Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by Cathy
There are many triggers to autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). One of those triggers is the food you eat. Remove foods that cause inflammation and replace it with nutrient-dense foods. That is the key to restoring your health.
Imagine, cutting out inflammatory foods and oils and not having another flare. Could it be this simple? You won’t know until you start so why not start today?
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.)
This is exactly what happened to me. I just had my worst MS attack, I looked like I had a stroke (probably because I did). The left side of my face was numb, tingling, and paralyzed. I had double vision throwing my balance off so I had a hard time walking. Even my mouth was numb so I struggled with talking without slurring my words.
I knew there had to be something better than those horrible MS drugs I was on. That’s when I discovered people were using real whole food as their medicine. I changed my diet immediately, a year later I stopped all MS medications and I haven’t had an MS attack since. That was over twelve years ago.
What’s going on?
If you’re following a typical standard American diet, you’re eating an inflammatory diet. This is why autoimmune diseases, heart disease, and cancers are on the rise.
Chronic inflammation causes MS.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says death rates from Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise. It has increased 55% from 1999 to 2014. It’s projected by the year 2050 this number will quadruple affecting 14 million U.S. adults.
The average person craves refined sugar and carbohydrates. The brain uses glucose (sugar) as fuel but too much kills brain cells causing it to shrink. It disrupts blood sugar levels causing the liver to become resistant to insulin. Leading to the pancreas to stop working.
Don’t be the average person!
Avoid:
– Gluten/grains
– Dairy
– Legumes
– Processed foods
– Refined sugar
Conventional meats eat grains and soy (GMOs). Then pumped full of antibiotics and growth hormones. Throwing off the balance in your gut creates a leaky gut, and bacterial or yeast overgrowth.
It’s time to stop eating foods that are harmful to your body and start eating real whole foods that are healing. Your body will not only stop attacking itself, it may also start reversing some of the damage.
What are real whole foods?
Real whole foods are foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Ones that aren’t processed with added preservatives, additives, many other unnatural ingredients. Have you ever read the ingredients on a label? You should be able to pronounce and know what every one of those ingredients is.
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
- Healthy oils such as avocado oil, coconut oil, and olive oil
- Grass-fed meats including organ meats (include organ meats each week)
- Pasture-raised poultry
- Wild-caught fish
If possible buy organic to avoid pesticides in produce. Also growth hormones and antibiotics in meats. Avoid vegetable oils such as canola, corn, peanut, safflower, or sunflower oil. They are over-processed and rancid. Especially avoid any “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” oils like in margarine.
Vegetables Are Healing
Vegetables should be your main meal. They are full of nutrients that fight inflammation. Three-quarters of your plate should include a wide variety of veggies. Local and in-season produce are your best options. If buying organic is a concern at least buy organic from the EWG’s Dirty Dozen list.
Try to include 6-9 cups of vegetables every day. I know that sounds like a lot but once you start adding vegetables to everything it becomes easy. Add herbs to vegetables like turmeric, ginger, cloves, rosemary, and garlic. They add a nice flavor to the vegetables. Drink a green smoothie every day, that helps get a lot of vegetables in for the day.
Avoid corn because it’s a grain and potatoes because of its high glycemic level (sugar). There’s a lot of controversy about green beans and peas since they are a legume. Both of these have lower levels of lectins compared to other legumes so some people eat them. I avoid them since I’m trying to reverse some old damage caused by MS from years ago.
Omega-3s
It’s extremely important to include Omega-3 essential fatty acids in your diet. Omega-3s promote a healthy heart, and brain function, and help rebuild the myelin sheath. You can get omega-3s through foods such as plant sources and wild-caught fatty fish. Include them often, every day if possible.
Omega-3s:
- Anchovies*
- Bluefish
- Chia seeds
- Ground flaxseeds
- Herring
- Mackerel
- Salmon
- Sardines*
- Trout
- Tuna
- Walnuts
*Anchovies and sardines are organ meats.
It’s also a good idea to take an omega-3 supplement such as fish oil. My functional medical doctor recommended I take Thorne Research Omega Plus. Talk to your doctor about what’s right for you.
Fermented Foods
Researchers discovered it’s the gut bacteria causing the progression of MS. In other words, it’s the lack of “good” bacteria in the gut. To get those good guys back into the gut it’s time to improve your diet.
Eating a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices is beneficial for overall health and well-being. While fermented foods can contribute to a healthy gut microbiome by providing probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria, a balanced diet that includes a variety of plant-based foods offers numerous advantages for your health.
Here are some reasons why consuming fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices is essential:
- Fruits and vegetables are rich in essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.
- Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of dietary fiber.
- Plant foods are packed with antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body.
- Fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices contain phytochemicals, which are natural compounds that have many health benefits.
- While fermented foods contribute probiotics to the gut, fruits and vegetables provide prebiotics, which are substances that nourish and support the growth of beneficial bacteria.
- A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with weight management and lower calorie intake.
- Consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases.
- Some fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in antioxidants like berries and leafy greens, have been associated with cognitive function and a reduced risk of age-related cognitive decline.
Food Sensitivities
Everyone is different. You need to pay attention to your body and remove any food item that causes any reaction to your body. For example, I always knew eggs were a problem for me because they caused gut pains. It wasn’t until I started an elimination diet that I discovered I was sensitive to tomatoes.
To learn more about elimination diets read: How to Start an Elimination Diet
Reactions can be gut pains, diarrhea, gas, bloating, rash, acne, headache, or heartburn. It can even cause fatigue or irritability. If you notice any reaction stop eating that food item to help your body heal faster.
Stay Positive
Many people on the internet claim they got their autoimmune disease reversed in less than a year. That’s great but that not the case for everyone. Yes, I got my MS into remission quickly. But it wasn’t until recently I realized I was fighting a severe case of yeast overgrowth (Candida). That’s when I saw a functional medical doctor and my old symptoms started to reverse.
To learn more about Candida read:
The Connection Between MS and Candida
How To Tell If You Have Candida
Start by eating an anti-inflammatory diet. Healing your central nervous system is one of the slowest to heal so don’t get discouraged. Prioritizing a healthy lifestyle, including nutritious eating and mindful habits, is key to restoring your health with MS.
The Ultimate Guide to Surviving & Thriving with MS
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