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Vitiligo and Weight Lifting

Posted by Jared on June 1, 2010 at 11:51am
I lift weights frequently.  I have been doing a lot of research lately about foods to eat that will help prevent, and possibly repigment, vitiligo. For starters, basically every kind of food I like is "not allowed" - spicy food, dairy, meats, fish, eggs, oranges.. the list goes on.  The main thing I was wondering was if you're supposed to avoid milk products, meat (beef), and fish and eggs, what should you, or what are you able, to eat for protein to help with building muscle?

Any opinions are welcome, or even stories from other people with vitiligo who work out.

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Replies

  • Raj desai October 4, 2011 at 5:38am

    when i go veg my vit seems to get worse, though its normally accompanied by weight loss which could explain it if the fat was storing toxins which would be released - alternatively maybe the meat/alcohol was suppressing my immune system and when i go veg/vegan i'm norm on a health kick so could be immune system ramps up and attacks ?

    Either way i find the best re pigmentation results when i drink regularly and eat meat regularly

    On a side note when i drink excessively i.e. a few bottles of spirits a day a couple of times a week the vit appears worse

    The best re pigmentation i've seen has been whilst on either

    - high protein diets, plenty of steaks (rare) - whole chicken including skin for fats (good for skin) - raw salmon - eggs (mainly egg white) - lots of steamed veg and fresh fruit/salads with nuts

    - junk food diet and alcohol 

    having said that i'm no doctor, could all be coincidence/results of other medicines i used etc

     

  • Brian August 13, 2011 at 8:01pm
    You should look into the "Paleolithic Diet" aka "Caveman Diet" It's supposed to be good for Auto-Immune disorders. Meat, fruit and vegetables that's it. no dairy, beans, potatoes, pasta, salt, processed food. I tried it and it was nearly impossible. Now I just try to keep my diet 70-80% Paleolithic. I work out 6 times a week and I eat a ton of meat.
  • Karen August 12, 2011 at 7:31am

    Tofu....protein shakes...cliff bars...

    I have a friend who gave me her secret recipe for Tofu she said to thaw it and cut it very thin and then press it between books for 20 minutes, soak it in marinade for 2 hours then she said it's so good when you cook it...the longer it soaks the better it tastes...I haven't tried it yet! 4 oz. of tofu has the same amount of protein as an 8 oz. steak...and nuts have protein and peanut butter!

     

    How is the diet working at slowing down your vit? I've tried to go vegetarian it's hard!!!! I have given up dairy except for ice cream once a month or a starbucks!!! I keep having to start over...LOL

     

    What's hard for me to give up is cheese.... anyone know of a good replacement for cheese?

  • Nikky Floyd March 1, 2011 at 7:15am
    hmmm. this is interesting caus i eat whatever i want. when i was younger and ate healthy because my mom made me, thats when my vit seemed to spread. but i started eating whatever i wanted when i got into my teens and i havent found a new spot since. its fine if you want to try to eat right and keep it from spreading. i just feel like it shouldnt control my life. if i want to eat a medium rare steak with spicy onion rings and a few glasses of milk, then i'm gonna! :]
    • Karen > Nikky Floyd August 12, 2011 at 7:43am

      Awl, thanks so much Nikky for that comment!!! I have been wondering if I should try and become vegetarian...I'm just going to continue everything in moderation and enjoy my life!!! I agree we should be healthy but girl I've been OCD about trying to find an answer through diet!!!! Thanks again, it's nice to hear from those who have dealt with vit. longer!!!!! ;)

       

      I've been turning to the gym also....yesterday I couldn't stop crying just went to the gym...went for a run at 5 am this a.m. I feel much better!!!!! I guess I realzied there is NO CURE for us yesterday...and I've been in denial! It's all good! One day at a time!!!! I'm glad we have this site! Is it just me or do we all have those days?

  • Francisco Calvo March 1, 2011 at 6:56am

    Hi, i have vitiligo, live in Chile and i lift weights, its one of my ways of coping with it i guess, i was wondering if anyone did the same, mostly do BP, Squats and DL and i move slowly a little better in time, i think its a good way to deal with vitiligo, it makes you feel better, look better and most importantly feel stronger.

     

    also i dont take any supplements so i dont know

    • Jared > Francisco Calvo August 12, 2011 at 1:29am
      Ya man, going to the gym is a pretty good stress reliever in general. Days when I'm overly frustrated about vit I head over to the gym even if I went earlier that day. Helps you calm down in those situations that everyone on here probably knows all too well.
  • Mayra August 10, 2010 at 10:06am
    Hi Jared, I become a vegetarian over a month ago, i eat a lot beans and drink a protein shake daily, i do drink milk tho, not a whole lot, most of diary i consume is the milk i use for my protein shake (of which is optional but i think it tastes much better with milk :P) and the small amount of grated cheese that they serve on my salads in restaurants, i work out daily, and lift weights as well. I do feel weak every now and then but i just increase the amount of protein i'm eating, sometimes by consuming a second protein shake or having eating more beans and usually feel a lot better the next morning. Hope all works out for you! :D
  • Nathan Yeti August 9, 2010 at 4:23am
    Just sharing what I heard from a famous dematologist. I know, this does not help much....but, here it is.

    About a year ago, I ran into a Dematologist at a Party. He is the father of one of my co-workers. I enquired with him effect of food on vitiligo, because, our family is vegarians. He had a glass of wine in his hand. He kept the glass on the table and explained the following for 10 min using his hands and facial expressions.

    Vitiligo is an auto triggered condition. Something triggers it. Its tough to find the root cause. Trigger may be trauma, stress, diet, travel, smoking, drinking. He said, trauma could be physical damage (ex: falling from bike) or mental due to relationships. Sometimes, medicine helps. In some cases, no medicine is required. The condition is self-resolving meaning, the trigger is no longer active or live. Hence, no further spread. he went on and on......I remember, something like, Koebner effect.....just cant describe very well now. Related to mechanical abrasion type thing.....

    At the end he said, to be safe side, eat everything moderately. He gave me a great impression that, vitiligo and food are generally not related based on his practice knowledge of 25 years. I am neither supporting his point nor counter arguing.
  • james rega August 8, 2010 at 10:17pm
    i didnt even know your diet affected vitiligo and from what ive read on here i eat all the wrong things but to be honest nothing gonna come betweet me and my food. I train two or three times a week and i eat like crazy on the day and day after i train and eat mainly chicken, beef, milk eggs and pasta. the only way you will get anything like the amount of protein you get in meats is by takin supplements which isnt a great idea in my opinion. hope you get the answers your lookin for.

    James
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