Diet for VSD, nutrition for vegetative-vascular dystonia of mixed type

Basics of nutrition for VSD

Doctors usually do not recommend any special diet for VSD. However, “we are what we eat.”

A rationally balanced diet for VSD significantly improves well-being, alleviates symptoms, and speeds up recovery.

Diet therapy for VSD does not replace treatment of the disease under the supervision of specialists (neurologist, psychotherapist), but significantly improves the patient’s health.

With VSD, there are disorders that can be partially corrected by diet therapy:

• metabolic disease;
• changes in vascular tone;
• changes in blood pressure;
• depression;
• dizziness;
• increased fatigue;
• drowsiness.

Pay special attention to your diet if you have:

• overweight;
• underweight;
• disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract;
• concomitant chronic diseases;
• frequent colds;
• protracted course of diseases.

Causes and mechanism of action

Hereditary predisposition is considered one of the main causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia (especially in childhood). In combination with unfavorable external factors, it affects the state of the brain (in particular the hypothalamus), increasing the manifestations of the syndrome. The development of psychoneurological disorders leads to excessive activation of some processes and inhibition of others. This state of the body has a negative impact on various systems and organs. In adolescence, this is especially evident at the neurophysiological level. The causes and symptoms of VSD in adults are particularly influenced by hormonal changes.

Among the risk factors for vegetative-vascular dystonia, the following are usually distinguished, having the most powerful effect:

• disruptions in the functioning of the body (endocrine disorders, pregnancy, menopause, etc.);
• consequences of past infections, injuries, as well as the presence of chronic diseases;
• bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol, etc.);
• emotional overload, stress, etc.

Nutrition rules

Maintain your caloric intake. Calculate your daily calorie intake and stick to this figure. Distribute your calorie intake evenly over the number of meals.

Obesity aggravates the well-being of VSD and puts additional stress on the cardiovascular system. If you are overweight, reduce your daily caloric intake by 10-15%.

Insufficient body weight with VSD is also undesirable - dizziness, weakness, and fatigue are much more pronounced in people with low body weight. Calculate your ideal body weight and increase your calorie intake to achieve it.

Adhere to a strict diet - this is one of the main conditions for recovery.

Also organize nutrition for VSD correctly:

• eat 5-6 times a day in small portions;
• eat at a strictly predetermined time;
• be sure to have breakfast 0.5-1.5 hours after waking up;
• do not eat 2.5 hours before bedtime.

This regime, if followed:

• maintains normal blood glucose concentrations;
• prevents overeating;
• stimulates metabolic processes;
• improves the quality of food digestion;
• normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Minimize hard-to-digest foods. Food that is difficult to digest lingers in the gastrointestinal tract for a long time. Increases fermentation in the intestines, leads to stagnation, dysbacteriosis, slagging of the body, worsens metabolism, reduces immunity.

In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, avoid eating large amounts of animal fats and do not eat fried or smoked foods.

Eat more plant fiber. Since it improves metabolism, increases the quality of food digestion, and stimulates the gastrointestinal tract.

Vitamins in the diet

If you get sick, you need to maintain a sufficient amount of microelements and vitamins in your diet.

It is important to consume the required amount of B vitamins.

Their deficiency aggravates the condition in patients with VSD:

• lack of vitamin B1 leads to increased anxiety;
• B2 deficiency is manifested by deterioration in sleep quality and increased fatigue;
• lack of B6 negatively affects the processes of memorization and thinking;
• vitamin B9 deficiency is manifested by increased excitability of the nervous system;
• Lack of B12 provokes depression.

Vitamin A stabilizes nervous activity, improves sleep and mental activity. Vitamins E and D help people with vegetative-vascular dystonia more easily tolerate nervous overload. Improves the adaptive capabilities of the nervous system.

Pay special attention to your iron intake. People with a hypotonic form of VSD are often diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. Treatment of anemia will improve your well-being, eliminate symptoms of weakness, lethargy, and frequent dizziness.

Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking alcoholic beverages in any quantity leads to additional stress on the cardiovascular system. After consumption, vasodilation is noted in the first hour. And then their narrowing over the next 4-24 hours. As a result, pressure indicators destabilize, increasing the risk of developing a cerebral stroke, hypertensive crisis and other complications.

On the topic of alcohol consumption, we recommend that you read the article - Alcohol features of influence

Drink at least 2 liters of water per day. Moreover, be sure to drink clean mineral water daily. This will improve your well-being by restoring fluid and electrolyte balance and detoxifying.

Fully or partially limited products

The diet for vegetative-vascular dystonia of the hypertensive type limits fresh white bread, strong meat and fish broths, puff pastry and pastries, legumes, canned food, cooking and animal fats, sausages, fatty varieties of red meat, duck, goose, kidneys, liver, and all kinds pickles and smoked meats, fatty fish, fish roe.

The intake of fatty dairy products (cream, milk, sour cream), salty and spicy cheeses, mushrooms, radishes, spinach, and radishes is limited. Products with cream, chocolate, ice cream, sauces, mustard, horseradish, as well as caffeine-containing drinks - black coffee, cola, tea are excluded from the diet.

The diet for vegetative-vascular dystonia of the hypotonic type is limited to foods that contain food additives (dyes, flavor enhancers, preservatives), fast food (hamburger, hot dog), deep-fried dishes, carbonated drinks and alcohol.

Table of prohibited products

What to eat for vegetative-vascular dystonia

Limit meat consumption to 3-4 times a week. Choose lean and dietary types of meat and poultry - chicken, rabbit, nutria, beef, lamb.

Preferred food processing methods:

1. steaming;
2. cooking;
3. stewing;
4. baking.

Choose fiber-rich foods:

• legumes (beans, peas, beans);
• vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts;
• whole grains or coarsely ground grains, bran;
• sprouted wheat;
• leafy greens (lettuce, green onions, dill, cilantro, etc.);
• sea ​​kale.

What to eat with vegetative-vascular dystonia

Avoid eating refractory animal fats - interior fat, lard, margarine, etc. Replace butter with sunflower, rapeseed or olive oil.

Eliminate foods containing preservatives, dyes, and thickeners from your diet. Do not eat food from fast food services, fried or smoked foods.

Avoid sausages and old cheeses, as well as chocolate - this is especially important when blood pressure levels increase due to VSD. These products provoke migraines, vascular thrombosis, and stroke.

You will learn more about foods that are harmful to the brain and nervous system when organizing nutrition for VSD in the video:

Nutrition for different forms of VSD

The most common 2 forms of VSD are:

1. hypotonic;
2. hypertensive.

Both forms are characterized by abrupt changes in blood pressure. In case of pressure changes, add hop cones, mint leaves, lemon balm, and linden blossom to the tea. They have a beneficial effect on the hypothalamus, the autonomic nervous system, reduce irritability, and improve sleep.

For any form of VSD, it is useful to use herbal teas from Schisandra chinensis, Rhodiola rosea, Aralia, ginseng, Eleutherococcus, and Zamanikha, since these plants:

• improve the body’s adaptation to various environmental influences;
• normalize nervous and endocrine regulation;
• stimulate the immune system;
• maintain vitality and performance;
• improve metabolism.

Features of nutrition in hypertensive form

Correction of nutrition will prevent persistent arterial hypertension. Avoid frequent and heavy consumption of foods and drinks that increase blood pressure and have a stimulating effect on the nervous system:

• strong coffee or tea;
• rich broths from meat and fish;
• aspic;
• smoked meats;
• pickles.

Reduce your regular table salt intake to 4 g/day. Use hyposodium salt or its potassium substitutes, for example “Sanasol”.

Increase your consumption of foods high in potassium - bananas, baked potatoes, eggplants, cottage cheese, grapes, apricots, tangerines, etc.

Choose dishes containing leafy greens, dill, celery - the essential oils of these plants contain substances that expand the lumen of blood vessels and reduce blood pressure readings.

