Nutrition

Eat Well

As much as I love to eat,  I try to eat in moderation. I have to be cognizant of the nutritional aspect of the foods I eat and the foods I prepare, especially if I’m cooking just for myself.  I try to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.  It doesn’t always happen because I love pizza and chocolate.  And I’m addicted to sugar which is not a good thing.  No matter what your food addiction maybe, you should try to eat as healthy as possible.

It is especially important for those  of us who have an autoimmune disease like MS to eat as good nutritional foods: lean meats, fish, lots of fruits and vegetables, especially leafy green vegetables.     Limit the amount of processed foods and sugary foods .  Eating healthier foods makes us feel better and contributes weight loss which is always a plus.

 

Autoimmune Diseases and Inflammation

People with autoimmune diseases can be susceptible to foods that cause inflammation.  There are theories about autoimmune diseases and inflammation and the various  diets  that are designed to reduce inflammation.  Below are the titles of  two books that were recommended by one of my doctors that address diet and autoimmune diseases.

The Wahls Protocol by Terry Wahls, M.D.
Autoimmune Solution by Amy Meyrs, M.D.

Basically, an autoimmune diet eliminates foods from your diet that are believed to cause inflammation in the body.  It is inflammation that causes autoimmune patients’  bodies not to function normally.  My understanding of the  theory is that by eliminating these foods for a period of time, the body heals and resets itself. Then foods are slowly introduced back into a person’s diet.  If the person has a reaction to a particular food (i.e swelling of joints, pseudo-exacerbation in MS patients), that food should no longer be part of the person’s diet because it causes inflammation.   The list of foods that are initially banned is extensive.  Read the books or check online for list of foods.  If after reading one of these book and you are considering  one of these diets plans, consult your doctor before you start any diet plan.

Note:  I followed a paleo autoimmune diet based on the Wahls Protocol for six months.  It wasn’t an easy diet to follow.  It was very time consuming and labor-intensive.  I loss weight, but I didn’t achieve the results my doctor or either book touted.  Because MS presents differently in each patient,  I would be remiss to state that an autoimmune diet would not work for someone else and achieve the desired results.