CIS/MS diet recommendations

[StaceyBenn]

I apologize in advance.  I have been looking at all the old posts about diet and it was getting overwhelming and some responses were a few years old....so here goes...

My 29 year old fiance was just diagnosed with CIS.  His symptoms are tingling in hands and feet.  He is going to start meds soon (I think Copaxone, but we haven't decided 100% yet).  I am trying to find information on what type of "diet" or way of eating would best help alleviate his symptoms.  I know it won't "cure" it.  Does anyone have any recommendations of books or their own personal experiences that they can offer?  

So far it seems like a gluten/casein, dairy free diet.  Lots of veggies, except tomatoes and potatoes. Limited red meat, white fish is ok.  No vegetable oil (we use olive oil anyways).  Also limited caffeine and alcohol.

This is obviously a shock to us and we like to take action over the things we can control, like what we eat.  Truly appreciative of your time!!

[Lulu54]

I'm smiling at tingletingle's response - he has a deal with me that he will definitely check back in 5 years and let me know how he is doing and if the diet has helped. He is not the only person I know who is totally committed to making this change. A coworker's wife is also RRMS and they are doing the same thing here in Ohio.

As I continue to say, eating healthy won't hurt any of us.  I know I could use a change of ways (weighs!).

[tingletingle]

Hey Stacey,
Welcome to the forum. I can well remember the absolute turmoil that your husbands symptoms bring to the family. The fear, uncertainty, anger, a whole maelstrom of unwelcome emotions.

I am not as a frequent a visitor to the forum as I used to be mainly due to simply working on getting my MS under control. Its been just over a year for me since developing MS and there are times I feel I'm cured and then times when I feel as if I want to curl up and cry. A real rollercoaster the first year or so they say.

I have the greatest respect for the people on this board. Lulu is one of my favourites but the great thing about this forum is that we don't all have to agree to get on. I am one of only 5% or less of patients with MS who believe that there is substantial evidence proving that diet, exercise and meditation does have a much greater effect on the progression of MS than just using a disease modifying drug (DMD).

I have been following Professor George Jelinek's Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis, based on the work of Swank, now for 10 months and thoroughly enjoying it. I am not cured yet nor do I have any expectation of being cured through the program.

I hope to simply stop the progression of my particularly viralent strain of MS to enable me to walk in five years time. There is a chance that I may even end up being better than I was at diagnosis by 22% on average  like the couple of hundred people who Prof Jelinek has followed over five years and had published in a medical study.

Through all the ups and downs of MS, the OMS program has given me hope for the future and hope is not something I get looking at middle age male outcomes for MS on the medical pages of the MS society.

I wish you and your wonderful fiance all the very best at this difficult time. This community is ace for their level of geniune care and concern so stay close.

Blessings
A

[doublevision1]

one last thought: vitamin D supplementation is a good idea.  we can't really get enough from food, nor from the sun if we''re wearing sunblock which we all should do.  I asked to be tested, my level was low, and have been on 6,000iu per day for a couple of years.  I get my level checked annually and it is now in optimum range.  Its possible to take too much as this nutrient is fat soluble, though it's very unlikely.  Study subjects have taken much higher amounts for extended periods of time without adverse events.  Howver the amount I'm taking is well above the RDA of 400iu.  I think this was recently increased to 1,000iu in Canada.  Most MS literature I've come across mentions a 1,000 - 4,000 iu daily dose.  Your fiance can be tested and then discuss with his doc the appropriate amount for him.

Studies have been mixed on whether vitamin D may decrease the number and severity of attacks, and possibly even be preventive for MS, other autoimmune diseases and some cancers.  There appears to be a strong link between vit D and MS given the incidence of the disease increases the farther away a population is from the equator, with a couple of exceptions including indigenous peoples in the far north of Canada.  So until they figure out the link, I'd rather be safe than sorry and continue to supplement at a high level.

[StaceyBenn]

Thanks for all of your contributions.  It is greatly appreciated!!

[doublevision1]

There isn't evidence that a gluten free diet is any healthier for someone with MS, or for anyone actually, unless one is gluten sensitive or has celiac disease.  One can be tested for this.

I've never heard that restricting tomatoes is necessary, again for MS patients or anyone.  Tomatoes are high in lycopene, and ar even more potent when cooked.  I use a lot of it, especially tomato paste which is very nutrient dense.

Eliminating empty calories  and processed foods except for the occasional treat is a good idea, espeically if your boyfriend experiences MS fatigue and finds he needs to reduce his activity level.

[HVAC]

I decided to be as healthy as I could. I made changes slowly. Eventually I perimeter shopping at the market. Fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, basically. Then I moved to farmers markets where I knew the farmers. Especially for meat after hearing about meat packing in this country. I now drink a soda on a rare ocassion and drink mostly water. I eat lots of varieties of fruits and vegetables. I eat what makes sense to me. I have diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and MS all in mind when I diet, I can't be true to one so I go for balanced approach.

Alex

[Lulu54]

ps - your post makes me think of this just released clip - you might relate to the story

http://shift.ms/gallop/

[Lulu54]

Hi, I'm glad you found us and are doing your own research.  You come across as very well read, so I won't get too much into believing everything you find on the internet.  Anyone and everyone can post a diet for MS and not have to verify how effective it is. Watch out for the scams and those people who want you to spend money for their special plan or equipment.

There is no MS cure , as you point out.  There isn't even any proof that diets work, other than people's anecdotal experiences.  The diet idea has been looked at seriously, but it doesn't hold up under rigorous investigation.

That said, there are still many people, including some of my friends here, who truly believe these diets are making them feel better and hold on to the thought that their MS is affected positively.  I am happy these changes in lifestyle have made improvements for them.  The truth is most of us should be eating healthier - fruits, veggies, less carbs, cut out refined cr ap food, etc. and we would benefit from the weight loss, increased energy, better digestive process and all the other things that come from being kind to our bodies.

Making this major shift in habits won't hurt anything and I understand the need to feel like I'm doing something to control my own future.  Congrats on finding a neurologist who will prescribe a DMD for CIS.  That is one of the best steps you can take - get on treatment early and stick with it.

Welcome again to this forum - I wish you and your fiance well on this journey and hope to see you around.

be well, Lulu