Healthy Eating and Fatty Acids
Eating well is particularly important for people with MS – looking after your body will help you combat fatigue and maximise your potential for good health. The general advice to follow a low fat, high fibre diet rich in fruit and vegetables also applies to MS, and it is thought that the fat content of the diet may be particularly important. Brain and nerve tissue are high in fat, particularly fats derived from the so-called essential fatty acids. These are found in polyunsaturated oils (most vegetable oils), oily fish, offal, lean meat and vegetables.
Clinical trials have shown that a raised intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids can lead to a modest improvement in MS, with relapses becoming slightly fewer and less severe and progression slowing down. 30ml (3 tablespoons) or sunflower oil twice a day has been recommended. The oil can be used in cooking, added to foods like mashed potato or skimmed milk, or swallowed neat. This is not a miracle cure, but is not harmful and may improve your MS. Watch that you do not put on too much weight – you may need to cut out some other fatty foods (preferably saturated fats – those found mainly in meat, hard margarines and dairy products) to allow for the extra oil.
The Swank low fat diet, developed in the US over 30 years ago may reduce the number of relapses and slow the disease progression, though this has not been conclusively proved. The same is true of the Essential Fatty Acid Nutritional Plan, details of which are available from the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre This involves increasing the consumption of essential fatty acids and cutting down on saturated fats. Vitamin and mineral intake is increased through an emphasis on fresh rather than processed foods. This type of diet is healthy for the whole family.
Evening primrose oil is another source of essential fatty acids and may be of benefit in MS.
Various other diets have been promoted as being helpful in MS. These include
‘allergen-free’, gluten-free, raw food, Evers diet, McDougal diet, protein and fructose restricted, and sucrose-free. There is no scientific evidence to substantiate these claims.