One might have surely come across numerous diets for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Although many diets claim they can give relief from MS symptoms or treat them, limited research has been done so far. The best diet for MS has not been found yet. Here are some of the popular diets one should be aware of.
Swank Diet
Swank diet is considered a good diet by some. This diet includes consuming foods such as vegetables, fruits, white fish, shellfish, trimmed and skinned poultry, whole-grain pasta, 1 teaspoon of cod liver oil along with a multivitamin daily, and whole-grain cereals.
The basis of the Swank diet is to eat foods that are low in fat. About 50 grams of unsaturated fats and 15 grams of saturated fat is the maximum that is allowed per day. Processed foods are not allowed in this diet and one can have approximately 3 ounces of red meat weekly. Only dairy that has less than or up to 1% of butterfat is allowed in this diet.
Paleolithic Diet
Also known as the paleo diet, this is considered as the best diet for MS as it focuses on improving a person’s overall health and losing weight. Modifications to the paleo diet have been made but the base is similar. A paleo diet consists of protein-rich foods, particularly from animal sources. The diet excludes processed foods.
One of the popular modifications of the paleo diet is called the Wahls Elimination Diet. This diet consists of eating animal protein, plant protein, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 oils. The diet excludes the consumption of eggs, gluten, and dairy. Some studies point to the benefits of this diet as it can help reduce fatigue.
Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet focuses on completely restricting carbohydrates in the diet. It is one of the toughest diets to follow and so it is generally advised for children who are fed by their parents.
The idea behind the ketogenic diet is that when there is no carbohydrate in the body, it needs to use fat and turn it into energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis cannot be achieved if one consumes a diet that includes the intake of low carbohydrate. Only when there is no carbohydrate in the diet can ketosis be achieved. This diet has been used to treat a type of epilepsy called refractory epilepsy.
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet is considered as the best diet for MS by many. Studies show that this diet can help prevent cancer and helps people who have type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
In this diet, one needs to limit the consumption of saturated fat. Foods that are high in saturated fats include dairy products and meat. The diet promotes consuming olive oil, fruits, fish, whole grains, and legumes.
Experts state that this might be one of the healthiest diets that one can try because it can benefit the body in general. Some studies have found that the Mediterranean diet can help reduce inflammation.
Fast Mimicking Diet
Also known as FMD, this particular diet involves intermittent fasting. While there are many reasons why some believe that this is the best diet for people with MS, there is one popular theory. It states that this diet can reduce proteins which are often used by the body to create cells that cause inflammation.
A study using the animal model found that FMD can help relieve symptoms associated with MS. The same study stated that symptoms were reversed in 20% of the animals. There is still more research that needs to be done with regard to the benefits of FMD in humans.