Guest Blog Post: Dr. Terry Wahls Recruiting for Diet Study

TWO MS DIET STUDIES are RECRUITING

MS Diet Study Research Opportunity Worldwide 

Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are very interested in dietary approaches to managing MS-related symptoms. 

Unfortunately, there is not a lot of research on which diet people should follow. Research has mostly focused on which supplements to take. Studying food choices and diet is much more complicated and equally as important. 

Right now there are two studies planned to examine if there specific diets that help reduce MS-related symptoms.

To find out the impact of specific diets, we need participants. Please consider enrolling in these two studies. 

  Dr. Terry Wahls  

1st STUDY:  Dietary Approaches to Treating MS-Related Fatigue 

Dr. Terry Wahls does clinical research at the University of Iowa, studying diet in the setting of multiple sclerosis. We are conducting an interventional study to understand how diet can affect fatigue. 

In our study we will be comparing the effectiveness of the low–saturated fat diet (Swank) and the modified Paleo (Wahls Elimination) for reducing the severity of MS-related fatigue symptoms and quality of life.   

The study lasts 36 weeks. We conduct baseline assessments and ask participants to continue eating their usual diet for 12 weeks, during which time there are repeat assessments. Then patients are randomized to one of the two study diets, trained on their assigned diet, and receive coaching calls to help them successfully adopt and sustain the study diet. There are repeat assessments 12 and 24 weeks later. 

We are currently recruiting participants and will continue recruiting through early 2019. Participants must have a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS, fatigue, and live within 500 miles of Iowa City, Iowa. This includes the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin, and parts of Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. 

Individuals interested in being considered for enrollment in this study may complete screening questionnaires and use code JMJPYEJHP. 

For questions, please email MSDietStudy@healthcare.uiowa.edu or call 319-384-5002.

2nd Study:  Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Multiple Sclerosis  

The second study is an observational study being conducted at Bastyr University for people with MS, optic neuritis, or clinically isolated syndrome. The survey asks participants about their diet, complementary and alternative medicine use, current symptoms, and quality of life. 

Participants are asked to complete surveys twice a year. Because it follows people over time, this study can also help answer questions about which diet is associated with better quality of life and fewer MS-related symptoms. 

Also, because this is a survey-only study, people can participate from all over the globe. You can learn more about this study and complete the surveys using this link.

Please consider participating in these important studies and encourage others to consider participating as well. Changing clinical practice so dietary advice is part of the care for people with MS requires research that asks the question, “Can diet reduce MS disease severity?”  

We have two studies asking that question. MS researchers from around the globe including myself and the MS community are anxiously awaiting the results from these studies. I hope you’ll consider participating. 

We’d love to include you! 

Fact-checked, scientific-based, articles
about diet, nutrition and multiple sclerosis:

MS and a Fish Diet

MS and Probiotics

MS and Leafy Greens

MS and Healthy Diets

Find Your Compression Socks, Stockings, and Leggings Today at DiscountSurgical.com!

Creating your own health: Using Diet & Nutrition to Treat MS

Wow. 23 years later.  Probably one of my biggest factors in managing my MS symptoms is the use of diet and nutrition.  During my three years in the double-blind, T-cell study, back in 2001, my hopes were on nutrition and all things alternative.  I willingly went off all DMD in search of a cure for MS.  But then reality set in, and it was all engines forward in the battle of natural ways to fight the progression of this disease.

Sporting my flower peace wreath

There is a lot of incoming research on Diet and MS.  There are also some active clinical trials.

Click this out:  Here is my article on Diet as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Diet - or better yet, a nutritional protocol, is essential in my daily battle against MS.  If my daily intake has too much salt, too much caffeine, too much gluten, too many processed foods, then I will pay the price.  And while that price may not be paid that same day, trust you me that it will not forget and will rear its ugly head.  And, more often than not, all of the prices will want to be paid on the same day at the same time, wreaking complete havoc on your life.

Go for color when cooking and creating healthy menus 

Fresh lemon is key!  Use in water, tea, baths, etc.

 #refresh

Click here for my article on Diet as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Become friends with your body and find a new level of wellness.  

Welcome to living with multiple sclerosis.   As you know it often does not bode well for us MS patients.  Out diseases are random and progress willy nilly.  But there are modifiable risk factors that we can take into consideration to help us strive for the best life possible despite's our illness.  These risk factors include cigarette smoke, alcohol, nutrition, supplement intake, exercise, and other situations that we have control over.

~if need be - pee on it and walk away~

Cig smoking is bad.  Bottomline, cut it out.  Alcohol is considered OK in moderation.  Consult with your neurologist or medical expert.  Often people find that Vitamin D, B12 and Biotin can all be beneficial supplements.  In addition, the nrf2 activator, Protandim, is found to be great at fighting oxidative stress.

