Since I finished writing The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book in 2006, research into the causes and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) has produced a great deal of new and useful information. However, at the time of writing there are still no tried, tested and clinically proven drug treatments available for those with progressive MS, and treatments for relapsing–remitting MS do not claim to do more than slow down the rate of relapses. Therefore nutritional therapy remains, as it has been in the past, a useful self-help option to try.
Two new diets for MS have emerged over the last few years: the Overcoming MS diet, and the Wahls diet, and I cover both of these in this new edition. We also know a lot more than we did a few years ago about the importance of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids to the health of both the general public and those with MS. New information on both the benefits and the dangers of some vitamins and minerals has emerged, and research confirming the adverse effects of substances such as salt and sugar for people with MS has been published. At the same time, the anecdotal evidence from people with MS (including health professionals) who have benefited from changing their eating habits has continued to appear.
As you will see from some of the case studies, changing your diet can be helpful even if you are also taking disease-modifying drugs, and many people go on to make additional life changes such as practising meditation or taking regular exercise. Professor George Jelinek goes even further. He suggests in his book Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis that for some people, making lifestyle modifications such as changing your diet may be more useful than taking drugs when dealing with chronic diseases such as MS.
In the 26 years since I was diagnosed with progressive MS, I have never taken (or been offered) any disease-modifying drugs and yet, at an age when most of my friends are retiring and starting to slow down, I am more energetic than ever, writing and getting involved with community activities. I put my present energy and relative stability down to following a strict diet, taking a few key supplements and exercising regularly to prevent muscle deterioration.
I hope that reading this book will show you how important food is to our health, and maybe encourage you to experiment with one of the diets to see if it will benefit you. The recipes are designed to be tasty and simple to make as well as nutritionally balanced, because meals should be enjoyable even if you are on a special diet. Bon appétit – and good health!