The MS Recovery Diet by Ann Sawyer and Judi Bachrach

When you are just at the beginning phase of recovery from extreme MS compromise, exercise may be way too much to even imagine doing. The most important thing to do then is to rest and let the healing process begin even as you begin the diet. Resting without guilt or despair is a necessary step in the healing process.

I was speaking with Jim the other day (see an earlier post on Ann’s blog) and he was saying how he has begun to exercise at home again. He was feeling restless- a sure sign that moving in appropriate ways was the next step. He was listening carefully to what his body needed. He said he forgot there was a lot he could do without any special gym equipment. Having lost his capacity to walk well for quite a while, he found the balancing exercise in the book (lightly using fingertips on the edge of a counter to gradually build up a healthy proprioceptive sense of balance again) particularly helpful.

And this email from no-sugar Ken:

I have started to add a new activity to my exercise regime; I am now doing 15mins of walking next to the leaning bar in the local gym. I know that I can really feel it almost 2 days later. It is kind of weird. I guess it’s like you said, that the body has to reeducate itself in using the muscles. The nerve pathways have to be rerouted around the damaged myelin but the muscles are still there although very weak. They can be built up again as the nerves network rebuilds.
I was reading a recent post from "help me '. She sounds like me in the beginning. This diet isn’t about what you can’t have but what you can have beginning by eliminating all processed foods and sugars as well as the triggers. It’s a daunting task but I am starting to feel ½ human again. My energy is up hugely, although I am not 100 % -far from it- but I am feeling much better and the healing is starting.
Thanks for all your help and feedback, Ken

Jane Ann was happy to sign her name and feels the diet is very powerful- she was happy to let others know how she feels.

Dear Ann and Judi,
Hopefully, you will remember me as I contacted you both several times after
my MS diagnoses this past January 2008. I immediately started the MS
recovery diet upon diagnosis. My neurologist was actually pretty open when
I told him that I was declining the disease modifying drugs and starting the
diet. He said, "Maybe you can make a believer out of me". His only request
was that I come back in August for a follow up MRI. Well, here it is
November and just had it completed last Thursday. I had a lot of fear and
anxiety about the MRI and have been feeling quite well so I kept
rescheduling it. After the MRI was over I called my neuro asked him if he
could compare the old MRI to the new one and get back to me. (I was not
scheduled to see him until after Thanksgiving) I received a phone call
Friday from his office and his nurse told me that he looked at both MRI's
and there are no changes! You are stable! Come back in a year! Keep doing
whatever it is that you are doing! I cried tears of joy! I was so
relieved! Could this be the natural pattern of RRMS? Could this be the
diet? I choose to believe that this is the diet and my lifestyle changes!
Sincerely
Jane Ann Kantor
Vermont

I have just become a grandmother and with that I hold in my heart all the best wishes that my new granddaughter have a long, happy and healthy life. But, with 8 out of the 16 direct descendants of my Swedish immigrant grandparents having either autoimmune or neurological diseases, the question becomes what can we do to proect our next generation? This is especially relevant in the face of the rising rates of these diseases which are appearing at earlier ages. Even in my own family, the diseases are manifesting at a much earlier age than in my own generation.

A careful diet alone will not suffice, as food is not exactly a cause of MS, rather once it manifests, food fuels symptoms. But. certainly a healthy diet, low in saturated fats, sugars and high in vegetables, lean protein, and essential oils is important. What do we know of the causes? Environmental factors seem to be on the rise, as evidenced by the increasing incidence at earlier ages, but we don't know much about them or do we always have much control. Genetics plays a part, but we have no control there.

Stress and coping mechanisms for stress are one way we can intervene, not just as a prevention of MS, but for all diseases. Stress kills. Given our modern society, eliminating stress is not realistic, but teaching good coping skills and an approach and attitude that prevents internalizing all the visissitudes of life can prove protective. An adequate intake of vitamin D--good old sunlight has also been proven to be protective. Again, this recommendation extends to many diseases. Twenty minutes a day is the best, supplements of vitamin D --fish oil--also serve as preventative.

Ultimately, it would seem that following the advice of our grandparents is best, "eat well, a variety and not too much, include your vegetables, get adequate rest, be relaxed and not stressed, wash your hands, go outside and play...." Good health and good health habits are our best protection, not just from MS, but from all disease. In a family where there is MS, like mine, be watchful of any early signs. If caught early, MS will have not real impact on our loved ones lives--other than they will be very healthy.

This is the latest email from Ken who has PPMS, just went through the stress of moving, and is sticking with the diet. He is experiencing positive results despite his serious compromises. It is a straightforward honest evaluation of the patience and persistence required and he is very grateful that he knows that sugar in any form is a big trigger for him. Judi

Well, I have another month under the belt, and I find that the no sugar thing is still working. I think it’s integral to healing as I have started to really notice a change in the pattern of my muscle spasms; I still have them but they only last maybe 2 hrs or less and they are pretty mild- nothing like they were before. I feel that is a positive change, but these changes are almost imperceptible. It takes months to really notice the changes. I think that when you finally get your body’s ph (level of acidity) right, then the inflammation in the brain can start to heal. For me, there is so much damage, that I am sure the body prioritizes healing. It can be very daunting because things that we think are important at the moment (symptoms that we find most troublesome) may not be as apparent to the MS affected areas to heal first. As the old healers say, "take your hand off the stove and the burning will stop."

This game is for all the marbles and everything is at stake. I know this is working because I am feeling much better than I did last September.

Take care and keep up the good work on your website, throw this email on it if you want, Ken

The Townsend Letter, a highly respected alternative health journal, has an artilce about the MS Recovery Diet in the latest issue. To get accepted for publication, this article had to be reviewed and endorsed by two medical doctors, so we are very pleased with it being included.
Of possible interest is that this article focuses on the science behind the diet, including how the latest scientific discoveries fit into the picture. It is footnoted. Along with this piece there is a very concise summary of the diet itself and a three day sample menu to give a better feel for how the diet translate into food.
Hopefully, this article will be another vehicle to spread the word that MS can be beaten and full recovery achieved.