[Harry Z]

I'm sure all will find this article very interesting. It goes against the current thinking of most MS researchers and as a result, the scientist who wrote it is likely to be on the receiving end of a lot of flack.

http://asknicola.blogspot.com/2011/1...erosis-is.html

Harry

[SallyC]

Sounds like a reasonable theory, just as does the Auto Immune theory. Is any of this going to lead to a cure? NOOOOOOOOO!!!

[Kitty]

Makes sense to me. Maybe with CCSVI there will be additional research on this theory.

[Blessings2You]

Wonder why it wasn't in any news media?

[EddieF]

I say everyone post their LDL levels.

[Mariel]

I wish Dr. Swank was alive to see this vindication of his view about fats and MS. He posited many many years ago that saturated fats caused an attack on myelin. However, he did still refer to it as an auto-immune disease, saying that consumption of fat causes a reactive auto-immune attack on myelin. His test for MS (which he used in conjunction with standard tests) was to see if blood cells slowed down in the presence of oil in a petri dish.
I was tested by him and my cells slowed down.

Concerning the request to state one's LDL, mine at last count was l79, and my HDL (the good cholesterol) was only 27. This very low HDL is characteristic of people with one of my other diseases, Polycythemia Vera.

I can't take statins because I have Porphyria. However, I have been on the Swank low fat diet for over a quarter of a century, with one modification, eating more eggs than he
advised (egg cholesterol has been shown to be more beneficial than harmful in current research). I have always gotten along well with eggs. It is important for me to force myself to eat good fats so my dry skin won't blow away.

I also limit my sugars, although I must have adequate carbohydrate because I have Porphyria. Dr. Swank did not limit pure sugar, although he probably would have advised moderation. I eat a little sugar, but not much. If I eat sugar it's pure sugar, not a substitute, most of which are toxic for Porphyria. I eat some honey and maple syrup to sweeten things like baked apples and cereal. Dr. Swank himself lived into his mid-nineties because (he said) he followed his own MS diet, even though he did not have MS.
He followed the diet because it's healthy for arteries and hearts.

Here's to you, Dr. Swank! A toast to you on Christmas Eve, 2011.

PS, I know I have a lipid disorder, although it has not been diagnosed. I have always had trouble digesting fats, and some time ago (ten years) a naturopath did a lipid study on me which blew her mind with the results. I had a skewed profile, with Omega 3 three times normal, even though I was unable to tolerate things like fish oil; I presume this might be due to not metabolizing Omega 3 and thus having it floating around in my blood, although I do not know, and she did not know. My other Omegas were low. Today I am unable to eat much Omega 3--just a few walnuts, occasional tuna or sardines, a little bit of walnut oil.
But must be careful to limit it. Bizarre?

[Erin524]

I dont care what causes MS, I just want someone to make it <swear word> go away.

I can barely walk right now...going to the bathroom...well, that's just TMI, I just want someone to figure out a cure and give it to me so that I can hopefully either go back to normal, or figure out a new normal and not have to worry about something new happening every few months.

Wherever the MS comes from it's a sadistic disease. I'm really really tired and frustrated and just want it gone.

[marion06095]

My sister was all excited about this article and she emailed it to me. I think she was a little disappointed with my “wait and see” attitude. Even if it is a correct evaluation of what causes MS, it’ll be years and years of doctors bickering with each other and political posturing before it gets its share of the funding for research. Meanwhile I am more concerned about how the heck I am going to get to the bathroom without breaking my neck.

I hate to seem so negative on this joyful Christmas day, but it is not all bad. If they cure MS in my lifetime, that’ll be great. But either way, I am going to be all right. I've got it covered. My MS has been the source of a million small (and not so small) coping mechanisms. I’ll be fine.

[kicker]

Non-MSers often think they read an article, a cure is right around the corner and......
Me. I wait and wait. No matter what happens, I know it's too late for me. I can only carpe diem, it's all anyone, MSer or not can do.

[Kitty]

My sister is the same way. I hate to poo-poo every new "discovery" she sends me but I don't think she realizes how many of these things we see day in and day out.