Last Updated on January 9, 2024 by Cathy
Have you ever wondered what triggers MS? The way you are living is attributed to your multiple sclerosis (MS). I’m not saying that to be mean. Studies show that genetics but mostly some kind of environmental factor triggers MS. You can’t do anything about the genes you inherit. However, if it was only genes responsible then an identical twin of someone with MS would also have MS. But that doesn’t happen, that proves there are other factors involved.
“Environmental factors, including exposure to viral and bacterial agents such as Epstein Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus type 6, and mycoplasma pneumonia, in addition to smoking, vitamin deficiency, diet, and exposure to UV radiation are associated with the onset of MS.”
– PubMed
Discover the common factors that trigger MS symptoms and learn effective ways to minimize their impact on your daily life. From healing foods to lifestyle adjustments – empower yourself with knowledge!
Environmental toxins are the triggers of MS!
What you put in your mouth and what you put in your body matters. The choices you make every day make a difference. Eating processed foods, refined sugar, smoking, where you live – it all matters.
For me, it started with my genetics. No one else in my family has MS but when I took a DNA test the results showed I had a three times higher risk for MS. Not that MS was in my destiny, it was my daily habits that triggered MS.
“Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by central nervous system (CNS) lesions that can lead to severe physical or cognitive disability as well as neurological defects. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of MS remains unclear, the present documents illustrate that the cause of MS is multifactorial and include genetic predisposition together with environmental factors such as exposure to infectious agents, vitamin deficiencies, and smoking. These agents are able to trigger a cascade of events in the immune system which lead to neuronal cell death accompanied by nerve demyelination and neuronal dysfunction. Conventional therapies for MS are based on the use of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs, but these treatments are not able to stop the destruction of nerve tissue.”
– PubMed
Possible triggers to MS:
- Diet (processed foods, refined sugar, refined carbs, food allergies, etc.)
- Infections (bacterial overgrowth, parasites, viruses, and yeast overgrowth )
- Environmental Toxins (heavy metals, mold, pesticides, plastics, etc.)
- Chronic Stress (especially emotional stress)
- Hormones (vitamin D, insulin, cortisol)
- Genetics (you can’t change your genes but you can change your gene expression by living a healthy lifestyle)
Making a huge lifestyle change is hard but you can change. No one else is going to make that decision for you. It is easy to fall into that – “why me” category but don’t let it swallow you up. People who stay positive have a better outcome.
Instead, take charge of your health and start living healthy. What you eat and your lifestyle affects your health. You can’t change your past but what you do next will make a big impact. Starting today begin to make changes for the better.
Your immune system
Your immune system works hard to keep your body in balance. But antibiotics, bacteria, viruses, and stress can cause gut imbalances and mitochondria damage. Eventually, your brain, cells, and nervous system become damaged.
Fortunately, we live in a time where there is more information right at our fingertips. When I was first told I “might have MS someday” I had to look it up in a dictionary. That was before the internet and the dictionary wasn’t very helpful.
“Definition of multiple sclerosis
: a demyelinating disease marked by patches of hardened tissue in the brain or the spinal cord and associated especially with partial or complete paralysis and jerking muscle tremor”
– Merriam-Webster
Doctors have known for decades that diet plays a huge role in people with MS for decades. Unfortunately, they were never taken seriously so people with MS weren’t told. Conventional medications didn’t come out until the 1990s. Interferon, a cancer drug, was first approved for relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
The problem was, that it came with horrible side effects, such as flu-like symptoms, depression, and even death. I took one for several years but it made my flares stronger and closer together. My neurologist told me, “If it works it only works 30% of the time.” – That’s really bad odds.
Stress Makes MS Worse
Stress not only triggers MS but it also causes MS symptoms to get worse. Because of this, it is important to address all of the stressors in your life. The emotional stress from finances and other people can really get your stress level up. That includes relationships with your spouse, children, friends, boss, and coworkers. You can’t control other people but you can control how you react to the situation.
Several years ago when my MS symptoms were reversing I started going through a lot of stress from my job. Even though I loved my career, it was causing me too much stress and my symptoms stopped reversing. Stress was one of my triggers. I decided to stop working in that line of work even though I was going to really miss it but it was for my health.
Sometimes you need to do something drastic like quit your job, move, or put boundaries on people. – That includes your loved ones.
Stopping MS
It is possible to stop the progression of MS if you eat a nutrient-dense diet and avoid toxins. Granted, it’s hard especially if you have been living with MS a long time or you have severe symptoms. But, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen!
I was living with heat intolerance for about twenty years. After I started addressing my root cause (fungi) my heat intolerance disappeared. Even to this day it still amazes me that I can spend time outdoors on a hot day.
There are many testimonials online and in books. Check out Dr. Terry Wahls and her book The Wahls Protocol. She went from a wheelchair to riding her bicycle again. Also, Palmer Kippola and her book Beat Autoimmune.
What Triggers MS?
Even if you are genetically predisposed the odds of getting MS are still pretty small. If your mom has/had MS then your odds are higher but it’s not a guarantee you will get it. If you are living a similar lifestyle as she did then your odds will go up. Eating nutrient-dense foods, staying active, and avoiding a stressful life – your chances of getting MS will go down dramatically.
“MS is not an inherited disease, meaning it is not a disease that is passed down from generation to generation. However, in MS there is genetic risk that may be inherited. In the general population, the risk of developing MS is about 1 in 750 – 1000.”
– National MS Society
“Although the cause of MS is not known, more is being learned about environmental factors that contribute to the risk of developing MS. There is no single risk factor that provokes MS, but several factors are believed to contribute to the overall risk.”
– National MS Society
Now is the time to take drastic measures to stop and reverse your MS. You need to clean up your internal environment – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You need to believe that you can heal your body. Don’t listen to the negativity from others or yourself.
Start Today to Stop MS
Reduce the toxic load on your body. Eat right, and simplify your life to reduce stress. Address your root cause such as infections, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic stress. Get enough sleep, exercise, and get some sunshine (vitamin D). Create an environment so your body can heal and thrive.
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