MS and Gluten free
So we thought we would look more closely at the gluten free diet and how it might be of value to people with multiple sclerosis.
Now gluten free diets are used to treat a number of medical conditions. Obviously gluten intolerance and the similar, but unrelated condition, Celiac, come to mind. You can find out more about Celiac in a past blog here https://patienttalk.org/?p=349.
So what is a gluten free diet? Well, as the name suggests it is intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains such as spelt and rye.
This means that people who require a gluten free diet need to avoid products from those cereals. So typical cereal-based items which need to be avoided can include bread, pasta and beer. That being said, gluten free alternatives are available and they include other grains and starch sources which include chick pea flour, arrowroot, millet, quinoa, taro, teff, chia seed, almond meal flour, coconut flour, pea flour, corn-starch and yam. These are normally available in your local health-food store.
Now many people with MS do find improvements with the diet. This may be in part due to “non-celiac gluten sensitivity”. It is thought that such sensitivity in a person with multiple sclerosis may increase the severity of their neurological symptoms.
One of the objectives of this blog post is to allow our readers to share their experiences with the gluten free diet as a treatment for multiple sclerosis. It would be great if you could tell your story in the comments box below. You may wish to think about the following questions when framing your answer.
a) Have you ever used the gluten free diet to treat your MS? And for how long?
b) How effective was it?
c) Tell us a bit about the realities of the diet. Was it more expensive and time-consuming?
d) Please share an average day’s menu with us.
e) Would you recommend this diet?
f) Any advice for a person with MS about to embark on a gluten free diet.
Feel free to use the comments box below to share your story and include any links you think may be of use.
Thanks very much in advance.
I was diag’d in 93. I’ve been on Avonex, Betaseron, and Tecfidera. Tec failed me so I’m back to BetaSeron. I’ve tried gluten-free diets. Didn’t do a darned thing for me. HOWEVER the vegan diet has shut up all exacerbations! Be careful of the animal growth steroids and animal antibiotics injected into every farm animal! THATS what exacerbations are from!
I am right on with the comments from garlicfrau. I have secondary progressive ms and walk with crutches. I have been doing a Paleo diet for a few years now and feel so much better. No brain fog and more energy! I have not had any relapses since the diet and I no longer take meds mainly due to high cost on Medicare. I do not think I would go back to them anyway as I am holding my own through diet and physical therapy. Never give up moving even if you are in a chair! I eat a 70% vegetable 30% lean protein mostly from chicken and fish and some grass fed beef and venison. I eat small amounts of fruit and get some nuts using almond flour. I do not eat sugar but use very small amounts of raw honey, xylitol or pure maple syrup. I try to limit this because I believe I have issues with candida and leaky gut. (see Ann Borough’s book on healing MS and candida) As Ann states if you crave sugar or alcohol…you probably have candida. We have found a new use for pasta bowls…we fill with salad of all sorts of colored veggies and top with lean protein and sometimes a few slices of pear or other fruit. We love roasted veggies as well and I make lots of soups or stews in crock pot. As stated below your pants will become lose and you will not be hungry because you you will be eating real food with nutritional value instead of being malnourished from all that processed stuff that leaves you hungry and wanting more . I did find that I was getting small amounts of gluten from caramel coloring in the balsamic vinegar. Wonder how much better I would be doing if I had know that earlier. I highly recommend reading Grain Brain by Dr David Perlmutter. I visited his office in Naples, Fl and he is a brilliant neurologist! You can do phone appts with him if you visit him in person one time. Money well spent! I have been living with ms for the last 25 years and I just want to say what I wish I had known years ago and that is last but not least…don’t forget the mind body connection. Try to stay positive…never give up your fight to live well!
I have been gluten-free for 23 months. I have primary progressive, and being gluten-free has been of great benefit. I no longer battle with constipation, I am no longer fatigued on a daily basis, and mentally far more alert, and I just feel better overall. I have experimented by “cheating” – – just something as simple as croutons on a salad returns me to my former dysfunction.
Weight loss was almost instantaneous and substantial .
However, it was much easier to just eliminate most carbohydrates from my diet. Therefore, I eat mostly vegetables, some fruit,, and all my animal protein comes in the form of fish or grass-fed beef, or organic pastured chicken.
I do eat brown rice , quinoa, and use a gluten-free flour mix if we feel like eating pizza . It is excellent and better than any regular flour pizza crust !
I eat beans and a very limited amount of nuts.
A typical day for me would start with green tea in the morning . About midmorning , when I get hungry , I drink a vegetable smoothie , or a mixed vegetable and fruit smoothie .
I have vegetables available to eat throughout the day , as well as almonds, walnuts , and dried coconut .
Dinner consists of a large mixed vegetable salad OR lightly cooked vegetables ,,a piece of salmon or some other animal protein , and some sort of starch – – sometimes potatoes , sometimes rice pasta , sometimes a bean dish .
It is not more expensive, because a person is eating 100% healthy foods which a which are far more satisfying. However, you have to be willing to cook for your self .
Avoid packaged products offered in the store that claim to be “gluten-free ” .They are usually loaded with soy which is to be avoided at all costs in any form.t They are also expensive and fattening . Avoid sugar and dairy..
garlicfrau Very well said!