I had an interesting experience recently. On my previous drive to town, I came home, ate about 1/3 of a BBQ chicken (I'd avoided meat for a couple of weeks, so this was a treat), and started feeling seriously worse 50 minutes later. I thought: "Is this PEM from driving, or a response to the protein?" The severe symptoms continued the next day too, which was unusual for my PEM. I ate more chicken that day. The next morning I was back to normal ME, even a bit more energetic than usual. I had a long hike in the woods with a brisk stride (a good sign). So, it wasn't the chicken. The question it spurred was: "Does a high protein meal make PEM worse?"
After yesterday's trip to town, same driving conditions, I intentionally had a low protein, high carb meal instead. PEM didn't show up that day, and I had another brisk hike this morning. Two tests is not enough for scientific robustness, but it does look as though high protein intake makes PEM--at least my cerebrally-induced PEM--much more severe. At the frequency I drive, it'll take me months to verify this, so I thought some of you might like to do your own experiments.
If you do something that you expect to trigger PEM, try high or low protein meals before and after the time you expect the PEM symptoms to flare up. My cerebrally-induced PEM shows up quickly, so my PEM might have already started before I arrived home. If I still had physically-induced PEM, I'd have to choose meals for 24 hrs later. That's assuming that protein is affecting the effects of PEM rather than the triggering.
Maybe this effect is unique to me, like my response to cumin. Maybe it only affects a small subset of PWME, but even if it's only a few people, I'm sure most of those would appreciate being able to minimize PEM severity by something as simple as meal choice and timing.
After thinking more about it, it's possible that it's not as simple as the level of one amino acid in the meal; it might be the ratio of carbs to BCAAs, or maybe the fat or fibre content plays a role. So, experiment away! Avoiding severe PEM is worth it!
After yesterday's trip to town, same driving conditions, I intentionally had a low protein, high carb meal instead. PEM didn't show up that day, and I had another brisk hike this morning. Two tests is not enough for scientific robustness, but it does look as though high protein intake makes PEM--at least my cerebrally-induced PEM--much more severe. At the frequency I drive, it'll take me months to verify this, so I thought some of you might like to do your own experiments.
If you do something that you expect to trigger PEM, try high or low protein meals before and after the time you expect the PEM symptoms to flare up. My cerebrally-induced PEM shows up quickly, so my PEM might have already started before I arrived home. If I still had physically-induced PEM, I'd have to choose meals for 24 hrs later. That's assuming that protein is affecting the effects of PEM rather than the triggering.
Maybe this effect is unique to me, like my response to cumin. Maybe it only affects a small subset of PWME, but even if it's only a few people, I'm sure most of those would appreciate being able to minimize PEM severity by something as simple as meal choice and timing.
After thinking more about it, it's possible that it's not as simple as the level of one amino acid in the meal; it might be the ratio of carbs to BCAAs, or maybe the fat or fibre content plays a role. So, experiment away! Avoiding severe PEM is worth it!