can i use food to manage my ms symptoms?
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according to the ms society of canada, more than 75,000 canadians live with multiple sclerosis (ms). in fact, canada has one of the highest rates of ms in the world. the autoimmune disease affects the central nervous system — the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves — causing life-affecting symptoms such as extreme fatigue, lack of coordination and bladder problems.
while there is no cure, there are treatments and therapies that aim to help manage symptoms, reduce flare-ups and slow progression, a healthy lifestyle plays an important role in improving quality of life and easing the impact of the disease. this includes exercise, stress reduction and getting enough sleep, and of course, a nutritious diet.
fighting ms with food
get more vitamin d inadequate vitamin d is a risk factor for ms. i know it seems like almost every health condition is linked in some way with not enough of what’s known as the sunshine vitamin, but we cannot escape the fact that this essential nutrient is elusive for canadians.
found primarily in fish like salmon, trout, sardines, and tuna, our bodies can also synthesize vitamin d from sun exposure during the summer months. the winter, however, is a different story.
consuming vitamin d-rich fish multiple times weekly and supplementing vitamin d3 may reduce one’s risk of a future ms diagnosis, but could also be useful for those living with ms, as they are at a higher risk of osteoporosis — vitamin d is an important nutrient for bone health.
increase omega-3 fatty acids
given that ms is an inflammatory condition, it is perhaps unsurprising that upping your intake of omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial. omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fat known to lower triglycerides, raise “good” hdl cholesterol, and improve certain brain functions. but they also contain eicosapentaenoic acid (epa) and docosahexaenoic acid (dha), which may decrease certain inflammatory responses in the body. in fact, an australian study suggested that high omega-3 intake decreased the typical nerve damage caused by ms.
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fish is, once again, in the spotlight as it is a primary source of omega-3 fatty acids. you can also get it in a supplemental capsule or liquid form of fish oil. algae-based vegan omega-3 supplements are also available for those who do not consume fish.
as for things to much on that are omega-3 rich, plant-based foods such as flaxseed, chia seed, hempseed and walnuts, and to a lesser extent, soy, are good options.
less animal, more plant
increasing your dietary fat intake from nuts and seeds, and decreasing it from animal products, may also play an important role in ms prevention and management. this refers specifically to animal foods high in saturated fat such as processed meats, beef, pork, butter and high fat dairy products.
keep in mind, however, that it’s important to strike the right balance between these types of foods, given that animal-based foods are for many people, significant sources of vitamin b12 which may also play a role in ms management by helping with fatigue.
your healthcare provider can better help you determine whether or not your b12 status is a concern. by the way, vegetarians and vegans can achieve adequate b12 intake by consuming fortified products like nutritional yeast, plant-based milks and some soy products.
increase polyphenol rich foods
polyphenols are bioactive compounds found in plant-based foods that have a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capability, and as such, making them more prominent in your diet can help in ms symptom management. polyphenols are found in seasonings (rosemary, thyme and ginger), fruit (berries, cherries, apples), vegetables( broccoli, carrots, bell pepper), legumes (black beans, soy), cocoa, coffee and tea, as well as most types of nuts and seeds. this is just a small sample of some of the foods richest in polyphenols, there are many more.
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final thoughts
dr. josé bagur and his co-authors summed up the state of nutrition evidence in the world of ms best with this conclusion from their 2017 paper out of the advances in nutrition journal:
“diets or alternative therapies cannot replacement conventional treatment in patients with ms, but a healthy nutritional intervention is well accepted and may ameliorate their physical and inflammatory status.” they go on to add that since some components of diet can affect the inflammatory response, “nutritive intervention may improve the course of ms.”
with that said, my hope is that today’s article has pointed you in the right direction in terms of what an appropriate nutritive intervention could look like for you.
andy is a registered dietitian and author who has operated a private practice in toronto since 2015. he spends his free time eating, writing and talking about kale @andytherd. he can be reached at andytherd.com
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