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Julie  Stachowiak, Ph.D.

Can Diet Help Multiple Sclerosis?

By , About.com GuideMarch 19, 2009

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There are a lot of so-called "MS Diets" out there that use any number of theories or approaches to managing MS through nutrition. For most of the diets, the evidence is not there (though if the diet is not extreme, there usually is no harm in it). There are certainly some links between MS and other immune-related dietary issues. One of these is gluten intolerance, something I discovered for myself. If I eat gluten, I feel like crap. I was blaming the MS for some of that before, now I know there is another condition involved.

One thing that does make some sense is taking fish oils. The theory here is that the omega-3 fatty acids in the fish oils can help reduce inflammation. Meanwhile, anyone who eats healthy is bound to just feel better. So find some vegetables, eat some salmon and feel (at least a little) better.

Does anyone have a tip or though about diet? Have you discovered a food that makes you feel better or makes you feel terrible? Write into the comments with your story.
Comments
March 19, 2009 at 7:26 am
(1) Angel M. Negron Jr says:

I’ve read that herbs like Organo, basil, parsley, cilantro have anti inflamatory properties.
Although its too early for me to tell (i was diagnosed a year ago with RRMS), my wife is a basil and parsley junkie and cooks with them very much throughout the year and so far since diagnosis, i’ve had not one relapse and a subsequent MRI showed that many lesions in my brain had srhunken.
I’m also on Copaxone, so i’m hoping that a combination of that plus a diet full of anti inflammatory stuff will help me in the long run. So far it seems that its been working.
I also take daily,
Vitamin D
Fish Oil
Garlic Pills
Centrum.

I also have eliminated almost all red meat from my diet, and try to eat as little dairy as i can.

September 11, 2011 at 9:12 am
(2) Mitty says:

Hi. Please do not take Centrum. You must take your vitamines in a capsule…not a hard tablet which passes in your stool. A good source of vitamines is Your Vitamines by Andrew Lessman. They are micronized from a natural source. Since they are mico molecules, they are readily absorbed in your intestinal tract. You can find them on the internet under Your Vitamines. They are made in the USA in a plant that is all solar powered. I have been taking them for years and really notice a remarkable difference in energy level.

November 11, 2011 at 12:45 pm
(3) reurdyPriet says:
November 14, 2011 at 1:44 am
(4) CradeFuroCida says:
November 14, 2011 at 6:47 am
(5) Beneinpubre says:
November 14, 2011 at 11:48 am
(6) asselfAmelank says:
March 19, 2009 at 7:30 am
(7) Angel M. Negron Jr. says:

Also, Dr Julie, since i can’t find a way to email you directly, i would like to give my thanks to you for making my mornings a heck of a lot better when i read your column.
It seriously is a ray of sunshine in my new life with MS.
People like you give the rest of us hope and a brighter outlook.

Thanks.

March 19, 2009 at 10:12 am
(8) Wilson says:

I have found the book, MS Recovery Diet, to be very beneficial to my symptoms. I feel much better when I stay away from gluten, dairy and eggs. It’s a challenge at first but once the results of the diet make you feel better, you don’t want to go back to old way of eating. ( :

March 19, 2009 at 11:27 am
(9) brady says:

Dr. Julie…interesting issue..I’ve used my diagnosis with MS as a catalyst to get right about nutrition and weight….have lost 16 lbs. in the last 12 months….calories in/calories expended…balanced approach—lower fat, enough fiber (25-30 grms.), veggies & fruit..have 9 more lbs. to go and will take 2 years to do it–6 lbs. next 12 months and 3 lbs. the last 12 months.

I have friends that work for nutritional gurus…they send me info..the danger with some of the gurus out there is they encourage you to get rid of the medications–they blast the expense & the side effects..well, they also try to sell you their nutritional supplements….MS is not a disease to dismiss the scientific community…beware of trading the advise of a practicing neurologist with a nutritional charlatan.

August 8, 2011 at 8:38 pm
(10) Jean says:

I have to say that while I understand your reaction to your MD selling something in the office, I think if a good MD has confidence that these supplements can help, then I would feel very comfortable buying something in his office. Its like the pharmacy in the hospital, they profit off of your illness, so why not the treating MD? I think it would seem more comfortable though if he sold a few of them, and not just one brand or company.

March 19, 2009 at 12:37 pm
(11) Judi Bachrach says:

I have had MS for over 40 years. I finally did 3 years of traditional medication when I could no longer get out of bed- Novantrone, IVIG (gammaglobulin infusions) and Copaxone- but none of them helped me. When I went on the MS Recovery Diet, within 1 week I felt the skin between my toes and now, 3 years later have a full life and am regaining sensation every day even with the complication of chronic Lyme disease. So yes, I know firsthand that the diet worked for me and for hundreds of others as well. I would love to see rigorous research done on the diet treatment approach- even my MS specialist acknowledges the huge improvement I have experienced and now recommends the diet to all of his patients who ask about it.

September 22, 2011 at 9:35 am
(12) Melissa says:

Hi Judi! I am curious to get a follow-up on your status and to know how long you have followed the nutritional VS clinical route.

Thanks

Melissa

March 19, 2009 at 3:12 pm
(13) MScellenea says:

Like Dr. Stachowiak, I find that avoiding all gluten helps a lot in minimizing symptoms. I had a possible celiac diagnosis 6 months before my MS was discovered. I may or may not have celiac, but it never seemed worthwhile returning to that level of discomfort to prove it. (That would have meant eating gluten for a week before the test, and as one doctor put it post-MS diagnosis: “At this point, who cares? Just assume you have celiac if that diet makes you feel better.”)

I too have found the MS Recovery Diet to be helpful. I have also recently been reading works by Michael Pollan and Mark Bittman about the western way of producing food, and how it effects our national health, the environment, and the economy.

Although it has been criticized for being too strict, I find some principles of The UltraMetabolism Diet by Dr. Mark Hyman to be helpful, because it can easily concur with a philosophy of eating local, seasonal whole foods, and avoiding gluten and other allergens, additives and processing.

Investigating the use of non-gluten-containing whole foods, mostly grains, beans, vegetables, and fish, with the occasional use of grass-fed poultry, beef and dairy products has actually been interesting and enjoyable. But, I admit, I was a foodie pre-MS, and I like to cook. Not to mention that the UltraMetabolism Diet’s focus on eating ample fiber helps a bit with weight issues!

From my perspective, any thoughtful actions I do to make me feel more empowered over MS is a plus. So diet, yes. I think about every mouthful. And that makes me feel better.

March 20, 2009 at 1:57 am
(14) brady says:

fellow ms community…I would be very, very wary about opting out of taking your medications as is suggested by the MS Recovery Diet and the book’s co-authors…both of the co-authors are unqualified from a nutritional and a medical standpoint…to me, its amazing they are allowed to dispense medical advice.

August 26, 2011 at 2:07 pm
(15) Mitty says:

Drugs NEVER cure disease…they only mask the symptoms. The Pharmaceutical companies make billions of dollars a year and always show their studies to slant the facts and make you believe you can only live a better life and deal with MS with their drugs. The drug companies are against you finding out about eating natural and taking supplements and probiotics because they can’t patten and make money on anything natural. And the doctors and brain-washed by the drug companies. If you don’t believe that’s true just spend a few hours in the waiting room of your doctor’s office and watch all the drug reps come in and out to see the doctors and hand them all their free drug samples and free baseball tickets. Treating MS with drugs is a multi-million dollar a year industry.
God put everything here on the earth you need to get well. The veggies, fruits, fish, whole grains will improve your health.
The Swank MS diet has helped thousands of people life a better quality of life. Probiotics restore proper balance to a damaged immune system. Vitamin D, B12, Omega 3 is needed also.
Listen to that “small voice” inside you and you will know that natural is always better.

September 10, 2011 at 11:36 pm
(16) Casey says:

I understand your point. But to say that drugs don’t cure disease, just mask symptoms is not accounting for all of the drugs that we have, that do cure illness. We don’t have one for MS yet… but should we just not try?
What if we believed this about antibiotics?

March 20, 2009 at 11:33 pm
(17) George Jelinek says:

Dear Julie

You may find my views on diet interesting at http://www.takingcontrolofmultiplesclerosis.org. I am an academic emergency physician with MS, and my analysis of the diet literature in MS is a little different than yours.

Be well

George

March 21, 2009 at 2:13 am
(18) brady says:

Dear Dr. Jelinek,

I’ve been reading through your website…I’ve been trying to find how the ms presented itself to you initially and thereafter..have not been able to find it on your site..also, I’m interested to know what your medication history has been since your 1999 diagnosis–which drugs if any, and for what time periods…and finally, how often do you have an MRI and what have the results shown….thanks.

