A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables may be key in fighting MS.
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory degenerative disorder of the nervous system that causes scarring and hardening of nerve tissue in the spinal cord, brain and optic nerves. Some people believe that your diet plays a role in causing or reversing the inflammation.
According to a five-year study conducted by the Montreal Neurological Institute, multiple sclerosis only seems to occur in populations where the diet contains a significant amount of saturated fat. This has led some experts to believe in the theory of a dietary cause and treatment of multiple sclerosis.
What Not to Eat
Most of the evidence found in studies on diet and MS points to animal fat as having a significant role in developing the disease. This includes meat, but also dairy products. One interesting study conducted in Norway showed that the citizens who live inland, where the diet is primarily centered on meat and dairy products (cheese, milk, butter), were eight times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis than their coastal counterparts.
Dr. Roy Swank, professor of neurology at University of Oregon Medical School, is the most famous proponent of fighting MS with diet. He developed a diet that was substantiated by a 35-year study that he conducted on people with MS. Swank had half the participants in the study follow his low-fat Swank Diet. Amazingly, 80 percent of them saw a reduction of "MS exacerbations." The diet works best when started early on in the development of the condition.
Roger MacDougall, a theater professor, developed an even stricter diet that completely eliminated animal fat, processed foods, sugar, alcohol, wheat and other glutinous grains. He had MS and was once bound to a wheelchair. But, after developing a dietary approach to fighting his MS, MacDougall was purportedly cured, living into his 80s, symptom-free.
Foods That Help Treat MS
Now that you know what foods to avoid, let's take a look at what you should eat:
-Deep ocean and cold-water fish (like salmon) two to three times a week
-Fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains (certain grains are eliminated in the more restrictive MacDougall approach)
-Plenty of water
Supplements
Any number of supplements are recommended to complement your dietary approach to fighting MS. A particular emphasis is put on anti-inflammatory supplements like fish oil. A multivitamin with antioxidant vitamins A, C, D and E; B-vitamins; and trace minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, zinc and selenium is also recommended.
Dieting as a cure or treatment for MS is still controversial. But, the healthfulness of the suggested foods is not. As long as you follow your doctor's advice, the only side effects you will experience is healthy weight loss and better overall health.
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