diet and MS symptoms

[JT54]

Hi, Has anyone changed their diet and had symptom relief? A diet like the Best Bet Diet

[jensequitur]

Hey, Bob!  My neuro had me start taking Omega-3s, and now I know why - she was looking at the small studies.  I think the problem with studies like that is you have a group of people who are good at taking pills and being compliant with their disease-modifying drugs.  There's not a good way to isolate the effects of the Omega-3s from other healthy behaviors that they're engaging in.  More research is needed, obviously.

[Sumanadevii]

I hope you were using Oreo and not an off brand like Hydrox.  We didn't find the same results with those using offbrands.  Some of those kids were hyper and off the walls until Oreo's were introduced into their diets.  Just a thought.

[sllowe]

Suma, you wise cracker you, lol Oreo's always make me feel better while I'm eating them, however, they go straight to my hips, buttocks and thighs later, haha

JT54 hope the diet makes you feel better. I've been feeling like c rap all around (not MS related) and I've been eating badly since before the holidays. So, I know the culprit.

Like mentioned MS symptoms won't go away, but feeling better all around does indeed contribute to those all important coping mechanisms we speak of here and there. Gives us more energy to fight through them.

Feeling badly and being MS symptomatic is definitely a double whammy for us. Working on each is a chore for sure. If you feel better, or like Jemm and not worse, I say do it. Just so long as it doesn't include hopping up your immune system.

-Shell

[COBOB]

I did a quick search of the literature, and there is little  proof that Omega-3 helps with myelin repair, although there is research in this area.  Omega-3 and Omega-6 seem to be very important for the DEVELOPING BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM.   Much of the evidence to date has to do with  prenatal and children's diets and consumption of to little Omgega-3 and excess Omega-6.  The body can produce Omega-9 given a balanced diet.

In the Nurses’ Health Study, there was no association between the intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish and developing MS.

However, a couple of studies have shown positive effects. In very small studies of 10 and 16 participants, people with MS that were treated with omega-3 supplementation had a reduced relapse rate and improved expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scores. In a larger placebo-controlled study, therapeutic effects (fewer relapses and less disability progression) were seen in the treatment group, although these were not statistically significant.

Sources:


Bates D, Cartlidge NE, French JM, Jackson MJ, Nightingale S, Shaw DA, Smith S, Woo E, Hawkins SA, Millar JH, et al. A double-blind controlled trial of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1989 Jan;52(1):18-22.

Schwarz S, Leweling H. Multiple sclerosis and nutrition. Mult Scler. 2005 Feb;11(1):24-32.

Bowling, Allen C. Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Multiple Sclerosis. 2nd ed. Demos Publishing: New York. 2007.

Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid. MedlinePlus.

[HVAC]

As soon as some one mentioned MS I wanted to be in the best shape possible. I did not go on a diet to cure myself of MS. I just thought if I am heading to loss of mobility I do not want extra weight. I weighted 200 lbs three years later I weigh 169 lbs and hope to lose more. I shop farmer's markets, farm stands or the Perimeter the market. My Dr. jokingly says I am the healthiest person with MS, Asthma, and Hypothyroidism she knows. I also don't drink or smoke which I have not done since my teenage years. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables all day. I love my greens! I might eat kale for breakfast. I personally think all the processed food is bad for everyone. I can't stand it now, I have lost my taste for it. I do not take supplements of any kind because I do not need them. I have them checked every year. My PCP calls me her model patient.

Oh and I save a lot of money. Our market has a marked down fruit and vegetable cart and I know what days they mark down meat. The London Broil for our Xmas Dinner was originally $20 on sale $12 marked $4 last day. I wait until filet mignot is on special and watch until it is marked down again. I usually walk out with four heavy cloth saks of groceries for under $20.

Oh and I exercise.

