The MS Recovery Diet by Ann Sawyer and Judi Bachrach

I will be interviewed about the MS Recovery Diet on Sunday, March 21, from 8 to 9 o'clock in the moring on WCRN, 830 on the AM dial, in Worcester, Massachusetts on a show called True Talk. My understanding is that people in the Boston, MA and the Providence, RI area will be able to listen to this interview.

It has been a challenge to find opportunites in the media to spread the word that MS can be stopped, controlled, and symptoms reversed, so we are grateful for any opportunity to reach numbers of people. Word of mouth and people seeing others who have recovered has been our best way of spreading the word. We continue to rely on all of you to keep the message alive and thank you for your efforts to help others.

A funny side story: I work in a private behavioral health practice where we have a psychiatrist and several nurse practitioners who prescribe medications so consequently we have drug company representatives making their regular rounds to our office. When they learn of my story, mostly because I can't partake in the lunches they provide the office, they all have become very enthusiastic about the diet. And, since everyone know someone with MS, the drug reps are now helping to spread the word about the diet. We welcome anyone who can help our cause.

I have been asked to be on a talk radio show and for that appearance to submit 5 questions for the interviewer to ask me. As I thought about this, it occured to me that the best way for me to get a sense of what topics I should cover is to ask the people with MS to give me suggestions and feedback. I think these questions should be aimed at the people who don't know about the diet but are interested, which would include the general public, because everyone knows someone with MS, and people with MS who haven't yet heard about the diet. So, if you would like to help me, please send an e-mail to me. You can access the e-mail through this site.

As soon as the time and date are firm, I will post the appearance on this website. The station covers the northeast, particularly the Boston area.

Thank you for your help. Ann

We have received several e-mails recently from some frustrated people whose recovery is not matching that of other people they know on the diet. One woman began the diet about the same time as her mother, also with MS, and now finds that her mother has made much greater progress. Another woman on the diet for a year has found that someone on the diet for just 3 months has experienced much greater success. I sympathize and know it can be frustrating. Each of our bodies, our disease state, and what foods or other facotrs contribute to our disease is different. As we have said, it is a challenge to find the right diet combination that is your unique path to recovery. The diet gives you general guidelines that each person must refine for themselves.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Experiement with your diet and foods. Try out different foods, even ones that are common triggers, to see what you react to, how much you react and what happens. I know it is scary to be doing something that will potentially cause symptoms to appear, but if you get symptoms from experimenting, they can be reversed. Understanding the diet, you will not go so overboard to do yourself harm. This is an effective way to understand your particular needs and triggers.
2. Experiment to see which foods make you feel better. I found that if I had raw vegetable juice and avoided all starches, I felt wonderful. My level of Omega 3 oils also seemed to impact me positively. Find out what works for you.
3. Check out and experiment with any supplements you may be taking. They are often made with carriers that trigger symptoms. Like the two points above, it may be subtle, but it might just be the small things that are making a difference at this time.
4. Make sure your digestive system is working well. To be constipated is to hold toxins in your body for a longer period of time. Stomach aches may be a sign that your gut lining is not full of healthy bacteria.
5. Make sure you are giving your body enough rest so it has the energy to recover. If you are using all your energy for daily life, and are stressed, your body does not have the extra energy to restore functions.
6. Go beyond reducing stress and find serenity.
7. Watch what you drink. Water is best.
Sadly, there are some people that don't get the same positive results from the diet that the majority of us do. I have no explanation for that and regret that I must write this. I wish there were the funding to fully research the diet and develop a better understanding of its workings.
Best of luck to all of you. If you have particular questions, do write them in on our e-mail. We will do our best to answer your unique concerns.

It has been a while since I've blogged, I realized. Life can be so busy especially over the holidays. I thought I'd share the Christmas card I received from Ruth, who is profiled in the book.
She writes: "My life, as yours, continues to evolve. I have given out several books and always watch for it when at any book store. I walk 3 to 5 miles a day and have begun weight lifting. So THERE to any MS symptoms!!!! Keep in touch. Ruth"
My New Year's wish is that everyone with MS can find this same recovery. Ann

Judi and I take turns answering the e-mails sent into the website. It is wonderful to hear how many people have been successful and also heartening to hear from those who are just beginning or who are having some trouble. There are some common themes in the questions which I would like to address in this note.

It is very important that you not lose too much weight or get weak because of the diet. To effectively fight the disease and recovery, you need to be strong, well nourished and that means a normal weight. Otherwise, weakened you are more likely to get symptoms. So, eat more, try to focus on adding more of the good oils to foods, fill up on potatoes, sweet potatoes and fillers, eat more often.

Do not be afraid to experiment with foods. Most people find they are not sensitive to the five usual suspects. As soon as you are experiencing some recovery, or even sooner, try out eating different foods. Legumes seem to affect fewer people so experiment with your tolerance for them. If you find you spike a symptom, then back off. By making mistakes or experimenting, you will learn more about your body and how the disease and healing works for you. Everyone will have their own version of the diet, so I encourage you to find yours.

Digestive health is veyr important. I recently discovered (it is so obvious, I thought why didn't I see this before) that instead of buying keifer starter to make my coconut water porbiotic keifer, I just emptied a capsule of pribiotics into the coconut water and let it ferment. It was so soothing after Thanksgiving weekend when I overdid it on a lot of foods.

Again, for all of you good luck and as you recovery keep spreading the word, it is going to take all of us to help get the diet into mainstream thought and medicine.