Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Cathy
Gut health for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a big topic lately, there’s even a world summit called “Gut Microbiota for Health.” Studies confirm a healthy gut can stop disease progression to MS and other diseases. This explains why eating a healthy diet is beneficial thanks to consuming more “good” bacteria. So what are you waiting for? It’s time for you to stop eating junk food and start improving your lifestyle and diet.
Your digestive system is home to different types of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Its job is to help the immune system by absorbing nutrients and removing toxins. Unfortunately, lifestyle, diet, antibiotics, and stress disrupts the balance. Eating a wide range of healthy foods will give you more species of bacteria for health benefits.
There is a FREE “Gut Health Tracker” at the bottom of this post for you.
What causes an imbalance of gut bacteria?
- Infections yeast overgrowth, SIBO, parasites
- Overuse of medications, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and steroids like Prednisone
- Poor Diet
- Stress increases blood sugar which feeds bad bacteria. Affects the nervous system and creates a leaky gut
- Toxins including heavy metals or parasites
The Standard American Diet (SAD) plays a huge role in causing an unhealthy gut. It’s full of processed foods, refined sugar, and unhealthy fats. Americans are fatter with more diseases than ever before. The SAD is causing many people:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cancer
- Constipation
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Heart disease
- Hormonal issues
- Leaky gut
- Intestinal damage
- Obesity
- Poor digestion
- Sugar cravings
- Imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut
Gut health and MS
Researchers discovered Acinetobacter and Akkermansia bacteria were four times higher in people with MS. They also discovered that Parabacteroides were lower in people with MS than in healthy people. The first two raise inflammation while the third one reduces inflammation.
Getting your gut bacteria healthy is very important for your body to heal. And, that begins with the quality of the food you eat. Probiotics include live bacteria which benefit your gut and health. Our gut is directly linked to our immune system.
The 4 R Program
Conventional doctors are great for immediate care. But not the maintenance and harmony of the body. Doctors such as neurologists, cardiologists, or endocrinologists focus on treating specific problems. Functional medicine believes in healing a patient by addressing the root cause. They look at the whole body, mind, and emotions as one to treat a patient. They believe in the “4 R Program” to heal the body.
- Remove food and environmental toxins
- Replace with nutrient-dense foods
- Reinoculate with probiotics
- Repair the gut lining with omega-3s and L-glutamine
Stop The Toxins
First, you need to remove as much inflammation as possible. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, characterized by mindful eating and positive habits, plays a crucial role in supporting the body’s natural detoxification processes. Consuming a nutrient-rich diet, abundant in fruits, vegetables, and herbs, provides essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that aid in neutralizing and eliminating toxins.
Hydration, another fundamental aspect of a healthy lifestyle, facilitates the flushing out of toxins through proper kidney function. Regular physical activity not only contributes to overall well-being but also stimulates circulation and lymphatic drainage, assisting in the removal of waste products. I like exercising using OptimalBody Personal Fitness.
Prioritizing sleep is equally crucial, as it allows the body to engage in critical repair and detoxification activities during rest. By adopting these holistic approaches, individuals can create a supportive environment for their bodies to naturally detoxify, promoting long-term health and vitality.
Possible Triggers:
- Poor Diet
- Infections (bacteria, parasites, viruses, and yeast overgrowth)
- Environmental toxins (heavy metals, mold, pesticides, etc.)
- Chronic stress
- Hormones (adrenaline, cortisol, etc.)
There is a FREE “Gut Health Tracker” at the bottom of this post for you.
You can’t change your DNA but that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do. We have two copies of the gene, one from our mother and one from our father. I inherited a half mutation (+/-) on my MTHFR gene so I take B vitamins and folate to compensate. A full mutation would show as (-/-).
I also inherited a predisposition to a poorly metabolized vitamin D. There are many studies linking vitamin D deficiency and MS. Get your vitamin D tested, it should be between 60-80 ng/mL. If you have a mutation you can have your level as high as 100 ng/mL, talk to your doctor.
Nutrient-Dense Diet
Getting your gut bacteria healthy is very important for your body to heal. And, that begins with the food you eat. It’s the quality of the food you eat that impacts your microbiome (gut bacteria). They absorb nutrients and support the immune system. A nutrient-dense diet gives your body the nutrients and vitamins it needs to thrive.
- Fruits and vegetables
- Wild-caught fish
- Herbs and spices
- Healthy oils
- Grass-fed meat
- Pasture-raised poultry
- Healthy fats
Buy organic as much as possible to avoid pesticides, growth hormones, and antibiotics. If you can’t get organic produce at least avoid the produce with the most pesticides, see EWG’s Dirty Dozen list.
Stress
Stress plays a huge role in your body’s ability to heal. Whether it’s work, kids, or finances stress is an everyday event and hard to ignore. But this is one area that’s very important to get a handle on. It not only raises your blood pressure but it can bring on autoimmune flares.
I’ve kept my MS from progressing thanks to eating a healthy diet of real food for over twelve years. Unfortunately, I know firsthand how stress takes its toll and causes flares. It wasn’t a sudden attack but years of chronic stress that set me back and caused my gait to get worse.
Chronic stress can deplete beneficial gut bacteria and raise cortisol levels. Cortisol is the fight-or-flight hormone. It increases blood glucose levels when needed. When you’re under chronic stress your blood sugar remains high feeding Candida. Candida doesn’t care where the sugar comes from as long as it’s fed.
Probiotics
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 for gut health:
- 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.
Repair
Removing inflammation and replacing it with good bacteria is a great improvement. But, the damage still needs to be repaired or toxins will overgrow again. It’s best to eat a wide range of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices that are beneficial for your gut health.
Supplements that help:
- L-glutamine
- Omega 3
- Digestive enzymes
The Importance of Gut Health for Multiple Sclerosis
People with multiple sclerosis have more bad bacteria than healthy people. It is extremely important to improve your gut health.
Gut Health Tracker
Get the password for my library with MANY wellness printables including the Gut Health Tracker here by filling out this form:
Want to remember this health tip? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board!
The Importance of Gut Health for Multiple Sclerosis