[gramorye]

After reading multiple diets what they seem to have in common is just trying to keep you healthy to slow down any process that would worsen the MS, not necessarily cure it or even stop symptoms, just not to make them worse.
I have gotten MS diet books and the amount of energy they take and time to actually make was a bit too much for me.  Also if you are depending on others to get groceries for you, having them check every single thing for specific ingredients may not be an option.  Just healthier foods in general can help you to feel better in all health aspects (greens are very important, anything with Omega 3s since they do help with mylin.  Less sat fats (as mentioned above) can help.  I know I just use a weight watchers cookbook (since a lot of the recipes are easier to deal with and attain) and that has helped.  And since it doesn't have MS on the cover of it it was also remarkably cheaper then the other cookbooks I have gotten. I know when I haven't been sticking to it, whether drinking too much pop (my weakness) or too fatty of a piece of meat, I feel like I got ran over (i.e. fatigue even worse, bloating, headaches, foot dragging etc).  But another trick to MS and diet in general is dont skip your meals, always have fruits or vegies to snack on or if you cook too much freeze it for later.   My husband came home for a month and was bothered by the spinach omelets sitting in the freezer.  Had to tell him, well they weren't for you!
OH dear all my responses are starting to look like books!!  Sorry for the babbling.  But I have to say I do love the oreo idea!

[jujuminx]

I have modified my diet in an effort to do what I can to help myself and feel in control (a Swank-type diet in that it is low in sat fat but no dairy/eggs/soy or gluten).  Can't say that it has helped since I really don't know how my sx would be w/o eating this way but I feel good cause I am not eating crappy food. My sx have always gone away even when I wasn't eating as healthy.
The Swank diet as it was initially published allowed dairy but in nonfat form w limited eggs. Both McDougal and Jenalik (not sure of the spelling on either) don't allow any dairy (except egg whites) and McDougal doesn't allow meat of any kind if I remember correctly. That is a little tough for me to swallow for a program that isn't proven in my opinion.
I don't know anything about the Best Bet Diet but I am assuming it is anti-inflamitory in some way.  Lots out there.  As someone said earlier, doesn't hurt to try and it certainly won't hurt you as long as you eat a variety of foods.  Not suppose to be a diet per se, but a lifestyle change (that's the pc way of saying you are suppose to do for life).

Good luck,
Julie

[COBOB]

From the National MS Society:
"The Problem with Special Diets

While many different diets have been proposed as a treatment, or even a cure, for the signs and symptoms of MS, evidence of effectiveness is very limited. There is some evidence that a diet low in saturated fats and supplemented by Omega 3 (from fatty fishes, cod-liver oil, or flaxseed oil) and Omega 6 (fatty acids from sunflower or safflower seed oil and possibly evening primrose oil) may have some benefit for people with MS.Most of the diets that have been touted as helping people with MS have not been subjected to rigorous, controlled studies, and the few that have been evaluated have produced mixed results. Most of the claims made for dietary treatments are based on personal accounts, and the reported benefits may have been spontaneous changes that would have happened
without any treatment."

[Sumanadevii]

Yes.  In fact we did a study with the neighborhood children.  We found that Oreo cookies and milk kept MS at bay.  Not one...and the study involved about two hundred kids.  None have MS as adults.  We have passed the information along to others and it seems it truly works.  I am not sure if it is the nutritious properties of the milk or if Oreo's have something that is missing in our diets.  Maybe the cream filling?

My husband is getting ready to present our findings to the scientific community soon.  I hope he writes a book to share with others.  It's a shame that so few people know.  I have MS and when I take my daily dose of Oreo's and milk, I can feel my spirits lift.  I know it is helping me.  If I miss just one day, I can feel the difference.  

I suggest all MSers give it a try.  You might think this is a joke post but I am rather serious.  I do feel a huge difference.

[jensequitur]

There's no diet afaik that will relieve symptoms, although a diet low in saturated fats and high in fiber and protein will make you feel better.  

My neuro recommends omega-3s and a multivitamin.  I would recommend that your diet be well-rounded and include all the major food groups.  You should also include foods rich in anti-oxidants, like tomatoes and dark leafy greens.  Lots of nuts, fish, olive oil, avocadoes, which are high in unsaturated fats.

[JemmAus]

Yeah, I'm trying the Jelanik diet, which is pretty much the same as the Swank diet. You're supposed to have no dairy, saturated fats or red meat. I cheat and have some red meat once a week.

I don't know if it is workiing - all I DO know is I am no worse. Funnily enough though, I have put on weight, which makes no sense considering what I have stopped eating....

I think important things to cut are the inflammatory foods- tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants.