Diet can play a vital role in the lives of MS patients, especially because it can impact their quality of life. The way patients eat can even be linked to cardiovascular risks, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which can increase the levels of MS disease activity and MS-related symptoms. A good diet can improve the bacteria in the gut biome, thereby improving the immune system and immune responses of patients. For this reason, many patients are recommended a diet, to help manage their symptoms and reduce the difficulty they may face in their day-to-day lives. Though there is no diet that is the “best” for MS patients, this article introduces some of the most common diets among MS patients.
Some diets have patients remove certain foods from their diets or emphasize the consumption of specific food groups. A popular diet is the Modified Mediterranean Diet, which introduces olive oil, nuts, fish, fruit, and vegetables as the primary foods for consumption. This diet cuts out meat and dairy, and limits processed foods and salt, which can be harmful for MS patients. Another diet is known as the Paleolithic Diet (or Wahls Protocol). In this diet, patients are again encouraged to eat specific fruits, vegetables, and meats. However, this diet cuts out dairy, eggs, and gluten entirely. The McDougall Diet is also similar, as it is a low-fat, plant-based, vegan diet. This diet excludes meats, dairy, and eggs, which is similar to the Modified Mediterranean and Paleolithic Diets.
For those who don’t want to cut out specific food groups, there are diets that control and limit the intake of specific compounds. For example, the Ketogenic Diet attempts to reduce the intake of carbohydrates to less than 20-50 grams each day. A similar diet is Caloric Restriction and Intermittent Fasting, where the consumption of calories is limited. In Caloric Restriction, patients reduce their daily calorie intake by 22%, while Intermittent Fasting reduces calorie consumption by 75% for two consecutive days, and has 100% calorie consumption the other five days of the week. Another diet, the Swank Diet, reduces the intake of fat and limits patients to less than 40 grams of unsaturated fats and less than 15 grams of saturated fats per day.
In all of these diets, however, patients have reported feeling less fatigued, and some have improved the emotional well-being and quality of living for MS patients. This leads researchers to the idea that diet may be an integral part of helping MS patients lead fulfilling day-to-day lives. However, not all patients follow a diet, and it truly depends upon the patient and their dietary needs. Even habits such as making meals at home, avoiding processed foods and added sugars, and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables can lead to healthier diet choices for those with MS and can improve the quality of living without specific diets. By either following a diet or adapting these eating habits, patients with MS can use their foods to improve their well-being.
Works Cited
“Diet and Nutrition | National Multiple Sclerosis Society.” National MS Society, https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Living-Well-With-MS/Diet-Exercise-Healthy-Behaviors/Diet-Nutrition. Accessed 31 October 2022.
“Dietary Studies in MS | National Multiple Sclerosis Society.” National MS Society, https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Living-Well-With-MS/Diet-Exercise-Healthy-Behaviors/Diet-Nutrition/Dietary-Studies-in-MS. Accessed 31 October 2022.
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