It is useful to drink cocoa, as this drink contains flavonol, which lowers blood pressure.

Features of nutrition in hypotonic form

In the hypotonic form of vegetative-vascular dystonia with periods of decreased blood pressure, doctors recommend not doing fasting days or fasting diets.

Have frequent meals in small portions. This diet will help reduce periods of dizziness, episodes of fainting and semi-fainting.

Strictly adhere to the drinking regime to maintain the volume of circulating blood, drink at least 2 liters of water per day.

Eat more foods with ascorbic acid, which has a general tonic effect. And it is found in the greatest quantities in black currants, gooseberries, lemons, bell peppers, oranges, rose hips, sea buckthorn, grapefruit, rutabaga, etc.

Choose foods high in bioflavonoids, which improve the elasticity of blood vessels. Use beets, paprika, oranges, etc.

Include freshly squeezed juices from the listed fruits and vegetables in your menu. Drink freshly brewed green tea, hibiscus tea, and sometimes coffee. To enhance the tonic properties of drinks, add natural honey instead of sugar. Avoid cocoa.

Use the following spices when preparing food and drinks:

• ginger
• cinnamon
• turmeric
• chilli.

They have a tonic effect and improve appetite.

Purchase licorice (natural licorice) in candy, herbal, or dietary supplement form. Natural ingredient raises blood pressure.

Consequences and complications

Along with the classic symptoms and diseases accompanying vegetative-vascular dystonia, the patient’s condition can be worsened by frequently occurring (approximately 50%) vegetative crises - sympathoadrenal, vagoinsular and mixed (depending on the predominance of disorders of a particular part of the system).

Sympathoadrenal crisis. The development of a so-called panic attack is associated with a sharp release of adrenaline. The crisis begins with a sudden headache, rapid heartbeat, and paleness/redness of the face. Arterial hypertension, chills, tremors, numbness of the extremities, and anxiety are usually observed. The attack also ends suddenly and is accompanied by asthenia and polyuria (increased urine production).

Vagoinsular crisis. Its symptoms are almost the opposite of sympathetic manifestations. The crisis begins with the release of insulin into the blood and a sharp decrease in glucose levels. The activity of the digestive system increases, intestinal motility increases, and rumbling appears in the stomach. A vagoinsular attack is characterized by a feeling of cardiac arrest, dizziness, arrhythmia, and difficulty breathing. Blood pressure decreases, the pulse becomes rare, sweating, skin flushing, and darkening of the eyes appear. The patient feels weak throughout the body. The attack ends with a state of severe asthenia.

Mixed crises are characterized by activation of both parts of the autonomic nervous system and, consequently, all of the listed complications. As a rule, in the absence of timely treatment of VSD, rather unpleasant consequences arise. This is especially true for childhood, since psychosomatic pathologies often appear during this period of development. These consequences are quite difficult to correct. VSD is not a life-threatening disease, but over time its quality can significantly decrease. If such severe symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia persist in adulthood, poor adaptation is observed, and it becomes impossible to fully work and study.

Nutrition for VSD - sample menu

For people with hypertensive form of VSD, the following daily menu will be useful:

1. breakfast - oatmeal, cocoa;
2. second breakfast – sweet cottage cheese casserole with raisins, apple juice;
3. lunch – borscht, omelet, whole grain bread, herbal tea, marshmallows;
4. afternoon snack – berry yogurt, gingerbread, compote;
5. dinner – millet porridge with pumpkin, baked apple, kefir.

Sample menu for hypotonic form of VSD:

1. breakfast – lentil porridge, coffee, berry mousse;
2. second breakfast – cheesecakes with berry jam, tea with lemon;
3. lunch - fish soup, stewed potatoes with mushrooms and sour cream, ginger tea with cinnamon;
4. afternoon snack – pancakes with cabbage; green tea with mint.
5. dinner - oatmeal with dried fruits, freshly squeezed orange juice;
6. evening snack – banana, kefir.