Diet and MS - Have you Tried a low fat diet?
 

I have been researching lately about diet and how diet helps MS people. I am considering the Swank diet and have read some accounts of people with great results. What I am wondering, is if low fat and restrictive diets work so well for people, why doesn't my neuro recommend the diet or at least mention looking into it? I know they are doing trials in this area but regardless I am open to make changes that will help! Have you tried diet or vitamins and found great results? I only take BetaSeron, Vitamin D3 and Nuvigil.

I don't know if dieting helps!!
 

I have tried Nuvigil and I can say it didn't agree with me. The first few days, I had energy to spare but I lost my appetite and 5 pounds in a week. I pretty much eat low fat and healthy anyway. I think you have to see what works for you. I am so fatigued at times that lifting food to my mouth and chewing seems like running a marathon.

I have always been watching my health. Low blood pressure, low cholesterol. Besides the MS, I am in good health. If you try the diet, give it time and don't expect a miracle. I don't deny myself anything, food wise. I subscribe to moderation. I don't diet, I changed my diet.

I am fairly carefull too. I have been at the same weight for 10 years although I did lose about 8 pounds when I was diagnosed with MS. The Nuvigil really affected me for the first three weeks and so I had to cut the dosage to 1/2 a pill per day. I work full time and this gets me through the day! I eat what I want too but in moderation. Front page article on stem cell transplants and MS on the fron page of the Houston Chronicle on Monday! I know what you mean about the fatigue. I don't think anyone can understand what MS tired really is although my friends think they do!

i tried low fat, low carb, Gluten free...tons of diets behind me. I didnt start to feel better till I switched off of the pre processed stuff. We dont eat anything out of a box. We can have mac and cheese, we just need to make it ourselves. We can have soup, we just make it from scratch.

Since removing 90% of the chemicals in my life (msg, Aspertame, HFCS, high sodium foods...) I feel dramatically better, and notice it quickly when we fall off the wagon. Went to Chili's one day, and Applebees a few days later, and we ate some pre processed stuff at a benefit dinner and I felt like I gained 100 pounds after it. I was slugish, cranky, foggy, and grouchy. My skin was again reddish, and blotchy and my tummy really unhappy.

I do hear tons of folks rave about the swank diet tho. Me? I want and need some fat in my diet. I simply couldnt give up all that it asks of me.

I have noticed that too. If I eat anything with too much fat (no fried chicken for sure) I don't feel well. I also gave up Aspatame some time ago. I really think I could work on salt. Not sure about no fat either! Thanks for the info!

Because low fat diets don't 'work so well for people' when it comes to MS. Don't get me wrong, a low fat diet is a healthful choice in the general sense, and all doctors (IMO) should promote healthy diet and excercise (instead of opting first for the prescription pad) but a low fat diet hasn't been shown to have an impact on the disease progression of MS, and that's why neurologists don't offer it as an alternative to existing therapies.

if you simply google "why dont low fat diets work?" you can come up with TONS of places that are against low fat diets. Such as

http://weightoftheevidence.blogspot....e-fallacy.html

That being said I think that anytime we start excluding foods from our diets we end up missing them, or our bodies will end up needing some part of whatever it was we gave up.

I believe we need to limit many things, but NOT exclude them. Such as Sugar, or White things. White flours, and White rice and tons of other white things. If a product isnt naturally white, and we process it till it is, you know we have stripped out many of the good parts in an effort to make it last longer, or taste better.

IMHO we should not be eating a low fat, nor a high fat diet. We should be moderate in all that we do. Eating a treat wont kill you, but eating a tray of brownies each day can do some damage. Eating meat/beef or other red meats wont kill you now and again, but having it every night isnt good for you. The American or Western diet is showing itself to be very UNhealthy.

its a confusing puzzle and its hard to know what to eat.

I agree. I came back to add that in spite of the 30 year vilification (is that a word?), of whole fats, saturated fats and cholesterol ... they're absolutely necessary for our bodies and optimum cellular health.

The statin drug industry will vehemently disagree of course but their agenda is different from mine.
$$$$$ vs. health/balance.

Watching your fat and sugar meal content is ok if you re trying to lose weight, but even then it's the quantity that counts. The less you eat, the less calories and thus you lose weight.

Eating less of the animal fat is also a good healthy choice, But Dej and Becca are right, we/our bodies need a certain amount of fats....moreso as children but adults need them too.

I think MS needs a little fat for strength and energy. JMHO!!

Here, have a chocky chip cookie.....my bad..:D

You are so funny! I definately do not need to lose any weight. I LOVE my sweets but I generally watch my calories pretty carefully as well as general fat intake. I have been doing fairly well since diagnosis. Have had problems digesting too much fat (no deep fried foods for sure) But I normally eat what I want and I feel pretty well!