So, that brings us to Diet, or nutritional protocol.   Everyone is different so finding a protocol that works best for you is key.

Gluten free bread is an option.
Here it is paired with home-made soup and fresh salmon salad.

One person who is making a difference with diet and MS is Dr. Terry Wahls and her Wahl's Protocol. I had the great fortune of speaking with Dr. Wahls a few weeks ago for an article I was writing for Healthline.com - "Diet as a possible treatment for MS".   And wow!   So much great information going on with diet and MS.

The Wahl's Protocol is a modified paleolithic diet.  More about it click here. For those who do not know, Dr. Wahls has made diet a form of treatment for progressive MS.  Thank you Dr. Wahls!   I have been following and almost identical diet based on my own experience for over 15 years.  It is the number 1 "go to" when things are going bad with my MS.

And if you don't have fresh flowers, the fake ones are fun too!

First, I ask myself:  How is my diet?  Where am I going wrong?   And most of the time, this usually fixes it for m!   Like I say, everyone is different.  This is one reason I love the Wahl's Protocol - as it suggests elimination type diets to see what you personally are sensitive to and this is BIG!

Here is my article on Diet as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.

Here are some food common sensitivities:

Processed foods
Salt
Gluten
Red meat
Simple carbs
Sugar
Sodas
Diet anything / excitotoxins or NaStY for MS
Dairy....

FYI - I eat dairy.  Cheese.  I tried to take it out of my diet once and my boss told me to add it back as the rest of the staff was complaining about my horrid mood.  That was near 30 years ago and I haven't tried to remove it since~  I don't eat a lot of it but like it now and then.   I will willingly cut everything else out, before the cheese~

Lately I haven't been able to eat much meat.  My body, probably due to the warm summer months, is craving cooling salads and fresh fruit.  Unfortunately I like beer, especially in the summer months.  It's not the alcohol that bothers me but rather the carbs and gluten.  Talk about a weight gainer!  And then if I add bread....Oh dear save me.

Last winter I made the mistake of letting way too much beer, bread and gluten get into my diet.  Showing no restraint at all for about six months eventually led to a 15 pound weight gain, horrid dry skin and then the dreaded MS relapse!   Ugh.

My vertigo and vision got so bad that driving was out of the question...even just to a friends house.  Lethargic and inflamed my life consisted of laying in bed and "trying" to motivate.  Oh how I hate this feeling!   My skin was dry and eczema appeared all over.  Hair loss was abundant and my breath was so bad it even grossed me out.   What have I done?  So healthy last summer and then wowza, what a defeat brought on by my own weaknesses.

Time to make a change!

Feeling the summer spirit, light and fresh!

Nothing huge at first, just cut the carbs back down to no more than 10% of diet or so.  Eliminated processed foods again and removed gluten for the most part.  A little now and then does not bother me.  But a six pack of beer and loaf of bread is not considered moderation.   That's OK, the change feels good.

Back to juicing and healthy eating.  Beautiful summer produce combined with beans and grains cooked fresh are making the table.  Herbs from the garden and cheeses and meats from local farmers inspire this cook to create.


Some of recipes for your enjoyment:

Anti-inflammatory Rice Pudding

Obsessive Gaspacho 

Juice Recipes

Chia Pudding


Words of Advice:

Try different diets.  Work with nutritionists who understand MS and the different trending diets.  This is your health - it is your body.  Do not try whack-doodle eating schemes.  Try stuff that has worked for others, the key word being "try".  Give yourself a chance with different foods and see what you might be sensitive to.  Everyone is different!  

Add color and energy throughout your house with fresh flowers.

Here is my article on Diet as a treatment for multiple sclerosis. 

#takeTHATms!   

Guest Blog Post: Dr. Terry Wahls - Your Bowels and Multiple Sclerosis

As many of you know, I am a big advocate of gut health for MS.  I've worked with Dr. Terry Wahls on several projects and am grateful to have her expert advise on the connection between gut microbiota, the brain and MS health.  I take a probiotic every morning and have tested my hut health.   Thank you Dr. Wahls for providing this insight! 

Your Bowels and Multiple Sclerosis

The microbiome impact on multiple sclerosis risk is a hot area of research these days.   The microbes living in and on our body have a major impact on our weight, mood, immunity, and even heart health!  If you want health – you need to cultivate a healthier microbiome.  The mix of species living in your bowels depends on many factors.  

Did you know your poop could be so valuable for keeping you healthy?

When we are born, we acquire bacteria from our mother as we pass through the birth canal. If we are born via C- section, we acquire bacteria from the hospital workers who help deliver us, and which bacteria we acquire can greatly influence our health. Children born via C-section are at a higher risk of developing obesity, mental health problems, asthma, allergies, and auto-immune problems.

There is growing evidence that the microbiome has a role to play in patients with multiple sclerosis. Those with MS have a different mix of species than those without MS.   Also, scientists can, by examining the mix of microbial species living in the stool, predict who is experiencing a flare of MS symptoms.

Severe constipation is a hallmark of having a problem with the microbiome, and constipation is a common problem for those with MS.   One of the best strategies to address constipation is to increase the fiber in the diet. This can be done by adding more non-starchy vegetables, fermented foods, salads, and raw vegetables and fruits.  We instruct our patients in our clinics and our clinical trials to monitor their bowel movement consistency and adjust their diet.  

Here are a few simple strategies that we teach our patients to begin shifting the mix of species living in their bowels.  

1.       Eat 6 to 9 cups of non-starchy vegetables and berries each day

2.       Eat fermented foods with every meal

3.       Ditch the sugar and replace dessert with fruit to top your meals

4.       Eliminate artificial sweeteners

5.       Add more fiber (such as a chia puddings, flax seed puddings) to have soft bowel movements each day.

Cultivating a healthier microbiome begins with eating more home-cooked meals.  

In my clinics at the Veteran Affairs hospital, many of our patients were on disability with limited financial means, plus they have either forgotten or never learned how to cook.  We spend time giving our patients cooking classes and teaching people how to save money by making meals that are both delicious and affordable. 

I do clinical research and study the impact of diet and lifestyle on multiple sclerosis related symptoms.   In our current clinical trial, we are comparing the low saturated fat diet to the low lectin version of the modified paleo diet (Wahls Elimination).  In this trial, we are collecting detailed information about what people are eating as well as stool samples so we will also be able to asses how the microbiome changes as they adopt the study's diets.

I have also written a book, The Wahls Protocol, which gives people the tools to reclaim their lives from the ravages of autoimmune problems like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and asthma.  In addition, I have written a cookbook, The Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life,to make it easier to learn how to cook at home. It is filled with strategies to make affordable meals, simply and quickly to get your life back on track.

Take action for a healthier gut.

If you want to learn more about the diet and lifestyle approaches I use to treat autoimmune, neurological, psychiatric, and other health conditions and the clinical trials that we conduct, visit www.terrywahls.com. If you want to dive deeply into the protocol that I use, consider attending The Wahls Protocol Seminar that I teach every July.   In the seminar, we teach people the skills they need to be more successful at adopting and sustaining the diet and lifestyle changes that restore health and vitality.  

Thank you, Dr. Wahls, for sharing this important information with us.  We appreciate all you do to help us say #takeTHATms!.  

Articles about Gut Health, Diet and MS: 

Plasma Cells in the Gut May Actually Help Fight MS

A Fish Diet May Help Reduce Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Probiotics May Be Able to Help People with MS

How Eating Leafy Greens Can Help People With MS

Healthy Diet Can Reduce Disabilities Involving Multiple Sclerosis

MS Diet - Try this food, not that food.

One of the first things everyone asks me these days is if I follow a certain diet, or avoid certain foods.  The answer is a resounding YES.   I'd love to say that eating anything and everything is OK but it's not.  Just recently my diet changed, for the worse, and after six months my MS, along with everything else in my body, went absolutely haywire.

Not every MS patient should follow the same diet.  Everyone is different, just as their illness.  Recommend instead the trial and error method.  Remove a variety of food, one at a time, and see if it affects your MS.

Some of the foods that cause major problems include:

1. Processed foods (too many additive, hidden wheat and sodium)
2. Gluten
3. Carbohydrates in general
4. Dairy (don't include me in this group.  You do not want to be around me if you remove my cheese.  I get downright nasty).
5. Red meat
6. Other meat
7. Fried food
8. High sodium

Remove them for a good couple of months to truly feel a difference.  Three - six months is good.

Some folks respond well after going vegan or gluten free.  Some do better with a paleo type plan.  Try different things and feel how your body responds.  Make adjustments and learn from your trials.

Major triggers for me are gluten and carbohydrates.  For example last year, my diet went from about 10% simple carbs to more like 50% simple carbs, letting myself eat anything and everything that looked good.  For the first couple of months my body kept up, and my body stayed slim and fit.  Lean and mean.  THEN, it's as if someone turned off the metabolism.  Ready for winter was this girl with an additional 15 pounds.  Actually 20 pounds but already lost 5.  UGH and geez.  Nothing fits.  Haven't had this problem in 15 years.  The ONLY change made was allowing the gluten and carbs to take over my diet.  The meat consumption was down and grain consumption increased.  Portion sizes increases.  Eating is if readying for a marathon, without the matching calorie burning activity.  Time to make a change!

Reining in the cravings meant changing habits back to where they were last year.  10% simple carbs.  That means no six-packs of beer every weekend.  No bottles of wine with french bread and home made cheese.  Well, OK, we can have all of these as long as it's in moderation.  Key word here - moderation.

Just bringing this awareness to the forefront has allowed me to make many healthy changes.  The weight is coming off and the MS seems to be subsiding a bit.  This extra weight caused the MS to flare up bad, so looking forward to being the lean, mean fighting machine this girl was for the past 15 years.

Every person is different and so are their diet needs.  But I do believe strongly that clean, natural eating is the way to go.  Buying local, at farmers markets and learning to cook are two ways to increase one's appreciation for good quality food.  And we are what we eat.  Eat like crap, look like crap.  Eat like a healthy girl, look like a healthy girl.

Time to do this!

#takethatMS 

I was just diagnosed with MS. Now what? Conquer MS with Self-Care

I needed this today.  Time to reNew You!  (Or me in this case).  Anyways I enjoyed reading through here and reminding myself what it means to do some Self-Care.   

New to MS?  or want to feel better with your existing MS?   Time to Conquer MS with Self-Care.

There is so much to cover with this title which is why my new book is in production!   But in the meantime take a look at these comments and tips.  Most tips below are linked to articles that I have written as a Patient Expert, Health Journalist and Life Coach.  Please click on the link to see studies, articles and more.  

Conquer MS with Self-Care

1.  Take a deep breath.  It will all be OK.  You are in for a change, but the levels vary for everyone.  Just know that things will get better and life will continue.  MS hits everyone different.  It will be important to be very compassionate toward yourself and your life as this disease unfolds.    

1.    Find a good neurologist – an MS specialist.

2.    Understand you are going through a change.

3.    Emotional balance may seem to slip away – seek help. 

4.    Talk with your MS Dr. regarding Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs)x more

5.    Love YourSelf!  Its good for MS!
6.  Check out My Favorite Resources Page - full of supplements that have worked for me.  I am not a doctor and these are affiliate links. But this routine has helped me for awhile now.  

 

Listen to my radio shows

2.  Modifiable risk factors:

MRF's are choices we have control over. Things we can start or quit depending upon our needs.  While none of these in particular cause MS, there is substantial proof that the following actions are beneficial for MS patients:

1.    If you smoke cigarettes, quit. 

2.    Reduce, respect or quit alcohol.  

3.    Limit salt intake.

4.    Reduce, respect or quit caffeine

5.    Do not use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame  (excitotoxins)

6.    Take additional Vitamin D(if low)

7.    Take Vitamin B12 (if low)

8.    Talk to your doctor about an NRF2 activator such as Protandim™ to fight oxidative stress. 

9.    Eat a healthy diet.  Nutrition is everything!

10.Eat a diet high in fish

11.Talk your doctor about Taking probiotics– health begins in our gut.  

12.Eat leafy greens

13.Diet and MS

14.High-dose biotin and potential for MS. My FAVORITE high dose biotin is Myetin.  Click to Order. (affiliate link)

15.Creating your own health:  using diet and nutrition to help MS. 

My FAVORITE probiotic:  VisBiome.

3.  Complementary therapies that might interest you:

1.    Yoga - 13 Benefits

2.  Yoga - 40 Practitioners discuss Benefits

3.   Massage

4.  Magnetic therapy

5.  Medical Marijuana

6.  Alternative therapies for MS

4.  You may find these fact-checked articles and “MS connections” interesting:

1.    MS and Epstein Barr Virus

2.    MS and antidepressant

3.    MS and decision-making

4.    MS and Sunshine

5.     MS and stem cell treatment

6.     MS and brain stimulation

7.     MS and horseback riding

8.     MS and laughter therapy

9.     MS and sense of smell

10.  MS and Exercise

5.   Life-skills.  Tips  and articles.  

1.    Connect socially at #BelongMS APP and reach a world of support. 

2.    Start a hand-written journal.  Handwriting is great therapy.  

3.    Build your support team.  Write down who is on your “Team”:  friends, family, doctors, pharmacist, nutritionist, massage therapist, yogi, God, whomever works for you. This list will grow and evolve during your MS.  

4.    How to cope when a loved one has a chronic illness

6.    Why me?  3steps to managing your angerwith MS.

7.    For better health, watch your words.  

8.    Can video games help MSsymptoms?  

9.    8 cooling and healing rituals for summer.

10.Get outside for 5 stress-busting exercises.  

11.Superhero saladrecipe for summer

12.3 recipesto help transition into spring. 

Contact me for any question!

and remember, together we've got this! 

 

Conquer MS with Self-Care