensed milk, Unpasteurized cheese and All Milk Products.
OILS
Oils to be consumed
Cow ghee, Sunflower oil, Canola oil, Olive oil, Mustard oil, Rice bran oil, Coconut oil
Oils to be avoided
Cream, Palm oil
SPICES
Spices to be consumed
Cumin, Coriander, Turmeric, Ginger, Pepper, Fennel, Cinnamon, Carom seeds, Thyme seeds, Turmeric, Bay leaves, Fenugreek seeds
Spices to be avoided
Red chilies, Green chilies, Cardamom, Cloves, Garlic
DRINKS
Drinks to be consumed
Coconut water, Homemade soups and juices, Herbal tea
Drinks to be avoided
Whole milk drinks, Cream based liqueurs, canned soup and packaged soup, Alcohol, Sweetened drinks, Squashes, Carbonated drinks
FLESH FOODS
Flesh Foods to be consumed
Egg white, Chicken
Flesh Foods to be avoided
Processed and fried meat, Red meat- (Beef, Lamb, Pork)
DRY-FRUITS / SEEDS
Dry Fruits to be consumed
Almond, Raisins, Walnut, Peanuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds.
Dry Fruits to be avoided
Cashew, Pistachio
SWEETENERS
Sweeteners to be consumed
Jaggery
Sweeteners to be avoided
White sugar, Refined Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners
OTHER FOODS
Other Foods to be consumed
Homemade only
Other Foods to be avoided
Bakery and Processed Foods, Fried Food, Junk Food, Pickles, Packed Soups, Frozen foods
HOME REMEDIES
- Almonds – Soaked almonds can be taken in morning or almond milk can be consumed.
- Turmeric – Add 1 tsp of turmeric in milk and consume it daily.
- Carrot juice – Drink carrot juice at least once in a day.
- Mulethi – Have 1/4th tsp. of mulethi with warm water.
- Pumpkin juice – Have 100 ml pumpkin juice daily.
DIET INSTRUCTIONS
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid simple carbs and saturated and trans fats.
- Do not use refined sugar.
- Add foods from all food groups.
- Avoid consumption of packed foods.