How to Eat For Multiple Sclerosis
If you have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, you may have been told you will need to make changes in your diet. What will this involve? There are several schools of thought on the subject. Some doctors feel it does not make a difference, while others promote certain changes for their MS patients.
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Things You'll Need
- Fresh fruits
- Fresh vegetables
- Whole grains
- White chicken, no skin
- Cold water fish
- Nuts and seeds
Instructions
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Speak to your doctor: While some physicians don't agree that multiple sclerosis may be helped by a particular diet, most agree on some restrictions. You may be told to avoid tobacco products, alcohol, caffeine, and products with aspartame. Doctors generally agree such things should be avoided with most illnesses, so what else is suggested?
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Know the recommendations: Several foods are on the list of things to avoid if you have multiple sclerosis. These include beef products, including cheese and milk, with the exception of small amounts of fat free milk products. It is easy to forget that cheese and milk are considered beef products for those with MS. Processed foods should be eliminated, along with white sugar.
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Make changes: Patients who feel multiple sclerosis can be helped by dietary changes are many. It is thought that eating fresh fruits and vegetables will reduce inflammation, and lessen pain. While fresh is the first choice, if you can't find what you need in the produce department, frozen would be the next choice.
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Add fats: Fats recommended to help those with multiple sclerosis include omega-3, and omega-6, either from foods, or in supplement form. Vitamin D is now included on the 'must have' list. This can also be taken in pill form if you are not getting enough from foods. Check with your physician for a complete list of recommended supplements.
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Eat a vegetarian diet?: A vegetarian diet is used by many once they have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Others use the Swank diet, which allows animal products. A link is provided below for further information about the Swank plan.
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Decide what you will do: What some consider a healthy diet may not be right for you if you have MS. For instance, Multiple Sclerosis patients would not follow a diet meant for a diabetic, and it is important to get information that relates to you, not others.
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People I interviewed for this article stated they are seeing a difference in how they feel since changing their eating habits. They all felt their MS would not be cured by dietary changes, but were happy enough with the benefits of eating healthier, that they would stay with their new eating habits.
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Tips & Warnings
For more information, search for eHow articles on multiple sclerosis.
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