The MS Recovery Diet by Ann Sawyer and Judi Bachrach

I've been follwing the 1:4 - Omega 3:Omega 6 recommendation. Beyond The Ms Recovery Diet - I've read this to be the preferred EFA ratio.............However, Donna Jackson Nakazawa's writes in The Auto Immune Epidemic that while Omega 3's are recommended and necessary - Omega-6's are not because they cause inflammation. I'm wondering what others have read.

It can get very confusing with so many people giving advice about what to do and not do. Omega 3s and 6s are called the Essential Fatty Acids; Flax and Fish oil being the 3s and sunflower, walnut, etc. being the 6s. Olive Oil is an Omega 9--also helpful but not an EFA. The EFAs are the raw ingredients for certain prostagladins, which are made in the body to regulate the immune system. Animal fat is also used to make another prostagladin which turns the immune system up-more active.

The trick with the Omega 3 and 6s, can't be reduced to one is bad and the other good, if you read the labels you will see most good oils have both components. Rather, what is crucial is the ratio. In our modern life and diet, we get an excessive amount of the 6s and not enough 3s. Donna is a wonderful woman and her book greatly contributes to the cause of beating all of these autoimmune diseases. She was probably warning against the 6s because our balance is already off with the 3s and too much can be counter productive in terms of regulating the immune system. We already get more than enough of the 6s, so her emphasis was on the 3s. As we see in the diet, so much is a matter of balance.

I hope this is helpful. Ann

I have been told that goat milk does not contain casein, and thus is safe for the lactose intolerant. Has anyone had success with this diet using goat products? I used them before I started the diet, but I've only been on the diet fully since May 5, and don't want to "spoil" my chances of success.

Response:
It is the proteins in dairy products that we MSers generally react to. After 2+ years on the diet, I find that I can tolerate a small amount of goat and sheep dairy (cheeses and yogurt) without triggering a reaction. In the beginning of going on the diet ALL DAIRY should be avoided until you know your own responses and can tell for yourself if any foods that you eat cause symptoms to appear or worsen for you. It is very individual. Judi

Houston Neutroceuticals has digestive enzymes with no gluten, yeast, soy, or dairy. The web address is www.houstonni.com.

Retta,
Thanks so much for the very helpful PB8 Probiotic Acidophilus info. I was using one that had milk in it and I didn't catch that! I ordered two bottles of the vegetarian from Vitacost!!

Thanks!
Tammy

I would like to know if anyone has found Iron or Calcium/Magnesium/Vit D3 - separately or in combination that has no soy (or gluten, yeast, eggs, dairy). I've tried to get information about the KAL calciums - and so far, I have been unsuccessful. I have osteopenia and iron deficiency anemia - so these supplements are important to me.