Choices
Diet and nutrition
Read me… Diet and nutrition In 2007 Dr Wahls worked with Functional Medicine, an organisation focused on
working with doctors to improve the health A well-balanced, healthy diet is important of people with chronic illnesses. for everybody to maintain optimum health.
Many people diagnosed with MS have As a result, Dr Wahls designed a diet to questions about whether changes to their replace the supplements called the Wahls diet and nutrition can assist in symptom Protocol™. This diet is based on key management. Although not conclusively elements of the ‘hunter-gatherer’ diet. Dr proven, a number of people with MS have Wahls attributes this protocol to an found that, by changing their diet, they improvement in her health and motor find relief from some of their MS function. She can now walk without symptoms. mobility aids and cycles to work.
Several diets have been created with MS Dr Wahls uses these diets and protocols in mind. Similar themes run through these in her primary care and traumatic brain diets; most involve talking supplements injury clinics. She is also leading a clinical and restricting or eliminating food groups. trial to test her protocols on others.
Here is an overview of a selection of the Dr Wahls recipes are gluten-, dairy- and more popular diets. egg-free.
The Wahls Protocol The Swank diet
Dr Terry Wahls is a clinical professor of Another diet which people with MS have medicine at the University of Iowa. In reported to have found beneficial is the 2000 she was diagnosed with relapsing- Swank diet. Dr Roy Swank began his remitting MS. A diagnosis of secondary research over 60 years ago in 1948. His progressive MS followed in 2003. As her observations of the prevalence of MS in condition progressed, Dr Wahls started to certain geographies led him to believe use a tilt-recline wheelchair, a situation there was a correlation between MS and that continued for four years. diet. Dr Swank believed a low fat diet
would help to alleviate some MS Shortly after Dr Wahls underwent symptoms. chemotherapy in an attempt to arrest the progression of her condition, she began The Swank diet recommends a reduction re-reading and re-learning everything she in consumption of saturated and had previously studied about unsaturated fat which can be found in biochemistry, immunology and cell meat (particularly red meat) and biology. She designed a regime of processed foods, dairy and products supplements to ‘feed the brain’. containing dairy.
Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets
The Swank diet also recommends taking The Paleo diet is based on nutrient-rich, cod liver oil and vitamins. organic wholefoods including meat and fish, fruit and vegetables (particularly The Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis diet green leafy vegetables and berries), seeds (particularly sprouted seeds) and Drawing on the Swank research, nuts, fermented foods such as kimchi and Professor George Jelinek’s approach sauerkraut. focuses on a plant-based, very low saturated fat diet, with omega 3 The Paleo diet restricts the consumption supplements in the form of fish, fish oil or of processed foods including some flaxseed oil. Professor Jelinek was processed oils (sunflower oil, corn oil for diagnosed with MS in 1999. His mother example), dairy produce, legumes (beans, also had MS. chick peas, soy beans), flour and all sources of refined sugar. It aims to The Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis diet is eliminate all pesticides and additives from part of a whole program that also includes the diet while increasing essential amino supplements, vitamin D, exercise and and fatty acids. meditation. Because the Paleo diet is based on high- Professor Jelinek’s foundation holds quality animal and fish proteins, it is not retreats in Australia and the UK. The suitable for vegetarians. The Paleo diet retreats support people with MS in making can be challenging and some the lifestyle changes to follow the supplementation may be required as the program. Paleo diet can be low in calcium.
