Mrs T

[tiquan]

Can u please give me a list of foods that people suffering from MS should avoid.

[Sparkysarah]

As the others have said there are lots of books to read and anecdotal evidence but just eat a healthy diet and eat and drink in moderation. Common sense prevails and I think that just trying to eat plenty of fruit and veg and low saturated fat is a sensible diet to follow and lot of fresh fish. But this is just sensible advice for anyone and not MS related!

I also think for those who love it, chocolate does wonders to lift the spirits (but not whole boxes!!!) My attitude is life is too short to deprive oneself of the things you love.

Sarah ;)

[HVAC]

When the first Doctor said I might have MS I wanted to be in the best shape I was in. I started making sure I was exercising everyday. I started changing my diet so I would be really healthy in spite of MS. My thinking was carrying extra weight and having other health problems with MS would be bad. I have lost thirty pounds, I need to lose more.

I was junk food junky in my youth. Now I seldom eat any processed foods. I slowly changed. Cutting out things out as I felt like it. Now I do not drink anything but herbal tea, water, and some coffee. I eat tons of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, lean meats, Feta Cheese and greek yogurt. I basically shop the periphery of a supermarket, no inner aisles what so ever. Or I go to Farmer's markets. I do not eat at fast food places, I do not like the taste anymore. My taste buds have changed. I do not smoke or drink any alcohol but I gave those up in my youth.

My trade off is when I get blood work everything is perfect. High Vitamin levels without supplements, normal cholesterol. I am a very healthy person who happens to have MS.

Vitamin D does help once you have MS. The theory is it might be a contributing factor to developing MS. Once you have you have it. For over all health if it is low it needs to be supplemented. You need to have it checked to know how much to supplement. Some Neurologists blanketly put their patients on high doses of D  without checking the level but that is silly.

With MS I certainly do not want to carry extra weight. In my case I have to drag my left side so carrying extra weight is harder. Plus is if let myself have extra pounds as my ability to walk decreases I will get into a vicious cycle of not being able to exercise enough to burn of weight. My biggest fear is being stuck at home, overweight with nothing to do but eat and having other people needing to help me get up. If I can get and keep thinner I am aiming for that.

I have also found my MS easier to deal with with the loss of thirty pounds. I tend to lose about ten pounds a year.

Good luck.

Alex

[COBOB]

Most of the stuff about diet improving MS is anecdotal (at best.)  There are no controlled clinical studies that show diet improves of effects the course of the disease.  A lot of folks take Vitamins D, B12, E, etc.  Some folks take fish oil since it is thought to have some neuro-protective properties.  That's about all I can think of.  Maybe other folks witll chime in with what that might be doing.

Bob
  

[Sumanadevii]

There are none unless you have swallowing problems.