March 21, 2009 at 2:13 pm
(19) miscellaneous2 says:

By the way, the authors of the MS Recovery Diet do not suggest that people stop taking their meds- in fact, as they work on different principles, many people work with both treatments at the same time. It is never suggested that they stop seeing physicians either. It is not a polarizing methodology, and advocates that everything needs to be investigated to see what can help all those suffering from this dreadful illness.

March 21, 2009 at 4:50 pm
(20) brady says:

well misc.2….I just have to disagree with you…the effect of the co-authors’ presentation of the MS Recovery Diet does in fact suggest that msers opt out of taking the medications….by the way misc.2, are you on the MS Recovery Diet and/or do you currently take or have taken any ms drugs in the past?…it would be helpful for the ms community to know.

March 23, 2009 at 6:35 pm
(21) Karen de Graef says:

I have been diagnosed with MS, since 21 and I’ll be 45 in June. I have had the good fortune of being under Roy L. Swank, M.D., Ph.D. care for approximately 13 yrs. The book he wrote with his dietician, now R.N. is Barbara Dugan the book is called “The Multple Sclerosis Diet Book”. He revised it in 1977 and it’s great for newly diagnosed patients. I’m sorry you’re unable to make an appointment with him anymore, since he retired from seeing patients when he was 90 yrs. old. and “Yes” he was on the diet, but didn’t have M.S., but his first two wives did have MS and he out lived them. He is know married to another MS patient. I hope he’s doing well and many doctors do know about Dr. Swank, but doesn’t tell anyone because he wouldn’t do trials on us that harm us. That book is like my bible. I worked p/t until 1/2007 not due to my MS, but due to the budget.

March 23, 2009 at 8:41 pm
(22) brady says:

Dear Karen de Graef and others advocating various MS diet books,

It sure would be helpful to the ms community if you would give us some measure of specificity about your ms history…..how did it present it initially?…for how long?…did you initiate any medications?…did you stop medications and when if you did?….when did you initiate the diet you are touting?….have you had MRI’s during the process?…how did the disease presenting itself change course during the various events?…..please let us know. Thanks.

March 25, 2009 at 12:05 pm
(23) Jennifer S says:

I am newly diagnosed with MS, but I’ve been living with symptoms for 10 years. I have RRMS, and my symptoms are not severe when I have exacerbations, at least not at this time, although I do suffer from exhaustion and depression which I think are linked to the MS. Once I was diagnosed I was presented with this gloom and doom prognosis if I did not take medications and I was very suspicious and felt judged when I asked questions. I also want to have a child and I’m 33 and JUST got married so I’m working on that, too. I was warned about how medications can impact your fetus, but also how you can start and stop them and how that was recommended. But my research told me otherwise, and how you can build of some immunity to some of the therapies of you start and stop. I immediately started doing additional research which led me to believe that MS is indeed a lifestyle-influenced illness, at least in part. I immediately started eating healthier (I was not a terrible eater) and watching my stress level, sleep, exercise. I’m constantly learning about other alternative treatments and changes I can make to keep me off medication. I’m not saying that I’ll never take medication. I actually think I will at some point, especially if I continue to have relapses. But I just didn’t appreciate how my diagnosis and pressure to medicate immediately was handled. My Dr. dismissed everything else that wasn’t part of a pharmaceutical therapy and I thought that was very narrow minded of her. I think Dr.’s are very quick to prescribe medications and do not tread disease in a big picture sense.

March 25, 2009 at 12:08 pm
(24) Pam says:

Hello to All,

Dr. Roy Laver Swank,Neurologist and Professor
Emeritus at the Oregon Health & Sciences University, died peacefully at home in Portland, on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008. He was 99 years old. Dr. Swank had a distinguished career as an innovative medical researcher and clinician who had the respect of the world wide medical community. He was devoted to his patients and gifted with wide ranging
research interests. Ultimately his main research focus was on the etiology and treatment of multiple sclerosis where he pioneered a radical approach to treating multiple sclerosis using diet. It has proven to be the most effective treatment for
multiple sclerosis to date based on clinical evidence from thousands of patients in his care dating from the late 1940s. Although this was a primary focus of his research and patient care, his research interests were
multifaceted. These included work that led to some of the original findings on the relationship between diet and cardiovascular disease and arthrosclerosis. His research culminated in over 170 scientific papers as
well as the publication of several books on diet and multiple sclerosis including “The Swank MS Diet Book” which is still in print.

