Introduction
According to the Boston Medical Center, “an estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet each year” for various reasons that range from losing weight to gaining muscle. A well-balanced diet positively impacts a person’s quality of life by preventing health and gut-related problems. Although the effects of Multiple Sclerosis are not “fixable” through a healthy diet, it reduces further health complications, progression of symptoms, and even prevents specific symptoms.
Components of a Healthy Diet
Ideal foods consumed by Multiple Sclerosis focus on improving cardiovascular and gut health. Medical News Today states “people with MS may have a higher risk of certain types of heart disease,” explaining the importance of consuming food to promote heart health. The second component of a healthy diet is gut health since “the health of the gut plays a role in many kinds of health conditions” (Johnson). Healthy flora, bacteria in the gut, breaks down food and nutrients, playing a key role in digestion and the health of the immune system. However, an ample flow of fiber is crucial for the survival of the gut flora. A nutritional diet contains: probiotic bacteria, found commonly in fermented foods such as yogurt, kimchi, and kombucha; prebiotics, food to nourish probiotic bacteria found in garlic, leeks, and onions; and fiber to nourish the gut bacteria as well as manage cholesterol, found in nuts, lentils and whole grains.
Foods to Avoid
As crucial as it is to consume nutritional foods, it is also important to avoid unhealthy food that could potentially set back the benefits of an ideal diet. Possible foods to avoid include:
sugar-sweetened drinks, like sodas and energy drinks
excessive quantities of processed meat, commonly found in burgers and sausages
Fried potato dishes, like french fries and potato chips
highly processed ready-made meals, such as frozen pizzas
trans fats, found in margarine and shortening
Specific Diets
Some people might have enough time to plan meals that fit the diet needs mentioned above, but in today’s busy world, finding time is difficult. A range of special diets may help manage Multiple Sclerosis symptoms and reduce complications while organizing a meal plan according to the patient's needs. An individual should consult a doctor before making any dietary changes.
Gluten-free diet: Although research has not confirmed a trend of gluten sensitivity in Multiple Sclerosis patients, they are likely to develop celiac disease, which prevents the body from tolerating gluten. Gluten is commonly found in grains like wheat, rye, and barley. Grains are critical for the body’s supply of fiber, but it can be counteracted by consuming plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.
Paleo diet: This diet involves switching to foods that hunter-gatherers likely ate for processed foods found today, in addition to emphasizing meat and plant-based foods but not grains. A study conducted in 2012 showed that people with relapsing-remitting MS eating a modified Paleolithic diet reported improvements in fatigue and quality of life.
Wahls diet: A modified version of the paleo diet, the Wahls diet was developed by Dr. Terry Wahls specifically to aid people with Multiple Sclerosis. Like the paleo diet, the Wahls diet includes nutrient-dense, minimally processed foods like leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, and minimally processed animal proteins. A small study linked the Wahls diet with an improvement in MS symptoms, however, a better-controlled studies are necessary to fully examine the efficacy of the diet.
Swank diet: This diet was developed by doctors in the 1950s for Multiple Sclerosis treatment. It decreases saturated fat intake to 15 grams per day and limits unsaturated fat intake to 20–50 g per day.
Mediterranean diet: This is the most popular diet followed by Multiple Sclerosis patients. A new study shows that a Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of disability outcomes and decreased reports of disease symptoms. The diet includes higher olive oil, nuts, and wine consumption, and lower consumption of pastries and sugary beverages.
Conclusion
A simple change in diary habits can have a major impact on an individual diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Even though it can not completely eliminate symptoms, it can decrease further complications and lead to an improved quality of life. Keeping a healthy diet, daily physical activity, and taking care of one’s mental health, makes living with this chronic illness a little more manageable.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Johnson, Jon. “Diet Tips for Multiple Sclerosis: Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid.” Edited by Adrienne Seitz, Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, July 2021, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315227#summary.
Patricia Valerio, PhD. “Mediterranean Diet Associated with Lower Disability Risk in MS Study.” Multiple Sclerosis News Today, BioNews, 17 Oct. 2022, https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/news-posts/2022/10/17/mediterranean-diet-associated-lower-disability-risk-study/.
Raman, Ryan. “Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Diet.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 7 July 2021, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/multiple-sclerosis-foods-to-avoid#other-dietary-tips.
“Weight Management.” Boston Medical Center, 2022, https://www.bmc.org/nutrition-and-weight-management/weight-management#:~:text=Nutrition%20and%20Weight%20Management&text=An%20estimated%2045%20million%20Americans,year%20on%20weight%20loss%20products.
Kommentare