Add some fruit or vegetables for more nutrients and fiber. Include some protein — from foods such as eggs, low-fat dairy products, soy milk, seeds and nuts or nut butters — and a small amount of healthy fats in your meal, too, to feel satiated longer.
The general advice is to drink around one and a half to two litres, or six to eight glasses, of liquid per day. If plain water seems too boring, you could try sparkling water instead or add a slice of lemon or lime. Many people enjoy caffeinated drinks such as coca cola, coffee and tea.
The Overcoming MS diet
The OMS diet recommendations are similar to the Swank diet. It advises cutting out dairy and meat, and eating less fat – particularly saturated fat. It also recommends flaxseed oil as an omega 3 supplement and vitamin D supplements if you don't get out in the sun much.
Many foods we eat today can cause inflammation which is something you want to avoid when you are living with multiple sclerosis. There are many foods that can cause inflammation in the body. Processed foods, dairy products, red meat, and fried foods are some of the most common offenders.
Whole Grains Prepare a whole grain such as oatmeal or quinoa with milk, or part milk and part water. Serve it with berries and walnuts for flavor and a nutrient boost. Toast With Avocado or Guacamole Buying guacamole in single-serving cups, such as those from Wholly Guacamole, will save you time.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, an anti-inflammatory diet should include foods like tomatoes, leafy greens such as spinach and kale, and fruits like strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges. There's some evidence that consuming these foods could be beneficial for MS.
Vitamin D-Rich Foods
It may also help curb the inflammation that fuels MS symptoms. Sunlight helps your skin make the nutrient, but oily fish like salmon or tuna, yogurt, eggs, cereals, and fortified orange juice are good food sources. You may also want to ask your doctor if you should take a vitamin D supplement.
Research shows hot chocolate could help reduce fatigue
Our research shows Flavonoids found in cocoa could help reduce fatigue in people with relapsing MS.
Ways to Treat a Flare-Up
The goal is to bring down the inflammation that caused your symptoms. Your doctor will likely prescribe a steroid drug. Steroids curb inflammation and can help you get over a relapse faster.
It is a strict exclusion diet that recommends cutting out all dairy, grains, legumes, sugar-rich foods, and any foods that may cause an allergic reaction, such as eggs and yeast. It also recommends reducing the intake of saturated and polyunsaturated fats, salt, and alcohol.
Heat. MS affects the part of your brain that controls your body's temperature. So it's easy to get overheated. Even a small rise in body temperature can make fatigue and other symptoms worse.
Fatigue is a common symptom associated with sickle cell disease. Due to the smaller size of our red blood cells, we cannot carry as much oxygen as those with healthier red blood cells. This leads to a lack of oxygen in our bodies and, ultimately, fatigue.
Dairy and MS. Overcoming MS strongly recommends that people with MS avoid dairy in their diet because research shows a high correlation between MS and dairy products, because of the high saturated fat content, and specific proteins in cow's milk.
Not everyone with MS is dairy intolerant. Those who do not tolerate dairy should avoid it by avoiding dairy-containing foods. Highly processed dairy substitutes (example: certain dairy free “yogurts” and “cheeses”) should be limited to benefit overall health.
Green tea has been has been shown to improve gait and balance in MS patients. WebMD cites a small study that teas rich in epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, may help ease symptoms. People saw results after they drank green tea every day for at least three months.
One study noted young people with MS who took a calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium supplement had a reduced number of relapses.
It is not recommended to consume 'lactose-free' milk on the Overcoming MS program as it still contains dairy – therefore butrophilin – the protein in cows milk which we advise avoiding if you have MS. Replace dairy products instead with plant-based alternatives such as soy, oat or almond milk.
“People with MS, and many people in general, tend to feel better when eating a diet with more fruits and vegetables, unsaturated fats, lean meats and fish, legumes, beans, and whole grains, with less processed foods, red meat, sodium, and refined sugar,” says Dr. Gluck.