Over the past 10 years, I have communicated with Many Many people with MS who have been so fortunate as to control/manage their MS by diet (without medications). Brady, if you would like, I can give you several web sites to check it out.

Brady, I suggest that you might want to try to stay positive and know that the body has a wonderful capacity to make itself well. I am not saying that diet helps everyone, but many people say that it has kept their disease at bey. And even for those who it doesn’t hault the disease, a good diet helps everyone to feel better each and every day.

God Bless, Pam

July 1, 2011 at 12:05 pm
(25) JR says:

Dear Pam
I have been diagnosed with MS in 2007 and my neurologist belives it is PPMS. I am 56 years old and try to keep fit.. I am rewlly intereted to have more info about Dr. Swank diet and any other dets/websites as I want to be sure that I am not eating the wrong food..
Thank you and God bless
JR

March 25, 2009 at 12:39 pm
(26) Shannon says:

I have been living with MS symptoms for 13 years but was diagnosed in 2004. I am taking injections for the disease but have tried different diets including the Swank diet, I know from my own experience of going on the Swank diet and then coming back off of it, it did help TREMENDOUSLY.
I am also a migraine sufferer. I had taken many medications that treat the migraine but then lose their power after so long. My Neuro said it was MS related, not a thing we could do except contineing to change migraine meds.
Well I decided to do my own research and after a couple of months of writing ever single ingredient down in every food I ate, I found out it was the high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup in nearly every thing I ate including the bread I was eating and the juice I was drinking. I am also thinking sucrose too but don’t have enough info to confirm that just yet.
Honestly to say diet doesn’t have anything to do with it seems ridiculous to me because we take in the nutrional value of everything we eat, if it has high vit. B our bodies take it in and use it, if it has high fat our bodies do the same.
Every single time I eat tuna fish my mouth goes numb, obviously I am reacting to that food. Our bodies react to every thing around us,especially things we put in it so to keep the fat content low in our diets would only make sense.
Positive thinking will get you a long way too. I also know that from experience. Healthy foods help your mind think positively.
When I was diagnosed with MS, I had been suffering for two weeks with Vertigo and couldn’t walk or talk, everyone thought I was drunk. Well I had been on the Atkins diet for about two weeks before that. (I needed to lose about 5 pounds). Does that have anything to do with it? I don’t know for sure but I know for MY body it didn’t help. My friend has been on Atkins for 5 years and doesn’t have a health issue. So some of us need to listen to our bodies more carefully then others, I suppose.
Stay positive and keep the faith

March 25, 2009 at 5:10 pm
(27) Margie says:

To Shannon, Have your migraines subsided now? I too have a problem with migraines. Since the start of my MS symptoms (May 2004) my migraines have increased in intensity and frequency. My neurologist never made a correlation with my MS. Maxalt works for me now to take the pain away but I am taking it way too often. I think I may try eliminating high fructose corn syrup,too and see what happens! It certainly will be good for my health no matter what!

March 25, 2009 at 7:40 pm
(28) brady says:

Pam,

Thank you for weighing in on this issue….by the way, I am very positive…I am as happy, content & optimistic as I have ever been in life….a casual reading of my comments shows that I have been requesting for those touting various ms diet books to give us some empirical information about their personal ms history to help us in considering their viewpoint…well, I’m still waiting for someone to do so, including you….reading your comment, I have no way of knowing whether or not you even have ms….instead, I would have thought you were a publicist for Dr. Swank…..in any event, I appreciate you saying something and I will look into Dr. Swank’s research….thanks.

March 25, 2009 at 10:26 pm
(29) Pam says:

Brady, Thanks for responding. I would definitely check out Dr. Swank’s diet plan. Also, you might want to look up Ashton Embry who is a Ph.D. in Canada whose son has MS and has haulted it’s progression with diet and supplements. (www.direct-ms.org) As I mentioned above, I can give you links to people with MS that I have communicated with for the past 10 years who have kept their MS under control. You also might want to check out the site msrc.co.uk. If you read the articles in the New Pathways Magazine, you will find articles written by Ashton Embry, Ph.D. on the benefits of Vitamin D and also others who have had success with diet. Because MS is so complex, I am not saying that diet will halt the progression with everyone, but even if diet only helps to make one’s body stronger and better able to deal with the challenges of MS, what has one got to lose. As to whether I have MS, I have not been officially diagnosed because I do not want to have a spinal tap, but 2 neurologists have said that I have a couple of “white spots” on my brain MRI that could be MS, or they could be aging. They could not rule out MS, but since I have had symptoms for 30 years, they felt I would have a mild form of MS. Recently, my 31 year old son was diagnosed with MS, and I have a cousin with MS. So, the likelihood of my really having MS are pretty good. Good luck to you. Pam

March 25, 2009 at 10:51 pm
(30) brady says:

Pam…thanks for responding…what symptoms have you had over the last 30 years–how long did/have they lasted?….how and when have you treated them?

