Dietary and Chemical Seizure Triggers

This is a list of seizure triggers compiled from a survey of readers of this website. Please keep in mind the following three things about this list:

A person’s overall health and well-being is a huge factor in seizure activity. For this reason, the top reported seizure triggers, by a large margin, were sleep deprivation, stress, irregular eating and overheating. While some of the items on this list may be called seizure triggers, others may be more accurately classified as things that make a person more susceptible to triggers by “lowering the threshold”.

Sleep issues are a big piece of the puzzle. Getting enough rest is important for our health. For those who suffer from seizures, it is critical. Beyond getting enough rest, there are other issues. For example, blood sugar levels drop while sleeping and this may trigger a seizure. Therefore, some people may need to eat something right before bed, (legumes may help balance blood sugar levels, or a fatty snack may be in order). The process of moving from sleep to waking, or from one sleep state to another, is partly a function of the brain. Our brain waves and electrical processes change and this can lead to seizure activity, especially if the change is abrupt.

This is not a complete, or scientific, survey and list. Several hundred people responded to our survey.  The respondents are readers of this website from all over the world. If you are willing to share triggers you’ve discovered that are not this list, nor on the other two lists of triggers (State of Health Triggers and Environmental Triggers), please email us and we will add it to the list.  Please note that substitutes for many of these foods and products can found in our low carb suppliers and resource section.

Reported Dietary and Chemical Seizure Triggers

• Sugar
• Popcorn
• White Flour
• White Wine
• Aspartame
• Chocolate
• Sunscreen
• Laundry Detergent
• Red & Yellow Food Dye
• MSG
• Bacon
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Sulphates (common in wine)
• Ice Cream
• Cheese
• Sodium Benzoate
• Beef Jerky
• Jalapeños
• Peanuts
• Sour Cream
• Sugar Alcohols
• Maltodextrin
• Diet Pills
• Fruit Juice
• Chewing Gum
• Potato
• Fruits (could be fructose)
• Barley
• Gluten
• Corn Syrup
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Benadryl
• Candy
• AED Seizure Medication
• (preservatives?)
• Lotions
• Soy
• BHA
• Shampoos
• Herbs (inc. Herbal Tea)
• Hot Dogs
• Whey
• Baby Wipes
• Fizzy Drinks
• Stevia
• Avocados (not all)
• Ibuprofen
• Chili Peppers
• Seafood
• Cod Liver Oil
• Vaccines (preservatives?)
• Stimulants
• Steroids
• Ritalin
• Papaya
• Food Dyes/Coloring
• Food Additives
• Corn
• Milk
• Red Wine
• Soda
• Nitrates
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Deet (mosquito repellent)
• Cedarwood Oil
• Antihistamines
• Sorbitol
• Cleaning Produces (inc. airborne sprays and surface residue)
• Splenda
• Sweet and Low
• Wheat
• Spices
• Vanilla Extract (with Alcohol)
• Yeast (inc. Fermented Foods)
• Flax Seeds
• Coconut Flour
• Toothpaste
• Tylenol
• Pork Rinds
• Mercury Fillings
• Citric Fruits & Acid
• Chlorine (Pool or Tap/Shower)
• Antacid
• Mushrooms
• Focalin
• Calcium Carbonate (found in latex products, mortar mix, and antacids)