What is the Wahls Protocol?

Last Updated on December 6, 2023 by Cathy

If you suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) you’ve probably heard of the Wahls Protocol. If not, it’s a Paleo-based diet designed by Dr. Terry Wahls who also has MS.

Like many of us, Dr. Wahls began to experience symptoms of MS years before her diagnosis. She was finally diagnosed in the year 2000. It quickly transitioned to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). Her muscles continued to weaken and she started using a tilt/recline wheelchair. By 2007 she was using her wheelchair full-time.

She was doing everything her neurologist told her. She was taking Copaxone but continued to slowly decline. Conventional medicine was failing and she was desperate to find something else. There wasn’t time to wait for that next research paper, she didn’t want to end up bed-ridden.

Food As Thy Medicine

In 2002 someone suggested to her to check out Dr. Embry’s website, Direct-MS. Dr. Embry is a geologist whose son was also diagnosed with MS. They used “food as thy medicine” and cut out inflammatory foods. Eating a nutrient-dense diet they saw dramatic results.

Back in 2009, I also discovered Dr. Ashton Embry’s website after a horrible MS attack. It was thanks to him that I changed my diet and was able to get my MS into remission using food instead of drugs.

There’s been lots of documented research since the 1950s that shows a healthy diet helps slow or stop MS. The sad thing, many neurologists never mention diet could be causing your problems. My neurologist even had the nerve to tell me “Diet doesn’t work” – that was the last time I saw him.

Dr. Wahls began her research, by looking at what causes other brain diseases. Such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and Huntington’s disease. She noticed each of the mitochondria stopped working in each disease. This leads to brain cell death and atrophy (brain shrinkage).

She took this knowledge and began taking vitamins and supplements. Soon afterward she discovered functional medicine and started studying up. Functional medicine looks for the root of the problem and not just the symptoms. This is when it dawned on her that the food we ate could supply a person with enough nutrients to reverse MS. And so, the Wahls Protocol was born.

What is the Wahls Protocol?

Dr. Wahls came up with a Paleo-based diet that was nutrient-dense in foods to heal the damages of MS. In 2010, she spoke for TEDx, it’s an eighteen-minute video explaining her diet to heal the mitochondria and brain.

If you haven’t seen her video you can do so below, it’s very motivational:

Dr. Wahls was able to get out of her wheelchair and back into an active life. She eventually created a book The Wahls Protocol to help others with MS to get their lives back. The protocol also helps with any autoimmune disease, traumatic brain injury, diabetes, etc.

I highly recommend reading her book The Wahls Protocol for all the details. I also recommend seeing a functional medical doctor for additional help.

The Diet

 

In her book, she has three levels, which are all based on the Paleo diet. But, it focuses on maximizing nutrition for brain and mitochondria health. You should be eating 9 cups of vegetables each day. Including dark leafy greens and non-starchy vegetables. Fruits should be lower in sugar like berries for the best results.

Include wild-caught fish, grass-fed meats, pasture-raised poultry, and good-quality fats. She does recommend not eating eggs even though they’re allowed on the Paleo diet. This is due to her severe egg allergy, she was removing all allergenic foods which included eggs.

Level One

The first level is for those who are currently eating the standard American diet. It helps by removing common inflammatory foods. Also, adding foods that aren’t on a typical diet yet are highly nutritious.

For some people giving up the food you grew up with is a hard step. Especially around the holidays like Thanksgiving where food is the main focus. It’s important not to cheat, you’re only setting yourself back on your progress.

Level Two

The second level is a little more strict. She recommends starting here to stop the progression as soon as possible. You’ll remove more inflammatory foods but you’ll add more anti-inflammatory foods.

You’ll be adding foods you’re not used to such as fermented foods. Researchers have recently linked poor gut bacteria with MS. In other words, it’s the good bacteria that are lacking in your gut. Including fermented foods such as sauerkraut will put good bacteria back in.

Level Three

Level three is the strictest, it’s a ketogenic diet. She recommends this level for people who aren’t seeing enough progress from level two. This is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. You’ll need to keep close tabs on your glucose and you’ll need to fast between meals.

Dr. Wahls was on this level herself and worked well for her. Others, myself included, struggled on this level. When her book first came out I immediately started on level three. I figured if she can get out of her wheelchair, I could walk better.

Unfortunately, this level didn’t work for me. I’m already thin and when I started this level I lost too much weight and had to stop. It doesn’t mean I stopped altogether, I just backed off.

Overall

Researchers believe MS starts with genetics. Then some environmental factor triggers the onset of the disease. I even discovered I had a higher risk for MS after I had my DNA tested. Vitamin D deficiency could also be a trigger. People who live further away from the equator have a higher risk of MS. Once triggered the immune cells begin to attack.

The Wahls Protocol is very informative. I highly recommend buying her book whether you have MS or some other disease. She goes into great detail about food and other factors such as toxins and exercise.

Dr. Wahls is continuing her fight against MS by conducting further research. She’s also written a cookbook to go along with The Wahls Protocol.

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