The Paleo diet The Best Bet diet
The Paleo diet advocates that people Ashton Embry Ph.D. first wrote about the return to the diet of our ancestors from link between MS and nutrition in 1996. His Paleolithic times – an era where there was Best Bet Diet is based on the theory that no modern farming and people were an autoimmune process is ignited by hunter-gathers, consuming food they undigested food proteins escaping caught or foraged for. through the gut wall into the circulatory system. The immune system sees these The Paleo diet is centered on the idea that proteins as invaders and starts to attack. the modern diet might be a cause of He refers to this as ‘leaky gut syndrome’. modern health problems. There is a suggestion that the Paleo diet can be Ashton Embry believes that the molecular helpful for conditions such as is diabetes, structure of the protein of certain foods is obesity, heart disease and also multiple very similar to the proteins in myelin. The sclerosis. immune system cannot tell the difference between these food proteins and its own
Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets
cells and attacks the myelin as well as the identify which foods have escaped across food proteins. the leaky gut (if any) in the past. There may be a hypersensitivity issue which is The Best Bet Diet says that stopping, or contributing to the leaky gut syndrome. restricting the consumption of foods that have a molecular structure similar to In addition to The Best Bet Diet, other MS- myelin, reduces the autoimmune related diets and lifestyle books also response. Foods that are said to have a recommend the taking of supplements. A similar structure to myelin are: list of these can be found at the end of this leaflet. Dairy – including all animal milks and butters, cheeses and yoghurts Please note this list is not exhaustive and made from animal milks and all these are not the only diets those with MS products that contain them. A have found beneficial. However these are suitable alternative is rice milk or the main diets specifically designed with low-fat coconut milk MS in mind. Gluten – found in wheat, rye, oats and barley, and all products Leaky Gut Syndrome containing them. These can be replaced by rice, corn, quinoa and From the NHS Choices website: gluten-free flours and grains ‘Proponents of ‘leaky gut syndrome’ claim Legumes – beans, peas and many symptoms and diseases are caused pulses, especially soya, and all by the immune system reacting to germs, products containing them. All other toxins or other large molecules that have vegetables are allowed been absorbed into the bloodstream via a Refined Sugar – although not a porous (‘leaky’) bowel. protein, refined sugar is believed to make leaking of food proteins ‘There is little evidence to support this worse. Alternative natural theory, and no evidence that so-called sweetening agents include honey, “treatments’ for “leaky gut syndrome’, maple syrup, fruit sugar (fructose) such as nutritional supplements and a and stevia gluten-free diet, have any beneficial effect for most of the conditions they are claimed It is also suggested that a person wishing to help.’ to follow the Best Bet Diet has an ELISA blood test to identify the foods they may Information about leaky gut syndrome is be sensitive to. Details of the ELISA blood included in this leaflet in order to provide a test are below. balanced view and further context for the diets based on the theory of leaky gut As an additional precaution, it is syndrome. suggested that an ELISA blood test is carried out (further details below) to
Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets
What is Leaky Gut Syndrome? How do you treat Leaky Gut Syndrome? It is suggested that this allows partially digested food to pass through the gut and You can take supplements such as into the bloodstream, meaning nutrients are lost and an autoimmune response Glutamine - the main fuel for cells triggered. of the intestine and promotes healing of the gut lining It is suggested that typical symptoms of Probiotics, for example leaky gut syndrome include Lactobacillus bifidus – friendly bacteria which counteract the bad Fatigue bacteria or candida and boost the Muscle ache immune system Abdominal pain Antioxidants – e.g. Raised temperature proanthocyanidins from grape General malaise seeds, pycnogenal from pine bark, Food allergies Vitamin C Poor exercise tolerance Vitamin E Gingko Biloba What causes Leaky Gut Syndrome? Zinc Cats Claw Leaky gut could be caused by a number Slippery Elm of things including candida, nutritional deficiencies, refined sugar, stress, trauma, alcohol or tobacco. Candida
How do you test for Leaky Gut What is candida? Syndrome? Candida is a natural fungus of the gut. It is The standard test for leaky gut syndrome believed it can proliferate through the gut is a mannitol and lactulose test. The test and cause leaky gut syndrome. involves drinking a solution containing both these substances and then having a Typical symptoms of candida include: urine test six hours later. The amount of each substance in the urine is measured. General malaise If high levels of both mannitol and Low energy lactulose are detected then this indicates Bloated and heavy gut a leaky gut. Recurring infections
Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets
What causes candida? Cambridge Nutritional Sciences also offer a candida test which can be done at the Candida can be caused by the over-use of same time as the ELISA test. antibiotics, the contraceptive pill, long term use of steroids and some other drugs ELISA testing is also available for which can destroy the healthy gut vegetarians and vegans at a reduced rate. bacteria. Yeasts, parasites and bacteria may also be a trigger. For more information about these tests please contact MS-UK. How do you test for candida? Suggested supplements A simple home-testing kit is available to test for candida. (See ELISA tests below) There are a number of supplements which
have been found to be beneficial in people How is candida treated? with MS. The most common are listed
below, however for a more Tests for candida are not generally comprehensive list, please visit our available on the NHS, beyond testing for website. candida in the vagina or penis (also known as thrush) and oral thrush. Vitamin D
A simple home-testing kit is available. See Some research suggests there is a link details of ELISA tests below. between the development of MS and
vitamin D deficiency. ELISA testing
Calcium and magnesium An ELISA test is a blood test for food intolerances. These minerals are both essential to the
normal function of muscles, not only in MS-UK currently offers two options for muscle contraction but also in maintaining ELISA tests from Cambridge Nutritional an appropriate level of muscle tone during Sciences or York Laboratories. They are periods of relaxation. The occurrence of home tests and there is no need to visit a muscle cramp due to spasm is well known doctor. A special kit will be sent to your to be associated with calcium deficiency. home from the laboratory. All you need to The recommended daily dose is at least do is prick your to release enough blood 1,000mg of calcium and 500mg of to soak a small swab. The test results will magnesium. show if you are intolerant to 60-200 foods
(depending on which option you chose) and the degree to which you are intolerant.
Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets
Omega 3 and 6 Further information
Omega 3 and Omega 6 are essential fatty Dr Terry Wahls acids. Omega 3 is needed for the normal www.terrywahls.com function of the nervous system and the production of myelin. Omega 6 helps to The Best Bet diet regulate the immune system and has anti- www.direct-ms.org/bestbet viral properties. These essential fatty www.ms-diet.org acids can be found in the following supplements: The Swank diet
www.swankmsdiet.org Fish oil supplements (e.g. cod liver oil) - high in Omega 3 Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Evening primrose oil or starflower www.overcomingms.org oil – both are high in Omega 6 Flaxseed oil or hemp seed oil – The Paleo diet both contain a good balance of http://thepaleodiet.com both Omega 3 and Omega 6 http://paleoleap.com/
B vitamins NHS Choices www.nhs.uk The B vitamins are needed for the normal functioning of the nerves and brain, and Nutritionist Resource for the repair and maintenance of tissue. www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk Vitamin B12 is needed for a healthy myelin sheath, nervous system and bone marrow. It is recommended that 100mg of vitamin B complex and 1mg of vitamin Further reading B12 is taken to ensure optimum levels of these important vitamins. Vitamin D www.ms-uk.org/choiceslife Please consult your GP or neurology specialist before starting to take any supplements.
Helpline: 0800 783 0518 www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets
How we create our Choices leaflets
MS-UK believes we must listen to the voices of people affected by multiple sclerosis to shape the information and support we provide. It is these people that bring us perspectives that no one else can give.
For every Choices leaflet we produce, MS-UK consults the wider MS community to gather feedback, and uses this to inform content. All of our Choices leaflets are then reviewed by the MS-UK Virtual Insight Panel before they are published.
Thank you to everyone affected by MS who made this leaflet possible.
Sources • None cited
Keep in Touch
MS-UK Unsworth House | Hythe Quay | Colchester | Essex | CO2 8JF Tel: 01206 226500 MS-UK Helpline: 0800 783 0518 [email protected]
@MSUK6 Helpline:MultipleSclerosisUK 0800 783 0518
Date: December 2015 Registeredwww.ms Charity Number: 1033731-uk.org/choicesleaflets www.ms-uk.org/choicesleaflets