March 26, 2009 at 4:55 am
(31) Ann says:

I was diagnosed RRMS 2.5 years ago and went straight into research mode on diet or anything that could help me. I read Swank’s and Jelinek’s books and they gave me enormous hope; I have followed the low fat diet from the start and also taken Copaxone. I NEVER want to look back from any state of disability and wish I’d tried something more to help myself – sorry to be so direct, but I found that the motivation to give up chocolate isn’t so hard when faced with the possibility of being unable to walk.
I have not had a relapse now in 12 months and lead a full & healthy life. The Copaxone could well be having an effect (I hope it does work) but the low fat diet has a longer and fuller history of success and I totally believe in it. I find that most people that dismiss diet as having insufficent ‘proof’ think they can’t live without chips & other ‘comfort food’ – but anyone can. I don’t believe that medication is the answer to this disease, or if it is, it’s LDN which is a different story. If I had to give up one or the other I’d drop the injections.
Give the diet a go, people, you owe it to yourselves :-)

March 26, 2009 at 4:14 pm
(32) Rachel says:

Pam – why do you not want to have a spinal tap? It may not rule out MS, it can identify other conditions that can produce MS-like symptoms.

March 26, 2009 at 11:19 pm
(33) Debbie says:

This is an interesting discussion – Thanks Julie for the great work you do to make this possible.

April 1, 2009 at 1:21 pm
(34) Pam says:

Over the past 30 years, I have had numbness and tingling, heaviness in my feet when wearing tennis shoes, weakness and fatigue, dizziness and balance issues, cloudiness of vision, electrical like feelings in my arms/legs. These things started in 1976. They stopped for awhile and then started up again on a couple of occasions. They were not present when I was pregnant, but showed up again after childbirth. I cannot see any reason to have a spinal tap. Thankfully, my symptoms are not so bad that I would choose to go on a MS medication. I control these symptoms with diet and exercise.

April 1, 2009 at 2:08 pm
(35) Lorraine says:

Just a thought for Pam,
Although you may not have significant symptoms, MS is always working in the background. The purpose of these therapies is to really mitigate the ongoing effects caused in the background, which you may not consciously be aware of. Don’t forgo the diet and exercise, but don’t dismiss treatment just because you have no overt signs or symptoms at this time. I’m just recently diagnosed with RRMS adn will be starting treatment this week actually. All things in combination to give the best long-term prognosis is my philosophy. As well, the spinal tap was part of my diagnosis and certainly not the scary event that I had heard report of. Good luck to you ongoing.

April 1, 2009 at 2:18 pm
(36) brady says:

Pam,

I agree with Lorraine….also, do you have MRI’s over time that would help chart the progression/suppression?

April 1, 2009 at 3:14 pm
(37) Pam says:

Yes, I do have MRIs over time, at least over the past 10 years. My neuro (2 of them) said that it is quite possible that I do have MS because of the white spots on my brain MRI, but if I did have it (I am 56 now), my case would seem rather mild and they wouldn’t put me on medications now any way. The more research that I read shows that the medications MAY help to slow down the progression in the beginning but in the long term, they have not shown to been significantly helpful. And who knows what the long-term side effects of these medications will be after they have been around for more than 16 years. So for now, I’ll continue on with the regimine that has been helpful for the past 30+ years. Thanks!

May 11, 2009 at 1:59 pm
(38) Patrick B says:

My teacher’s friend was recently diagnosed with MS. The patient’s sister insists that a proper diet will cure her MS. And while speculation is high, it doesn’t seem to hurt. Really, the proof is in the pudding.

