Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by Cathy
Researchers discovered people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an unhealthy gut. In other words, they are lacking good bacteria. There are steps you can take today to heal your gut and get MS into remission.
Over twelve years ago I discovered people were using “food as thy medicine” to put their MS into remission. I couldn’t believe all I had to do was change my diet, it seemed too good to be true!
At that time, I was recovering from the worst MS attack I had ever had, I looked as if I had just had a major stroke. Paralyzed on one side of my face and seeing double vision, I had to close one eye just so I could read more.
As my MS attacks were getting stronger and closer together. My doctor kept putting me on different medications. I was sick and tired of the shots (Avonex) and all the side effects. The flu-like symptoms, the muscle cramps, the severe depression, the chemotherapy (Novantrone).
Let Food Be Thy Medicine
The story I discovered was about Roger MacDougall who overcame MS by eating real food. Diagnosed in 1953 he ended up in a wheelchair within a few years. He based his diet on food consumed by the hunter-gatherer (now known as the Paleo diet). Eventually, he was able to get out of his wheelchair and lived his remaining years with no MS symptoms.
I couldn’t wait to get started. It was going to be a drastic change from my standard American diet of processed foods. Being gluten-free wasn’t popular yet. It was very hard to find real food that wasn’t full of unrecognizable ingredients. Even my local grocery store had a very small organic and natural foods section.
Fast forward one year, I was feeling much better, so much so that I quit all MS drugs against my neurologist’s advice. He told me that diet didn’t help and “I was dreaming” and started lecturing my husband. That was the last time I saw him as my doctor, I fired him.
What causes MS?
Inflammation. There are four main triggers to MS, you will have to figure out which ones are yours and eliminate them.
- Diet (processed foods, food allergies/sensitivities, refined sugar, and carbs)
- Environmental toxins (heavy metals, chemicals, pollutants)
- Infections (Candida, viruses, bacteria, parasites)
- Toxicity (allergens, nutritional deficiencies, radiation, chronic stress, etc.)
Looking back at my life I can now see why I ended up with MS. I had overused antibiotics, processed foods, refined sugar, and carbohydrates. Also stress, and very few vegetables or beneficial probiotics. The outcome is Candida overgrowth and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
If only I knew then what I know today. An unhealthy allow toxins to pass through the gut wreaking havoc on the entire body.
How to reduce inflammation
• DIET – remove all processed foods, gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and carbs. No more fast-food restaurants, pizza delivery, or boxed meals. Instead, you’ll be cooking nutrient-dense meals at home.
Find out if you are sensitive to any foods and remove them. I didn’t realize I was sensitive to tomatoes until I did an elimination diet. Include herbs such as turmeric, garlic, ginger, and herbal teas like green tea.
- Eat a huge rainbow of many different vegetables. By eating a huge variety, you will be consuming different vitamins
- Fruit (fruit does not spike your blood sugar)
- Wild-caught fish, especially fatty fish like salmon, sardines, trout, and mackerel.
- Pastured-raised poultry
- Grass-fed and finished meats
• Environmental Toxins – our bodies are overwhelmed with toxic pollutants. Heavy metals (aluminum, lead, mercury), pesticides, and household cleaning products. Even products we put on our bodies shampoo, deodorant, soap, makeup, lotion, etc.)
• Infections – Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease, parasites, SIBO, and Candida are all potential possibilities. When your gut is out of balance it creates the perfect environment for infections to take hold.
• Toxicity – food allergies, chemicals, and aspartame (artificial sweetener) cause neurological symptoms. Chronic stress plays a HUGE factor in MS it damages the brain cells in people with MS.
Steps You Can Take To Heal Your Gut
Heal your leaky gut. Remove ALL foods causing damage and replace them with nutrient-dense foods. Healing foods include bone broth, healthy fats, and many vegetables.
Remove toxins you put on your body such as shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothpaste, and make-up. Use EWG’s Healthy Living app to help you find cleaner products to purchase.
Cut back on sugar, whether through food or stress. Stress creates cortisol which raises your blood sugar. Candida and bad bacteria feed off either of these sugars.
Eat lots of healthy fats every day. Contrary to popular belief, not all fats are bad and cause heart disease. Healthy fats protect your brain and heart. Provides energy, and helps you absorb nutrients.
Antibiotics are lifesaving however, they’re overprescribed and abused. They not only kill the bad bacteria but also the good bacteria, throwing off the delicate balance in our gut. This leaves Candida to thrive and overgrow throughout our entire body.
If you do need to go on antibiotics, make sure you are also taking a probiotic. Take them at opposite times of the day. For example, if you take the antibiotic in the morning take the probiotic in the evening.
Take supplements, until you’ve been able to heal your leaky gut. Your body has a hard time absorbing vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. This is expensive but it has made huge improvements in my MS symptoms reversing.
Incorporating a diverse range of fiber-rich foods, fermented vegetables, and probiotic-rich sources into your diet can contribute to promoting gut health and ultimately help heal your gut. Along with mindful lifestyle choices such as staying hydrated, managing stress levels, and prioritizing sleep, these dietary changes work together to create an environment beneficial to healing your gut and supporting overall well-being.
Functional Medicine
I started seeing a functional medicine provider, he has been wonderful. I also started following the book Healing Multiple Sclerosis book by Ann Boroch. Ann believes the hidden cause of MS is Candida albicans overgrowth.
Between the two, my doctor gave me a list of many supplements to take:
Vitamin D/K2 Liquid (liquid drops), for the immune function
Omega Plus for neurological function
Vitamin B12 supports brain cells
Vitamin C and Vitamin E to restore the central nervous system
Berberine-500 to support blood sugar metabolism
Formula SF722 for gut flora support and effective against Candida
Probiotic for good bacteria and a healthy gut
As a jump start to calm down my inflammation, my doctor had me take Colloidal Silver and Aloe Vera for one month. Word of warning if you decide to try this, the Aloe Vera tasted disgusting!
I highly recommend seeing a functional medicine provider! They will recommend supplements to fit your needs. If you need help finding a doctor, check out the Institute for Functional Medicine.
Key Things to Remember
This is not a short-term diet, this is a lifestyle change for the better. Granted, this is a hard diet and it does take time to heal but your health is worth it!
Quick Links to Information in This Post:
How to Start an Elimination Diet
The Connection Between Multiple Sclerosis and Candida
How to Tell if You Have Candida
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