Why do I need to watch my diet while I am on the Combined Antibiotic Protocol?

A chronic CPn infection can cause you to acquire another disease called Porphyria.  Porphyria is a disease where haemoglobin is abnormally metabolised, causing a certain process in the body to malfunction – the heme pathway. A class of toxic substances called porphyrins build up in people with Porphyria. Porphyria  symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, numbness and tingling. 

To combat this, eliminate precursors to the heme pathway, such as:

• Red meat, dark turkey meat, salmon and tuna.
• Milk products containing lactose and lactoferrin.
• Avoid alcohol, as it’s a known porphyrinogenic agent.
• Drink lots of water to dilute and flush out porphyrins.
• Increase the availability of glucose as it provides optimal conditions for the cells to produce energy, and inhibits heme synthesis. This can be achieved with a high carbohydrate (~70%) diet. The remaining 30% of the diet (protein and fats) should focus on white fish and chicken.
• Glucose tablets may assist to counteract the ingestion of inadequate carbohydrates.
• Avoid a ketogenic diet (high fat, low protein, low carbohydrate).
• Avoid high protein diets such as the Atkins diet.
• People with Porphyria develop a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can also be treated with supplements.
• Also, some people with parasitic infections develop an intolerance to gluten. Avoid gluten containing foods if they aggravate your symptoms.