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.