Last Updated on November 13, 2023 by Cathy
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disorder that leads to demyelination. It can lead to severe disability including neurological defects. The cause is environmental factors such as exposure to infections and smoking.
In 2022, a study stated that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes MS as the main factor. However, 95% of all adults have EBV and only a small percentage have MS. This indicates something else is in play. Since everyone is different you will need to figure out what that may be for you.
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, etc.)
- Chronic stress (especially emotional stress)
- Hormones (cortisol, insulin, vitamin D – yes, it’s a hormone)
I attribute the cause of my MS to everything listed above. My first MS symptom happened when I was 15 years old so I have to look before that. Research says MS happens approximately 5-10 after EBV.
So, what happened during that time period?
- Were you eating enough fruits and vegetables? Or were you eating the standard American diet?
- Did you have any other infections such as streptococcus (strep) or human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6)?
- Did you have some kind of trauma? This could be abuse or witnessed abuse as a child, divorce, hardships, or the death of a loved one.
- Do you suffer from anxiety, depression, or emotional struggles?
- Do you live further away from the equator where you don’t get enough sunshine?
These are all things to consider. It is impossible to avoid all environmental exposures that can lead to MS. Especially when you inherit heavy metals such as mercury. Mercury is a neurotoxin that passes down from generation to generation.
However, you can control what’s in and around your house. Instead of conventional store-bought body care products or household cleaners use natural products. Tell your neurologist you want to avoid the contrast when getting an MRI to avoid mercury.
Diet for MS
There are many diets for MS but not one is perfect for everyone. However, they all have something in common and that is lowering inflammation. As I said earlier, MS is an inflammatory disorder.
The foods you should be focusing on are fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They are full of antioxidants, fiber, minerals, phytonutrients, and minerals. Foods like cilantro remove toxic heavy metals from the brain. These are the foods that are going to heal your body.
Foods you should avoid include:
- Dairy
- Gluten
- Refined sugar
- Corn (it’s mostly a GMO)
- Soy (it’s mostly a GMO)
- Refined oils such as canola, soybean, and peanut oils
- Artificial flavors and sweeteners
- Natural flavors
- MSG (it kills brain cells)
- Pork (it’s high in fat and parasites)
- Farmed fish (it’s high in parasites and washed in toxic chemicals)
- Processed citric acid (it is mostly derived from corn)
Yes or No Foods?
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Some foods are a little tricky. Some foods are on some MS diets while other MS diets avoid them. The central nervous system (CNS) is one of the slowest systems in the body to heal. If you’ve been living with MS for a long time or your symptoms are more severe you may want to avoid these next foods.
Foods you should consider removing until you’ve healed:
Beans, lentils, and chickpeas are on some MS diets and not on others. Sarah Ballantyne, aka The Paleo Mom, used to recommend avoiding them now she says they’re okay to eat. They aren’t bad for you, that’s why they’re recommended on the Mediterranean diet. But, they’re not health-supporting foods either.
If you eat a lot of them it takes your digestion more energy which takes away from healing. This creates a less-than-ideal environment in your body which allows pathogens to grow. They don’t feed pathogens but they don’t fight pathogens either. To recover from MS faster it’s best to avoid them until you’ve healed. If you do eat beans it’s best to soak them first.
Some legumes don’t affect people like beans, lentils, and chickpeas so go ahead and add them to your diet:
- Green beans
- Green peas
- Sugar snap peas
Eggs are a common food intolerance and oftentimes people don’t realize it’s a problem for them. I’ve never liked eggs because they gave me gut pains for as long as I can remember. Egg sensitivities trigger a person’s immune defense which causes a reaction. Some reactions show up later so a person may not realize it was the egg causing. For me, my reactions were quick so I knew it was the egg causing it. Since MS is slow to recover it’s best to avoid them.
Gluten-free grains like millet and quinoa are on some MS diets. But, gluten-free grains can confuse the immune system. Plus, they are often processed in a facility that also processes products with gluten. It’s up to you if you want to add them to your diet. If you do avoid them you can always add them back into your diet after you’ve healed. Always avoided gluten since it contains proteins that increase inflammation.
Peanuts are a common food allergy for both children and adults. Although “nut” is in the name they are actually a legume. Some MS diets allow legumes and other MS diets avoid legumes. Since the CNS is slow at healing, it’s best to avoid them.
Supplements for MS
There are many supplements that are recommended for MS patients. And like diets, not all supplements work for everyone. Also, you want to start slow. If you are coming from the standard American diet it’s best to not start any supplements until your body has a chance to adjust.
Once you fully changed your diet you could add a few supplements that help support your immune system. Vitamin C protects the immune system which includes the brain and spinal cord. Omega-3 helps repair the myelin sheath. Vitamin B12 helps maintain your myelin sheath.
Here are the supplements I use:
Eating a healthy diet is important but sometimes you need a little help. Supplements can help speed up the process when you’re trying to recover from MS.
Always talk to your doctor before taking new supplements. Supplements can interfere with certain medications.
Foods To Avoid to Recover Faster from MS
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Everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for the next. That’s why one diet doesn’t work for everyone. Your best option is to stick with an anti-inflammatory diet and adjust it to fit your needs. If you want to recover from MS faster you need to be disciplined.
When I first changed my diet I went “cold turkey” because I was desperate. However, it was tough and depressing. It’s better to go slow so you don’t shock your body. Another problem I had that lasted for years was I was underweight.
An anti-inflammatory diet is not a starvation diet. If you find yourself hungry then eat something healthy. If you need to lose weight then – great! But, the focus here is to heal your central nervous system. If you lose too much weight add foods that are more dense such as sweet potatoes, winter squash, and fruit. Fruit has lots of fiber so it helps you fill full longer. – Don’t be afraid to eat fruit, the fiber in fruit helps to lower your blood sugar.
Nutritional labels include both total carbohydrates and net carbs. Total carbohydrates refers to the total amount of carbs present in a food item. Net carbs result from subtracting fiber from total carbohydrates. – Fiber lowers your blood sugar.
Lastly, stay hydrated! People with MS often reduce their water intake due to bladder issues. Make sure you drink plenty of filtered water, lemon water, cucumber water, etc. to stay hydrated. Water helps keep your organs working properly and flushes out toxins.
To recover from MS faster focus on eating whole, unprocessed foods that include mostly fruits and vegetables. They are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support your health. Fruits, vegetables, and herbs are the most healing.
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Foods To Avoid to Recover Faster from MS
