Hearing the words “You have multiple sclerosis (MS)” is devastating. It’s not easy living with MS, you never know what tomorrow will be like. MS can take away a person’s mobility, independence, and quality of life. Doctors say there is no cure for MS. But, if you look up the word “cure” it means – to restore health, soundness, or normality. So yes, you can cure MS and get your life back.
Image courtesy of dictionary.com
The cause of MS is due to environmental toxins. A 20-year study found Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the main cause. However, heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and stress are also factors.
To learn more about the study read: Epstein-Barr Virus Is The Leading Cause Of MS
Image this, you detox your body and your MS symptoms start reversing! Seems hard to believe but it is possible. Granted, it’s not easy – it takes dedication and a lot of hard work. The central nervous system is one of the slowest systems in the body to heal. But don’t let that stop you!
Eating Healthy to Cure MS
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First, start eating a healthy diet. There are many diets for MS but no diet is perfect for everyone. Find what works for you and adjust it to fit your needs. When The Wahls Protocol came out I followed it without seeing any results. Then I read the book Healing Multiple Sclerosis and combined the two diets. I also saw a functional medical provider and that’s when my symptoms started to reverse.
After three months I noticed my severe heat intolerance was gone! It’s now been many years and I can still sit outside on hot days without my body shutting down. Today, I don’t follow a diet instead, I eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and occasionally meat.
The key is to adjust the diet to fit your needs.
In the book The Blue Zone, there are regions around the world where people live longer than average. Each area has high rates of people who live over 90 and 100 years old. Although they have very different diets they do have something in common.
The Blue Zone communities:
- Are religious or spiritual
- Connection with friends and family
- Drink alcohol in moderation
- Get enough sleep including naps
- Know their purpose (a goal in life)
- Move naturally by staying active
- Primarily eat a plant-based diet and eat meat 3-4 times per week
- Put their families first and have the young and old live together
- Stay positive
These daily rituals reduce stress and keep inflammation lower. The Blue Zone areas have some of the oldest and healthiest people in the world. – Isn’t this what you want in life too?
Foods to eat to reverse MS include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Herbs and spices
- Healthy fats
- Wild-caught fish
- Pasture-raised poultry (e.g. chicken, turkey, quail)
- Grass-fed and finished meats (e.g. beef, lamb, wild game)
Foods to Avoid
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Now the tricky part, to “cure” MS there are many foods you need to avoid. But, like I said earlier not one diet fits all. If you have a food item that is irritating your body – remove it. Each MS diet is different, some allow gluten-free grains while others avoid gluten-free grains. It’s confusing and frustrating to know what to do.
I followed a Paleo-based diet for over eight years. I thought it was a healthy diet not just for my MS but for my overall health. Then I had a bone density test that showed I had osteoporosis in both hips. I also had blood work that showed I was heading towards heart disease. – The Paleo diet was not working for me.
Studies found the Paleo diet fell short in calcium, B vitamins, iodine, iron, and vitamin D. B vitamins are extremely important for people with MS because they keep the nervous system functioning properly. A deficiency in B vitamins causes neurology symptoms and severe myelin degeneration. I take a vegan vitamin D to avoid fish oil that could have mercury (larger fish such as tuna have mercury).
Dairy should be the first food group you should avoid. Drinking cow’s milk is associated with an increased risk for MS. Studies found women who drink more cow’s milk have more MS flares. Countries that consume more dairy have higher rates of MS. According to a 2022 study, a protein in cow’s milk (casein) can trigger inflammation that targets myelin.
Foods to avoid to “cure” MS include:
- Dairy
- Gluten
- Refined sugar
- Artificial flavors and sweeteners
- Natural flavors
- Corn (it’s mostly a GMO)
- Soy (it’s mostly a GMO)
- MSG (harms the brain and central nervous system)
- Nutritional yeast (it has MSG in it)
- 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)
- Peanuts (a common allergen)
- Eggs – both the Dr. McDougall Diet) and The Wahls Protocol recommends avoiding eggs
The foods below are healthy but they don’t help the body detox. It’s best to avoid or rarely eat these to help your body heal quicker. You can add these back after your body has healed.
Foods to avoid temporarily:
- Beans
- Chickpeas
- Lentils
- Gluten-free grains like mullet and quinoa
Alkaline versus Acidic
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People with MS have a higher risk for both osteoporosis and heart disease. We all know a poor diet can cause heart disease it can also cause osteoporosis. Like the Western diet, a diet high in acid leads to osteoporosis. So does a diet high in animal proteins and consuming lots of vinegar – think kombucha.
To bring up your alkaline levels eat more fruits and vegetables and drink more water. How can you tell if your body is too acidic? Simply buy pH test strips for alkaline and acid levels in the body. Here are the test strips I buy: Just Fitter pH Test Strips
Live a Healthy Lifestyle
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To reverse your neurological symptoms you also need to live a healthy lifestyle. Avoid smoking, drinking excessive alcohol, or being sedentary. Stress also plays a huge role when it comes to MS. It not only triggers MS but also creates flares.
When my symptoms were reversing I started going through a lot of stress. I unwilling was to move into a position at work that was highly stressful. Plus, my son, who’s a type 1 diabetic, landed in the hospital four times that year. – That was the end of my symptoms reversing.
It’s extremely important to remove as much stress as possible. Unfortunately, in today’s world, it’s hard to avoid stress – believe me, I know! Many years ago I took a yoga class for people with MS. At the end of each class we would lie down with the lights turned down and close our eyes. The instructor would slowly tell us to relax each part of our body from our head to our toes. Afterwards, I always felt great! – Give it a try, I’ll bet you like it!
I still practice that relaxation technique sitting in front of an infrared light. Here’s the infrared light I own: Beurer IL50 Infrared Heat Lamp
But, if you keep procrastinating nothing will change. Say you exercise once a day, you’ll start to see results – right? Now, imagine you exercise twice a day, your results will come faster. I’m not talking about full-body cardio. I’m talking about exercising to your ability. If you can only exercise for 10 each day, try two 10-minute sessions.
The key to stopping the progression of MS and reversing your symptoms includes:
- Prioritizing nutrition
- Incorporating regular exercise
- Taking time for self-care
- Choosing a clean environment
- Handling stress effectively
Thriving With MS
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Yes, you can reverse your MS symptoms. But, once you have MS you will always have MS. If you were to go back to your old lifestyle your MS symptoms could also return. So, did you “cure” MS? According to the dictionary yes. Is MS gone forever? No, MS is in remission and it could return.
That’s why eating and living a healthy lifestyle is very important. It’s a lifestyle for the better because it protects you from other chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Living a healthy lifestyle not only safeguards you against MS but also other chronic diseases like heart disease. By nourishing your body with wholesome foods and adopting positive habits, you improve your overall well-being. Remember, the journey towards health is a continuous one, where each mindful choice strengthens your body against the challenges that life may throw your way.
Embrace this lifestyle as a lifelong commitment.
The Ultimate Guide to Surviving & Thriving with MS
Unlock the key to a vibrant life with multiple sclerosis by subscribing to my newsletter and gaining exclusive access to ‘The Ultimate Guide to Surviving & Thriving with MS.’ It’s packed with valuable information on natural management strategies and clean health lifestyle practices that you can start today.
Want to remember this health tip? Pin it to your Pinterest board!
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Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5946302/
How to Live Healthy, Cure MS, and Get Your Life Back!
