Diet and MS

[Guitar_grrrl]

In the interest of keeping an open mind, I'm considering a "Paleolithic" diet, eliminating dairy, sugar, and gluten from what I shove into my mouth. (The sugar is going to be difficult! 8^).   It's not without a little scepticism, after reading Quix's post from 2007, or a dozen or so other comments around the web.  But I figure, it can't hurt, and it may help.

In _The MS Recovery Diet_, Ann Sawyer and Judith Bachrach don't quite claim this diet will cure MS, but they have some compelling anecdotes.  I read this book in a bookstore while waiting for my car to be serviced.

This web page has a few links of interest...

  Just eliminate the spaces.

I told my husband I'd try it for 6 months and see if it helps.  He seemed supportive (but then, he usually is, unless it's really off the wall!).  I'll let you know how things go.

Cheers,
Guitar_grrrl

[Wobbly]

I'm looking for a good diet... but not a diet ... I just want to change my eating style and maybe it will help with symptoms, I can hope... so I will Google that and see what happens... I need to lose some weight to help get around..

take care
wobbly

[jensequitur]

I think the best thing for an MSer is raw food, and plenty of it.  Even roasted vegetables...

[Charley123]

I got interested in Dr Swank's diet and Dr.Weis's diet a few years ago.  I can't say it affected my MS for sure, but I do know it affected my general health in a positive way.  I did give up most dairy and almost all refined foods, but it took me a couple of years to get used to it.  I did it slowly on purpose.  After a while it became second nature and I began looking at other diets like the South Beach and Mediterranean.  I also started cooking some Indian food as I fell in love with the spices.
One of the best things was that I lost 50 pounds and it has stayed off.  
Our comfy foods can be a very tender subject for most of us so I recommend that you find substitutes.  
There are studies going on about diet and MS and I think the results will be interesting.
I
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2009nl/jan/ms.htm

Check out google: MS diet studies.  There's a lot of info out there, hugs to you all Charley.

[Wendella247]

I'm with you--you're making me drool with the miithra from Old Spag Factory!!  (Just had it for the first time in years and was in heaven -- spumoni too!)  (I didn't know I could have asked for whole wheat pasta -- good to know!)

I was just diagnosed with MS in early January, but I've been working with a naturopath to get a grip on my over-taxed nervous system,etc,  The diet does sound promising, tlthough, since everyone IS different after all, and if one does have certain sensitivities, a diet such as the Paleolithic might be worth trying.  For the present, I'm just trying to improve my eating habits and get back to eating more good fats, less red meats, less chemicals, etc. I gave up caffeine almost two months ago, and I know that was a good thing,  Trying to detox and cleanse my liver and body as much as I can.

I had my second MS-defining relapse last November when my entire body from breast down to my toes went numb like I had novocaine and has been like that (although improving) ever since. My hands currently have the biggest residual disability, plus my legs are vey tight and sluggish.  It's been a nightmare and mostly we've just been treating with SoluMedrol IV infusions and now tapering off the prednisone through pills.  My MRIs of upper and lower sping and brain in Dec all showed several spots of "inflammation" which my neurologist has since identified as lesions."  (I think he didn't want me to worry over the holidays and saved the MS news for my visit in early January.) We'll do another MRI in mid-March to see how much the damage on my myelin was.

I'm still trying to absorb the diagnosis and the fact he wants me on Avonex shots ASAP.

Anyway, I'm holding off on a strict rule-out diet for now.  Thanks for the monthly report on your deprivation efforts!    I hope I don't have to totally give up ice cream and cheese--they are two of my weaknesses.

[Fluffysmom]

You go, um, grrrl!

I would have a difficult time with that diet.  For lunch today I had whole wheat spaghetti with browned butter and mizithra cheese with my chicken marsala.  Oh, not to mention the small scoop of spumoni for dessert.  Old Spaghetti Factory; with a great view and leftovers for tomorrow.

I'm glad that your stomach is happy.  Mine is kind of complaining because I ate some of the vegetarian curry for dinner that I had made a couple of days ago; with that big of a lunch, I should have gone a little lighter, or at least had a smaller portion.  Or maybe that cheese and butter is catching up with me!

I ate some 87% dark chocolate yesterday; Dagoba Eclipse; mmm.  A real treat.

Kathy

[Guitar_grrrl]

OK, it's been a month that I've been doing this "MS Recovery Diet", and I've followed it to the letter.  I started January 1st.

I'm here to report it has done NOTHING to help my MS symptoms.  On the bright side, my gut is really happy!  I may keep this up just for those benefits alone.  

The thing I miss most, though, is cheese.  I LOVE so many wonderful cheeses.  I may have some, just a little, on a special occasion.  I'll see how I feel afterwards.  I was never fond of ice cream, except for the taste, texture, and cooling.  My stomach hates it, though.  I do sorbet, instead.  I make a sweet basil sorbet, to be served with grilled apricots in summer. Yummmmm!

The sugar part has been surprisingly easy.  About the only thing I eat with sugar in it these days is the occasional square of dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa).  I like my chocolate like I like my humor - dark and bitter!!

Cheers,
Guitar_grrrl

[slightlybroken]

I think the sugar would be the difficult part...I like ice cream too much

You'll have to tell us how it goes.