Well-balanced diets are essential for maintaining good health and even more important if there is a chronic condition such as multiple sclerosis. Determining what the best diet is for multiple sclerosis patients is one of the things a nutritionist will help with when providing advice for living with multiple sclerosis. The nutritionist knows that body needs to have proper nutrition for energy and fighting infection.
Planning the MS Diet
People with multiple sclerosis can work with a nutritionist to plan their diet and they can use information compiled by doctors, nutritionists and other MS patients to put together a personalized diet plan. Some of this nutritional information is presented below to help get the diet plan started.
The most obvious place to start is with foods that should be avoided. Food allergies should be taken into consideration and listed so that they are not accidentally included in the diet plan. Dairy products should be limited in quantity as they have a tendency to make the body more acidic and also more prone to disease.
Inflammation is a major source of painful symptoms for people who have multiple sclerosis. Foods that are natural anti-inflammatory agents should be included in the diet to help prevent a host of other symptoms from occurring. The following foods have natural anti-inflammatory properties:
- Seeds and nuts: walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts are excellent not only for their anti-inflammatory properties but also due to their protein and omega-three fatty acid content.
- Herb and spices: Basil, cocoa, mint, cinnamon, chili pepper and cloves are excellent for preventing inflammation and also have anti-oxidant properties.
- Oils: Olive oil and vegetable oil both fight inflammation.
- Seafood: Salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel and oysters are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and help prevent inflammation in the MS patient.
- Fruits and vegetables: Green leafy vegetables not only fight inflammation but are packed with antioxidants. Some of the best choices include broccoli, cabbage, collards, spinach, green beans, bells pepper and other leafy vegetables. Fruits include strawberries, raspberries, limes, tomatoes, orange, guava and many other fresh fruit.
Fresh foods, such as those included above are a must when preparing a diet for multiple sclerosis. Processed foods should be avoided as they are typically very high in sodium which can lead to inflammation and serious pain. Utilizing fresh foods helps the body with digestion and aids in staying as healthy as possible. It may take a little more effort to prepare fresh foods but the end result is a powerful tool for coping with multiple sclerosis. The body is better able to absorb vitamins and nutrients from fresh foods.
Foods to Avoid
Many nutritionists and people with multiple sclerosis have found that a gluten free diet is an excellent plan for living with the disease. Gluten is found in many processed foods and in order to eliminate it, the packages must be read to find out what the ingredients include. Flour, barley, oats and rye should not be an ingredient. Gluten free is becoming a popular was of living for many people and so manufacturers have begun indicating on the package when a product is gluten free.
There has been a correlation found between saturate fat and processed meats such as sausage and lunch meats and the incidence of multiple sclerosis. This would make these products foods that should not be included in the diet plan.
Sugar should be avoided and alternatives such as honey used in its place. There are many unsweetened fruit juices that can be used in place of high sugar ones as well as many other low-sugar and alternative sweetener products.
High-fat foods should be avoided by everyone; however, the multiple sclerosis diet should make an extra effort to avoid saturated fats. Skinless chicken, fish and other seafood are meat choices that have little or no saturated feet.
Water
The importance of water in the diet cannot be overstated. Everyone needs to drink at least 8 (8 oz.) glasses of water and the person with multiple sclerosis is no different. Water keeps the body hydrated and the cells in the body healthy. Healthy cells help keep some of the symptoms that are associated with multiple sclerosis at bay.
Overall, the diet for multiple sclerosis is simply a very healthy diet that is perfect for anyone, not just the person with MS. The diet is filled with healthy, unprocessed foods that are low in saturated fat and packed with fresh fruits and vegetables. While there are some foods that should be avoided, such as gluten and sugar, those same foods should be avoided by anybody wanting to eat healthy. If the doctor feels that a special diet is required, a nutritionist will help plan out what should and should not be included to make the diet an MS healthy diet.