On the topic of whole foods/plant-based diets, what really stands out for me is how many people with MS seem to think that the ONLY reason they should eat healthfully is because of MS. Apparently, it hasn't occurred to them that they should eat healthfully (whole foods/plant-based diet) because their bodies, by their very nature, need certain foods to function correctly, repair themselves properly, and ward off diseases like cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart disease and osteoporosis.
In looking at the recommendations of physicians and nutritionists, their diets aren't diets for any one particular condition and are all very similar: whole foods/plant-based.
To give an example, the physicians who have programs on PBS have different angles, but their diets are all very similar. Dr. Daniel Amen's emphasis is brain health, with weight loss and healthy bodies to support a healthy brain, Dr. Christiane Northrup's angle is women's health, Dr. Mark Hyman's angle is "diabesity," and Dr. Joel Fuhrman's angle has been chronic disease. Fuhrman's latest program approaches diet from the angle of immunity/autoimmunity (but not specifically MS).
I know there are a lot of folks who think that gluten sensitivity is only an MS issue. But many physicians and nutritionists advise against gluten for general health reasons.
Maybe I haven't done enough reading, but I've never come across any physician or nutritionist who has said, "If you don't "feel better" on a whole foods/plant based diet, then it's OK to just eat whatever you want. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke? Fugeddaboudit! Eat all the fat, salt, sugar and processed food you want!"
Nope, the diets are all similar, MS-specific or not. One major difference appears to be the inclusion of grains -- some allow whole grains, some allow gluten-free grains, some allow none. Some diets allow dairy, some don't. And the MS-specific diets do appear to differ on the inclusion of legumes.
But it appears that none of the physicians and nutritionists -- who have devoted their lives to the study and promotion of healthful eating and recognize ALL of the reasons for healthful eating -- would say that there's no harm in eating processed/refined foods and those high in fat, salt and sugar just because a person's MS symptoms don't appear to get any better, or they don't "feel better" on a whole foods/plant-based diet.
Maybe it's a privilege of youth that young folks can eat garbage without any ill effects. But as far as "feeling well," it seems that after about age 30, a lot of people become aware that the worse they eat, the worse they feel, and the better they eat, the better they feel. Eating well isn't just an "MS thing."
In looking at the recommendations of physicians and nutritionists, their diets aren't diets for any one particular condition and are all very similar: whole foods/plant-based.
To give an example, the physicians who have programs on PBS have different angles, but their diets are all very similar. Dr. Daniel Amen's emphasis is brain health, with weight loss and healthy bodies to support a healthy brain, Dr. Christiane Northrup's angle is women's health, Dr. Mark Hyman's angle is "diabesity," and Dr. Joel Fuhrman's angle has been chronic disease. Fuhrman's latest program approaches diet from the angle of immunity/autoimmunity (but not specifically MS).
I know there are a lot of folks who think that gluten sensitivity is only an MS issue. But many physicians and nutritionists advise against gluten for general health reasons.
Maybe I haven't done enough reading, but I've never come across any physician or nutritionist who has said, "If you don't "feel better" on a whole foods/plant based diet, then it's OK to just eat whatever you want. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke? Fugeddaboudit! Eat all the fat, salt, sugar and processed food you want!"
Nope, the diets are all similar, MS-specific or not. One major difference appears to be the inclusion of grains -- some allow whole grains, some allow gluten-free grains, some allow none. Some diets allow dairy, some don't. And the MS-specific diets do appear to differ on the inclusion of legumes.
But it appears that none of the physicians and nutritionists -- who have devoted their lives to the study and promotion of healthful eating and recognize ALL of the reasons for healthful eating -- would say that there's no harm in eating processed/refined foods and those high in fat, salt and sugar just because a person's MS symptoms don't appear to get any better, or they don't "feel better" on a whole foods/plant-based diet.
Maybe it's a privilege of youth that young folks can eat garbage without any ill effects. But as far as "feeling well," it seems that after about age 30, a lot of people become aware that the worse they eat, the worse they feel, and the better they eat, the better they feel. Eating well isn't just an "MS thing."
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