Foods Associated with Higher Rates of Inflammation

Last Updated on November 26, 2023 by Cathy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelination disease. Its cause is unknown but researchers believe it to be from multiple factors. Such as genetic predisposition and environmental factors from infections, vitamin deficiencies, and smoking. These factors then trigger events in the immune system which lead to neuronal death and MS. It only makes sense to avoid foods that are associated with higher rates of inflammation.

Studies found…

Diet could be considered a treatment to control the progression of MS” – PubMed

However, another study claimed…

There is no scientific evidence supporting the use of specific diets in the management of MS” – PubMed

I agree with the first statement because it worked for me and many others. Such as Dr. Terry Wahls, Judy Graham, Palmer Kippola, Matt Embry, and Ann Boroch.

I also agree there isn’t one “specific diet” for MS that works for everyone. I have been on many different diets from the Swank Diet to the Wahls Protocol. It wasn’t until I started listening to my body and adjusting my diet to fit my needs that my symptoms started to reverse.

I found the triggers that caused my MS and adjusted my diet to fit my needs. For me, it was a poor diet, fungi (yeast overgrowth and mycotoxins), leaky gut, and vitamin D deficiency. You also need to be a detective and figure out what your triggers are. Not only by avoiding foods that are associated with inflammation but by changing your lifestyle.

Possible triggers to MS:

• Poor Diet 
• Infections (bacteria, parasites, viruses, and yeast overgrowth)
• Environmental toxins (heavy metals, mold, pesticides, etc.)
• Chronic stress 
• Hormones (adrenaline, cortisol, etc.)

Foods Associated with Inflammation

Fortunately, eating certain foods can lower inflammation in the body. Unfortunately, most people eat foods that increase inflammation in the body. Depending on what you put in your mouth will determine if you are stopping or feeding the progression of MS.

The Western diet is mostly made from processed foods. Including artificial ingredients and refined sugar. Gluten is a problem for many people with an autoimmune disease, not just celiac disease. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains. If you have a leaky gut it can pass through the gut lining and into the bloodstream. The immune system then sees this as a “foreign invader” and begins to attack with antibodies. 

Gluten also increases the protein zonulin levels which create a leaky gut. A leaky gut allows undigested food particles, toxins, and yeast to pass through. Chronic inflammation can then cross the protective blood-brain barrier leading to MS.

Stop Eating Foods That Feed Diseases Including:

• Dairy
• Gluten
• Refined sugar
• Artificial flavors and sweeteners
• Natural flavors
• Corn (it’s mostly a GMO)
• Soy (it’s mostly a GMO)
• MSG
• Canola oil (it’s mostly a GMO)
• Pork (it’s high in fat and prone to parasites)
• Farmed fish (it’s washed in toxic chemicals due to parasites)
• Processed citric acid (it’s mostly derived from corn)

Red and processed meats, like lunch meats, also increase inflammation. That is why Dr. Roy Swank, author of the Swank Diet, had his patients avoid red meat for the first year. Charred meat, barbecued, or deep-fat fried also increases inflammation. If you still want meat in your diet, don’t overlook it. Conventionally raised meats have antibiotics and growth hormones. Plus, the ranchers feed the animals GMO grains and soy. 

Meats to buy:

• Wild-caught fish
• Pasture-raised poultry
• Grass-fed meats (beef, bison, pork, rabbit, etc.)

Buy healthy, whole foods, and herbs that are healing. Try to buy organic fruits and vegetables as much as possible to avoid pesticides. If you can’t always afford it, buy organic only if it is on the Dirty Dozen list.

How long does it take to heal?

How long it takes to heal really depends on how long you’ve had MS and how severe your symptoms are. Unfortunately, the central nervous system is one of the slowest systems in our body to heal. MS destroys the myelin sheath which is the protective layer that forms around nerves. The myelin allows electrical impulses to travel quickly along the nerve.

Without myelin, the nerve fibers are susceptible to damage. It was once believed that the damage was permanent, this is not the case. The human body is amazing and has the ability to repair myelin so the nerves can work properly again. However, time is of the essence. Trying to reverse the damage from MS can take a long time. You may see some immediate results like more energy or clearer thinking. 

I was able to reverse my heat intolerance within three months. That was after I altered my diet to fit my body’s needs. However, several months later I started going through a lot of stress. That was the end of my symptoms reversing. Some cells take a long time to heal so it’s best to start now. You don’t want a year to go by and you are wishing you had started sooner.

The longer there has been nerve damage, the harder it is to repair myelin. Don’t get discouraged! I had extreme heat intolerance for about twenty years and I was able to reverse it. Think positive and believe you can heal. Studies show people heal faster when they have a good outlook than those who don’t. Positive thinking works!

• Eat an anti-inflammatory diet of healthy, whole foods 
• Try an elimination diet to check for food sensitivities 
• Check for hidden infections such as bacterial or yeast overgrowth, EBV, or mycotoxins
• Test for heavy metal toxins
• Fix your gut, people with MS have more bad bacteria than healthy people
• Take supplements like fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin D, and probiotics
• Keep moving, exercise is an anti-inflammatory 
• Get plenty of sleep every night
• Practice deep relaxation to reduce stress

Stay 100% Compliant

Focus on being 100% compliant to stop all sources of inflammation. That one cookie may not seem like it’s hurting but it adds to the inflammation that’s already in your body. Instead, snack on something healthy, if you’re craving something sweet eat a small blow of berries.

Learn to Manage Stress

Stress plays a huge role in your healing. It’s impossible to avoid all stress but you can learn how you react to stress. You may need to make a drastic change in your life to help relieve your stress.

• Avoid negative people
• Find a new job if necessary 
• Get your finances under control
• Learn to say no
• Let the little things go, your subconscious holds onto problems causing you stress
• Resolve problems to avoid stress
• Set boundaries with family members that cause you to stress
• Stay off of social media
• Stop procrastinating 
• Turn off the news 
• Unclutter your home

You Can Do This!

Don’t get discouraged, it’s hard to break old habits. You control your behavior so you can make smart choices when it comes to your diet and lifestyle. Adopt new behaviors like healthy food, sleep, exercise, removing toxins, and mindfulness.

You don’t need to do everything all at once. Little steps turn into big steps as long as you keep moving forward. Don’t focus on what you can’t do, focus on what you can do.

You can do this!

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Resources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28507011/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6329429/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4485697/

Foods Associated with Higher Rates of Inflammation