Healthy Diets For People With MS
Maintaining a healthy diet is important for people who have multiple sclerosis (MS), and people taking online culinary courses can help these individuals do just that. Although there are different points of view on how certain diets can benefit people with the disease, there are correlations between some diets and the increased wellness of people with MS.
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, degenerative disease that targets the nerves in your brain and spinal column through a process called demyelization. When myelin – the insulating waxy substance covering the fibers of the central nervous system – is damaged, people experience muscle weakness, imbalance or loss of coordination, blurred or loss of vision and muscle tremors.
How to combat MS with a well-balanced diet
Because the disease targets the myelin, doctors and researchers believe that increasing the amount of food that strengthens the mitochondria (the “batteries” of cells) can help halt, and even reverse, the effects of demyelization. Food that contains high levels of animal-based omega-3 fats, creatine and Coenzyme Q10 should be a part of an MS diet.
Omega-3 fatty acids – There are many different kinds of animal-based omega-3 fats, but the best sources come from fish. Wild Alaskan salmon should be one of the meats at the center of an MS diet. Wild salmon might cost you more than the farmed variety, but you’ll avoid the accumulation of waste and the potential of disease found in fish farms. Arctic char, Atlantic mackerel and sardines are also excellent sources of animal-based Omega-3 fats. If you are vegan, you can opt to consume flaxseed oil, chia or radish seeds, walnuts or fresh basil to meet your dietary needs.
Creatine – Creatine helps bodybuilders pack on muscle and can assist people with MS in the same way. Extra lean cuts of beef like rounds or loins offer less-fatty servings of creatine. The flat-iron cut is also very lean and one of the most tender cuts of beef you can find. Eggs, almonds, yogurt and olive oil are also great sources of creatine and, if eaten daily, can help build muscle mass.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – This antioxidant is synthesized in the body and is found in a variety of foods. Meats including beef, chicken and fish are great sources of CoQ10. A 3-ounce serving of beef has 2.6 mg, while herring has 2.3 mg per 3-ounce serving. Oils, nuts and seeds are also recommended for people who have MS. One tablespoon of canola or soybean oil contains 1 to 1.3 mg of CoQ10. You can also sprinkle sesame seeds, a decent source of antioxidants for their size, on salads or soups.