May 12, 2009 at 9:01 pm
(39) Bart says:

Diagnossed in 95 tingling in waist and feet. put off treatment until my wife and I had our two daughters youngest born in 1999. Started avonex held that course five years, then tysarbri, then chemo, now rituxin, started out walking now have lost ability to walk un assisted legs lock hips lost almost all range of motion no longer able to ride my trike have done diets and all lesions have halted slightly since Rituxin hundreds of MRI’s thourghout the years been blind also been bed bound if a diet worked I would still be on it. I have not found one yet. Live life to the fullest enjoy each day and stay positive. Only true neg I can tell you I notice is cigarettes. If I smoke one it will truely enhance my symptoms, on the other hand a few beers and my legs function better. Go figure. Good luck to all first time I have ever written or spoke with any MS group since I have been diagnossed. Until this one most I have read or heard just whine.

May 25, 2009 at 1:26 pm
(40) Rebecca says:

Greetings to all and thank you for the discussions. I’ve been “in the closet” for many years with ms- no one in my family or friends knows about my diagnosis and so they expect me to be as healthy as they are. My husband knows but that’s about it outside of medical people.
I’ve been incredibly lucky (so far) to have a very mild case. I’ve managed with diet and rest as needed. I’ve always loved exercise- running, yoga and manage stress with relaxation\meditation exercises. I eat a very simple diet including fresh fruit and vegetables- (raw and lightly cooked). I have a modest (i count them!) amount of nuts- almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts and seeds-sesame,sunflower,pumpkin. Again I measure! and add to my raw salads. I have oily fish a few times a week. And perhaps one egg omelet a week. I also have a little chicken about once a week. I found that bread (baked goods generally) and wine both made me tired!- so as a rule I avoid them and feel much better without them. I’ve always avoided fast food, excess sugar and salt. As long as I keep to my routine- early bedtime, early morning exercise and yoga, eating well and lightly- and maintain a balance and harmony in my outlook (a news addict, I’ve learned to switch off the news!),I’ve done o.k. without drugs. I pay attention to the latest developments- I have great respect for what modern medicine can do- and when a really effective (for me) drug comes along I’ll take it of course. But for now anyway I go with Hippocrates:”let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food.”
Good luck to all whatever your choices. Keep calm, stay happy! Rebecca

September 4, 2009 at 12:30 pm
(41) Rani says:

Hi I’m almost 18 and I was 11 when I got diagnosis M.S. I am having lots of problems with my body and I don’t know what to do if there is something or someone there to help me

December 18, 2009 at 12:58 pm
(42) Andrй Bessler says:

It’s hard to know that so many people suffer needlessly while there is no lack of knowledge about the facts of healthy living and save treatment as proclaimed by Dr. Roy Laver Swank, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and many more. I wonder why the medical community doesn’t tell the public that the need for ms-therapy (or what they may call it) almost always can be totally eliminated by adopting a plant based diet. For sure, that old saying: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!” has application here.

Andre Bessler of Bremen, Germany

January 4, 2010 at 12:54 pm
(43) Tatiana says:

Hi, I heard the Zone diet really makes a difference. So, my dad, who is the one that has MS is trying it for 3 months and we are comitted to blogging about it… Lets hope for the best.
Our blog is: http://zonedietandms.blogspot.com/

January 24, 2010 at 5:53 pm
(44) Louise says:

For most of the diets, the evidence is not there (though if the diet is not extreme, there usually is no harm in it).

I find it quite irresponsible when people make sweeping statements like this. I see Dr Jelinek has replied and I find his book extremely analytical and objective on diet and MS links and other therapies. He presents some very strong evidence about a link between fats and MS for example, as has Dr Swank before him.

You also have to remember that millions of pounds is not pumped into research on diet and alternative therapies like there is in drugs, because there isn’t millions to be made from diet. We should keep an open mind, and people shouldn’t put others off like this.

January 29, 2010 at 3:04 pm
(45) Anita says:

I’ve had MS for 23 years. I’ve had everything from foot-drop to double-vision. I have no disability due to Dr. Swank’s diet. My exacerbations come when I feel SO GOOD & NORMAL that I start cheating on the diet…no more. I’ll be staring on Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN). My neurologist says it is SUPERIOR TO THE CRAB DRUGS and has very little side effects. He says it stops the progression of MS! Also, it’s CHEAP. Please everybody, if you haven’t heard of LDN, research it! There is tons of info if you google LDN. Start at this website: http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/

March 15, 2010 at 10:58 pm
(46) Chiqui Domenech says:

Hi: I was diagnosed with mild MS 9 months ago. I was looking for information in regard or excersise and diet when I found this site. Will be buying soon the book to follow the diet. All my life I have had symptons, taking physical therapy for almost 34 years and it was only when I went to a protein diet that my symptoms got worse. An MRI confirm the condition. I’m not taking medication by now. My nephew also has the condition although a few more of my family members has some of the symtoms. It was good for me to read about you all.
Thanks for the experience.

