Changing your diet and improving your nutritional intake are two of the most important ways to help yourself. Researchers have known for some time that fats play a major role in MS nutrition and so doing something about your fat intake is one of the most significant steps you can take. Shifting from a highly saturated fat to a highly polyunsaturated fat diet is probably the most important component of the self-help programme in MS.
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This is not only because saturated fats (such as animal fats) are believed to let toxins in the blood seep through into the brain but also because levels of the good essential fatty acids (EFA's) are abnormal in people with MS, and EFA's are only found polyunsaturated fats (PUFA's) PUFA's play a vital role in MS nutrition and in the repair and maintenance of nerves and nerve tissue as well as blood health and brain activity.
Essential fatty acids come in two types. One type known as omega 3 fatty acids is found in the sunflower and safflower seeds and can be taken as a food supplement with the best known one being evening primrose oil. The other type is omega 6 fatty acids and you can get them from oily fish such as herrings, mackerel and tuna as well as in dark green leafy vegetables. It too can be taken as a supplement usually as fish or marine oils and are very important in MS nutrition.
A range of other nutrients -- vitamins, minerals and amino acids known to be important in helping the body handle MS can also be taken as food supplements as part of a healthy diet. Food supplements are nutrients which are concentrated and put into capsules or tablets and are taken as a supplement to a normal diet.
As far as possible you should try to buy organic fruit and vegetables and eat as much raw as is possible. Try to eat sprouting seeds which are the very simplest raw food. Soak the seeds in water, rinse daily and eat when they start to sprout. Give your body sustainable energy by eating slow releasing carbohydrates such as whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruit rather than sugar. Try to avoid tea, coffee and alcoholic drinks and drink plenty of clean filtered water. Wash all fruit and vegetables thoroughly before eating to try to take as much contamination from the skin. Avoid sugary and saturated fatty foods. The most important foods to avoid in MS are fatty meat and all animal fats, dairy products including all milk, butter, margarine, cheese and cream. Avoid foods that are high in sugar such as cakes, biscuits and sweets.
You may be feeling a bit depressed after reading that last paragraph but I can assure you that there is still plenty left to eat and enjoy. You are in total control of your diet and given that diet plays such a major part in the treatment of MS, it makes perfect sense that you should give MS nutrition your full attention. I changed my diet radically in a few years ago and have now managed to reverse most of my MS symptoms.
Multiple sclerosis and diet has for a long time now been a widely debated topic both with the medical profession and MS sufferers. Many studies over the years have indicated that MS is more prevalent in some areas of the world than in others, and the common factor for this prevalence seems to be diet related.
The incidence of MS is certainly higher in areas where the consumption of saturated fat is high and these areas unsurprisingly are places where the consumption of full fat dairy products, meat, and confectionery are particularly common. The consumption of grain and in particular wheat products seems to lead to a higher increase is keto good for ms in MS, whilst those areas of the world whose population enjoy a diet rich in fish and rice report a lower incidence of multiple sclerosis per head of population.
Studies have also been carried out on multiple sclerosis and diet which indicate that a " Stone Age" diet may be helpful to people with MS. This is known as the Paleolithic diet and it is restricted to foods that were eaten in the early Stone Age, with the argument being that the human digestive system cannot cope with modern foods such as refined sugar, cereals and dairy products. It also involves cutting out gluten from the diet which will include all types of bread and pastas, although it has to be said that most nutritonalist's believe that these measures are too extreme.
It is generally accepted that oily fishes and oils such as sunflower oil and evening primrose oil can benefit people with MS as they are high in Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids. These essential fatty acids aid multiple sclerosis and diet and are vital to the immune system and the brain. Liver is also an excellent source of arachidonic acid and if possible should be consumed once a week.
A range of vitamins and supplements should be considered particularly vitamins D, C, and E along with a large grouping of the B vitamins and in particular B12. It is a good idea to arrange an appointment with a nutritonalist or a medical practitioner to discuss multiple sclerosis and diet and determine the best course of action for your particular MS.
One of the ways I have combated my MS over the last number of years is to radically change my diet. I moved from a diet that was high in fat, sugar, and snack foods to a low-fat diet incorporating oily fish and supplements. I had previously tried some of the well known MS diets but found them to be very boring and did not allow for any excitement when cooking, which ultimately made mealtimes a process for quelling my hunger rather than a pleasurable eating experience. I now follow a diet plan specifically designed for MS but which also allows me to enjoy my food and look forward to mealtimes.
As your natural inner balance is restored, you will begin to experience renewed energy, absence of pain and aches, and more and more of your symptoms associated to Multiple Sclerosis will disappear... These your first steps to freedom from Multiple Sclerosis medication!
