5 Food and Drink Ingredients that Influence Tics
The influence of different food and drink on tics in Tourette syndrome
This study came out a few years ago and bears review since there is so little published research on TS and diet. At the Hannover Medical School in Germany, 224 questionnaires were completed by Tourette patients and evaluated to determine which foods influenced tics.
Those items common to a highly significant number of participants included:
- Caffeine
- Theine-containing drinks (such as coke, coffee and black tea)
- Preserving agents
- Refined sugars
- Sweeteners
Study abstract here.
Unfortunately, physicians rarely encourage patients with TS to avoid these items, even on a trial basis. Not everyone will have the same sensitivities.
Do your own food and drink trigger search
People with tics often have additional food triggers but are not aware of this because it has never occurred to them to monitor specific food intake and watch for reactions.
See our book Tourette Syndrome: Stop Your Tics By Learning What Triggers Them to monitor diet and food/beverage reactions, along with other possible triggers.