April 13, 2010 at 11:58 am
(47) james says:

i need help im always depressed and cant or wont do anything about it what should i do

May 10, 2010 at 8:37 pm
(48) tim says:

brady sounds like one of those MS drug-pushers over at cafepharma. After reading that stuff, there’s no one in hell my sister is taking any of that so-called medicine.

They don’t even know if the stuff even works and most people on it are complaining of every side-effect under the sun, not to mention, the deaths from Tysabri. It’s all a money-making scheme to me. They don’t profit if you actually get BETTER.

Change your diet and lifestyle and pray – a lot – something I don’t see Mr. brady even mentioning.

July 14, 2010 at 3:35 pm
(49) LYNDA Strecker says:

I JUST FINISHED READING THE MS RECOVERY DIET BOOK AND PLAN TO TRY IT. IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND IT SPEAKS FOR ITSSELF~A POWERFUL MESSAGE BUT NOT AN EASY PLAN; HOWEVER, IF I CAN REGAIN MY MOBILITY ,WHAT MORE COULD I ASK FOR? IT IS SO WORTH THE EFFORT. MEDS R NOT EFFECTIVE! BRADY SOUNDS LIKE A LOBBYIST FOR “BIG PHARMA”.

November 20, 2011 at 8:22 am
(50) Bo says:

Hi Linda!

I was diagnosed 5 months ago and I’m on BBD for almost a month now. I”m trying to get as mush info as possible.
Excuse my curiosity, but did you try the diet? What was its efect and more important did your mobility improve?

November 21, 2010 at 1:24 am
(51) R. Seekins says:

The Swank Diet is the simplest and most effective treatment for MS. Yes, it is only a low saturated fat diet: 5-15 grams or as less as you want.

Brady you are narcissistic and defensive. Read Oregon Health and Science University’s papers and Dr. Swanks papers, then have an opinion. Your book is a ripoff of his early work and you don’t even know it.

February 10, 2011 at 2:34 pm
(52) Margaret says:

I was diagnosed with RRMS 2-1/2 years ago and have followed a plant-based diet for the last 1-1/2 years. I am familiar with all of the scientific evidence showing the benefits of a vegan diet (Swank,Campbell, etc.) and I feel so much better since I have stopped eating animal products. The problem is, my neurologist thinks it’s nonsense. I would like to consult with a Cleveland area neurologist who can help evaluate the need to continue taking Avonex in light of my current good health and healthy lifestyle. Any suggestions?

August 15, 2011 at 11:58 am
(53) Whitney says:

I am going to MS blogs and searching ‘diet’ to see where people are about using diet to alleviate MS symptoms. I can see on this blog that someone has already burned the diet bridge for everyone here by advocating the seriously flawed Swank diet. I am trying to spread the word about the incredible success I have had with the autoimmune protocol of the paleo diet. I started a web site to help people navigate the diet and my goal is to write a book about my experience. In the course of researching and talking to people about it I have found mostly apathy when it comes to dietary solutions. Which is totally understandable. I suggest reading ‘The Paleo Solution’ by Robb Wolf or ‘The Paleo Solution’ by Loren Cordain for a mind changing experience. And, if you happen to adopt the diet and find success or if you have questions, I would love it if you checked out my web site or my FB page, both titled nutrisclerosis.

March 20, 2012 at 1:03 am
(54) Veronica says:

I am 21 and have a six month baby. I was diagnosed with RRMS in January when my daughter was 4 months. I had optic neuritis and recovered my full vision, I just have minor color deficiency in my left eye. Will the color ever go back to normal? I am going to begin Copaxone this month and I’m wondering what other people have experienced with this treatment. I would also like to know what is the best way to try to better my health. I am recently diagnosed and I’m honestly scared. I want to be around for my daughter the most that I can. If you have any sincere suggestions, please let me know. Thank you.

April 19, 2012 at 10:56 am
(55) Beth says:

Hi, my husband has been diagnosed with ms for 16 years and has not had any relapses since being on capaxone only side effect is slight irratation were injected for a night he has been taking it for over 7 years and had regular mris with no evidence of anymore legions yay. I hope this personal experience helps. His cousin female 24 is also on the treatment for 2 years with same results.

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