Nutrition for Multiple Sclerosis

For understanding how nutrition plays a critical role in multiple sclerosis (or MS as we are to term it), it is essential to understand the basic disease process of MS. It’s only after we recognize the ailment can we follow a definite pattern to provide ourselves with the appropriate nutrition for multiple sclerosis.

The origin of Multiple Sclerosis
Most cases of MS are due to autoimmunity, which means one's own immune system attacking one’s body. In this case, the white blood cells of the immune system attack myelin, a substance that wraps around nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The progressive loss of myelin results in a variety of disabilities. Nutrition for multiple sclerosis, therefore needs to be borne in mind after complete comprehension of the severity of the problem.

Extensive research has revealed that there are three main factors that causes a person's immune system to be attacked resulting in the destruction of their myelin. Nutrition for multiple sclerosis therefore is as important as the causes of the ailment; but then let’s first observe what really causes multiple sclerosis.

The first of these symptoms relate to genetic susceptibility. It is understood that about 5% of northern Europeans are carriers of genes that make them susceptible to MS. People of other heritages, on the other hand, tend to have a much lower susceptibility.

Immune activators:
The immune system is activated by the introduction of foreign proteins into the body. Autoimmune diseases or those diseases that automatically attack the body are mainly caused by foreign proteins that have a similar molecular structure to self-proteins in the body. Thus, when these immune cells are activated against such foreign proteins, they also in turn attack similar-looking self-proteins. In MS, self-proteins in myelin in the central nervous system are "mimicked" by foreign proteins and consequently attacked by the immune system.

The activation of immune cells against one or more self-proteins seems to occur in many people, especially after being infected or as an aftermath of an infection. Thus the immune system tends to evolve as a system of the shutting down such autoimmune reactions before they cause any noticeable damage. In short if there is a situation wherein the person was struck with a disease, the autoimmune functions gets the body back in action. Persons with Multiple Sclerosis seems to have a defective immune suppressant mechanism due to various deficiencies. This allows the autoimmune reactions to get out of control and cannot completely mend the damage, thus causing injury to the central nervous system.

Nutrition for Multiple Sclerosis
Of course, nutritional factors play a significant role in MS by contributing to both the deficiency of immune suppressants as well as an overload of foreign proteins that activate the immune system against the central nervous system. These not only mend the body of the immediate infection but readies it to re-surface and become stronger. Therefore the type of nutrition in the case of multiple sclerosis in order to control it is rather special. This consists of the following:

Increase the intake of nutrients, which help the body in suppressing autoimmune reactions. Avoid eating those foods that contribute to the activation of the immune system against self and the occurrence of autoimmune reactions. These foods would include excessive fatty substances that breeds on to bad cholesterol in the body. What you would ideally require in your diet would be some essential fatty acids and Omega three fatty acids.

Notably you can suppress the conditions leading to multiple sclerosis by increasing or regularizing your intake of Vitamin D and Omega 3. These are effective nutrients that directly affect your Central Nervous System. Not surprisingly these nutrients are in very short supply in our society and persons with multiple sclerosis are truly very deficient in them. By increasing your intake of both these supplements, that includes fish, oyster shell, that can include, both Omega 3 essential fatty acids, almonds, etc., you can help persons with multiple sclerosis suppress the autoimmune reactions that the body faces.

Research has shown that a vitamin D supply of about 4000-5000 IU is required every day for optimal functioning. The main source of vitamin D is the sun and in places like Canada you’d find multiple sclerosis quite rampant, as it is much too far north to allow anyone in obtaining an adequate supply of vitamin D from the sun on a yearly basis. Few foods have some synthetic vitamin D added to them but this amount is very small and rather insufficient. Thus to ensure an adequate supply of vitamin D, a person with multiple sclerosis should ideally take a daily 4000 IU supplement readily and cheaply obtained at most drug stores. Medications taken in these quantities have shown to be safe and well below any toxicity level.

Omega three fatty acids are found in substantial quantities in only a few foods. The best source is fish with fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel being the best. Thus persons with multiple sclerosis should eat fish at least three times a week. Salmon oil supplements are also a convenient way of increasing one's supply of these essential fatty acids. Flax, as a medication also contains a lot of omega three EFA and a tablespoon of flax oil every day is another good way of obtaining such a nutrient. You could also add in Omega 3 essential fatty acids by an intake of Cod liver oil capsules and even shark capsules. Almonds and peanuts are some of those nuts that can be eaten in moderation for essential fatty acids.

Avoiding Immune Activators
Infectious agents are one source of foreign proteins which active one's immune system to attack self. However it is often difficult to avoid contracting common infections. Another main source of foreign proteins, which have the potential to activate the immune system against self, is our food supply. Studies have shown foods that have the greatest potential to cause autoimmune reactions are dairy, gluten grains (wheat, rye, barley and oats), legumes (beans) and yeast. Thus people with multiple sclerosis should avoid eating anything, which contain these food types. Most of these cereals digest into a sticky substance that forms a layer in your stomach, which is difficult to get rid of. Barley water on the other hand is good but using it to treat multiple sclerosis is still an aspect that is under research.

The types of fats eaten can also affect immune activation, as saturated fat (animal fat) and omega six essential fatty acids (found in vegetable oil) can cause humongous problems. Thus people suffering from multiple sclerosis should largely use olive oil (one that contains mono-saturated fat) in conjunction with fish oils to provide most of their fat intake. Moreover, olive oil is lighter and much a healthier option for cooking. In order to greatly reduce saturated fat intake, it’s best if you can avoid and totally refrain yourself from consuming red meat, the same can be also said about chicken breasts and switch to eating fish more often. Happy Eating!