Summary: Multiple sclerosis sufferers often complain of more severe disease symptoms after consuming dairy products. Researchers have now found a possible cause for this. According to the study, a protein in cow's milk can trigger inflammation that targets the 'insulating layer' around nerve cells.
Cow's Milk
Cow's milk contains not only saturated fat but also proteins that may negatively impact some people who have MS, according to past research.
Not everyone with MS is dairy intolerant. Those who do not tolerate dairy should avoid it by avoiding dairy-containing foods. Highly processed dairy substitutes (example: certain dairy free “yogurts” and “cheeses”) should be limited to benefit overall health.
Vitamin D-Rich Foods
It may also help curb the inflammation that fuels MS symptoms. Sunlight helps your skin make the nutrient, but oily fish like salmon or tuna, yogurt, eggs, cereals, and fortified orange juice are good food sources. You may also want to ask your doctor if you should take a vitamin D supplement.
Many foods we eat today can cause inflammation which is something you want to avoid when you are living with multiple sclerosis. There are many foods that can cause inflammation in the body. Processed foods, dairy products, red meat, and fried foods are some of the most common offenders.
The overcoming MS (OMS) diet is a plant-based diet that also includes fish and seafood, but cuts out all processed foods, eggs, meat, dairy, and saturated fats. The diet usually includes daily supplements of flaxseed oil or fish oil.
“It omits dairy foods, eggs, grains, legumes, and certain vegetables, all of which are highly nutritious.” Some people with MS end up cutting certain foods because they can't get around well or have fatigue, making it a challenge to shop for and cook the dishes they prefer.
Research shows hot chocolate could help reduce fatigue
Our research shows Flavonoids found in cocoa could help reduce fatigue in people with relapsing MS.
Consuming a moderate amount of caffeine, in the form of coffee, tea, or other caffeinated foods, may improve a person's ability to focus and reduce MS fatigue without causing negative side effects.
Caffeine may be beneficial for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). It acts as a stimulant and has neuroprotective properties, which may help reduce brain fog, decrease inflammation, reduce disability, and increase energy levels.
Lifestyle Factors and MS Progression
We know lifestyle factors such as eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, exercising regularly, and taking vitamin D are helpful for our overall health. Some, like exercise, can help with MS symptoms, prevent complications, and possibly be neuroprotective.
Understanding what can cause your MS to worsen will help you and your health care provider devise strategies to avoid setting off a flare-up. Multiple sclerosis (MS) triggers that worsen symptoms or cause a relapse can include stress, heart disease and smoking.
The Overcoming MS diet
The OMS diet recommendations are similar to the Swank diet. It advises cutting out dairy and meat, and eating less fat – particularly saturated fat. It also recommends flaxseed oil as an omega 3 supplement and vitamin D supplements if you don't get out in the sun much.
Whole Grains Prepare a whole grain such as oatmeal or quinoa with milk, or part milk and part water. Serve it with berries and walnuts for flavor and a nutrient boost. Toast With Avocado or Guacamole Buying guacamole in single-serving cups, such as those from Wholly Guacamole, will save you time.
Countless studies show a link between food and overall wellbeing. But there's no evidence to suggest that following a certain diet can prevent, treat, or cure MS.
If you do decide to enjoy an occasional glass of wine or beer, know that it could ramp up certain symptoms of MS. Even one drink can make issues like unsteadiness worse. “If you have a lot of trouble with balance, thinking, or memory symptoms from MS, it may be better to avoid alcohol altogether,” says Graves.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, an anti-inflammatory diet should include foods like tomatoes, leafy greens such as spinach and kale, and fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges. There's some evidence that consuming these foods could be beneficial for MS.
High doses of other vitamins can antagonize your immune-modulating, immunosuppressive therapies used to manage MS. Supplements that stimulate the immune system should be avoided in high doses. Those include selenium, zinc, B1, B2, folic acid, B6, vitamin A, biotin, magnesium, copper, and manganese.
Some people with MS may have only mild symptoms. Others may lose their ability to see clearly, write, speak, or walk when communication between the brain and other parts of the body becomes disrupted. Myelin is the fatty tissue that surrounds and protects nerve fibers. In MS, the myelin is destroyed in many areas.
Refined sugar
“Foods that are loaded with artificial sweeteners, including beverages, promote inflammation and fatigue, which can collectively trigger MS symptoms,” Lord says. Therefore, people with MS may benefit from limiting foods with high amounts of refined sugar, which are typically highly processed.
MS patients tend 13-NEU-545 to stay out of the sunlight because of heat sensitivity further increasing the risk for Vitamin D deficiency. There have been studies that suggest Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in immune system function and the development of auto immune disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis.