HEALTH NOTES
Lora’s Ark

MS: When Eating Right Helps

By LOREDANA ORTIZ

Multiple sclerosis [MS] is a debilitating disease. There are no quick answers for the malady.

Nature knows best, right? Yes! You gotcha it correct -- nutritional medicine often comes handy to speed up recovery time for MS patients.

There’s a deficiency of essential fatty acids [EFAs] in most MS patients.

Although there is some controversy on this point, I believe that MS can be cured with appropriate dietary measures, I also believe that with proper lifestyle and other changes MS patients can see almost full recovery, while combining all key components of natural healing.

Of vital importance for MS patients is the need to stay away from processed foods and saturated fats, as this will worsen their illness.

Seed oils, olive oils, fish oils, fresh fruits and vegetables are essential in providing the Omega fatty acids that the MS patient needs. I recommend an anti-inflammatory diet in addition to turmeric, a great ant-inflammatory herb, too; turmeric, as a supplement, should be taken for a minimum of 3-6 months to see any real, good results.

Meat-eaters -- not vegetarians -- are at a higher risk of a “flare-up.”

MS sufferers need to pay special attention to the following supplements in their diets, since they tend to be deficient:

• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Folic acid
• Amino acids
• Manganese
• Selenium
• Essential [Omega] fatty acids
• Vitamins B-1, B-6 and B-12.

Deficiency of biotin also plays a role in the metabolism of fatty acids; having this deficiency causes symptoms analogous to those of MS.

Attend To Allergies

MS patients need to pay particular attention to food allergies and food sensitivities; these can worsen the condition. Here’s a list of foods to avoid:

• Caffeine
• Tannin [from tea and wine]
• Yeast
• Sugar
• Wheat
• Gluten
• Corn additives
• Fermented products
• Ketch-up
• Vinegar.

Dairy foods can contribute to sinusitis and produce related symptoms. Candidiasis, leaky gut syndrome and heavy metal toxicity are major causes of the development of this flagging illness too.

Special attention needs to be given to the following environmental toxins -- it would be better to control, if not eliminate them from one’s home.

• Chemicals in foods and tap water
• Carbon monoxide
• Diesel fumes
• Fumes from gas water heaters
• Solvents
• Aerosol sprays
• Chipboard and foam from furniture and carpets
• Mercury dental amalgams [fillings].

Detecting Toxicity

Sweat mineral test maybe done to detect levels of toxicity from heavy metals. It’d be advisable to analyse anti-oxidant capacity too.

The basic components for treating MS are as follows:

• Low saturated fat diet 15 gm maximum, daily; patient must switch to polyunsaturated fats like sunflower, safflower and olive oils.
• Patients must avoid solid fats, hydrogenated oils, margarine, red meat, dairy, eggs, shellfish, alcohol, sugar, chocolate, MSG, yeast, additives, and salt.
• Patients must include tofu, mung beans, sprouts, millet, organic oat cakes, fresh organic poultry, some nuts and seeds, tahini, a majority of vegetables and select fruits.