Ms + Diet
You have asked, so you shall receive! One of the most asked questions in my inbox is about my diet. Which one did I choose? Does it help my MS? Why did I choose it, how did I choose?
Well it wasn’t easy... I didn’t change my diet the moment, day, week, or even month after diagnosis. It took me a while to figure out that I couldn’t “beat” MS with just mindset and medication alone. No, I had to be well-rounded. I had to be conscious of the foods entering my body. I had to decide to eat better.
To paint the picture, I was in the beginning of a terrible flare up. Only 3 months after diagnosis and I was suffering from another bout of optic neuritis. Only this time, it was in the other eye AND half of my total vision was gone. I was feeling fatigued all the time. I felt like I was taking my supplements in vain. Nothing I did made it better. The only thing I hadn’t approach differently was my diet. And please don’t get me wrong, I ate well...ish. I had cut out soda and fast-food a year prior to diagnosis. But that didn’t stop me from purchasing quick meals from the store. And that sure didn’t stop my sweet tooth! I realized that although I was adding greens into my diet, and *trying* to eat better, I wasn’t fully committed. I cheated often. And that cheating was blatantly negatively affecting me and my health. But for some reason, that wasn’t enough for me to stop my ways and change my diet.
So, a dear family friend, (actually my life coach) Lynn said these words to me and these words forever stuck. This was a huge turning point for me. She said, “Why would you want to hurt yourself. Dull your light.” She brought it to my attention that every time I put “bad” food in my mouth I was hurting myself.
Every time I ate gluten, after finding out I was allergic, I was hurting myself. Every time I chose to eat unhealthfully- I was hurting myself. So to answer her question, I didn’t and don’t want to hurt myself. I knew that. So why was it so difficult to stop? To eat better? To change my diet?
The answer? Because change is really freaking difficult. Committing to change is hard. Committing to yourself can be even harder!
However, I had to do what was best for me and commit to eating better.
I decided in that moment that I would try to do better for myself.
I decided to take it one step at a time.
I decided to give myself grace.
I decided to do better.
It wasn’t overnight and it wasn’t easy. But every time I wanted that cookie, every time I wanted greasy foods, I decided to choose myself, my health, instead. I swapped certain foods for others.
Pro Tip: A favorite substitute for me is cauliflower! I use cauliflower rice for just about everything. Any meal with protein? Cauliflower rice. Another trick of mine is I by cauliflower either frozen from Costco or fresh from the store and that way it’s already chopped and ready to cook!
So, I decided to become 100% gluten free not only because I had an allergy that clearly was hurting me, but because it eliminates a high amount of inflammation caused in the body from foods we eat. I had bought Wahls Protocol following diagnosis, but it was super overwhelming for me- too limiting and demanding in my opinion. I researched into OMS and AIP- took bits and pieces from all diets mentioned! I was also told by my specialist that a Mediterranean diet is a great food choice to help with MS! I collected different tips from different diets and created my own- a diet that worked for me and my body. I know this based on how good I feel!
When you research which diet it best for Multiple Sclerosis the results are aggressively overwhelming with everyone believing their diet it the key to defeating MS. And that’s not to say that it doesn’t work for them! We’re all unique, our bodies will all react differently to certain foods. So to label one diet as the “key” to living with MS doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve personalized a diet that I believe works for me and I know this because of how it makes me FEEL. 9/10 times when I feel like crap, I reflect on what I ate… and usually I realize that I broke my diet and chose foods that weren’t clean.
So my point with all of this is- I encourage every one of you to research all the diets that can help Multiple Sclerosis, take bits and pieces from them ALL and give it a try! I’ve said it a few times, and I’ll never stop saying it- finding what works for our bodies is a trial and error. It’s like a scientific experiment! Make changes and tweak your diet as needed.
Remember I know it’s not easy to choose yourself, but the next time you’re struggling ask yourself, “Do I want to hurt myself? Do I want to dull my light?” No. You don’t. Because you are worthy. Worthy of living life with MS with ease. Allowing your diet to aid you in walking hand-in-hand with this disease will benefit you in so many ways.
OKAY I feel like one of those recipe blogs that make you scroll through a whole entire story before actually reaching the recipe *nervous laughter* but I hope you found what I wrote useful! Anyway- the moment you’ve all been waiting for!
These are my choices-
Gluten free
Avoid dairy (working on my cheese intake! Listen I’m only human!)
Milk alternatives, always!
Less red meat- I love beyond burgers and sausages! They’re delicious and taste like the real deal!
Organic, organic, organic. It’s expensive, but I think of it as a commitment to my health. I notice that I feel better when I eat organic! So I know it’s worth the cost. Besides Aldi’s and Whole Foods have great organic priced fruits and vegetables!
I eat what I like, but in moderation! So I don’t totally block myself from foods I love (like fries!) I just make sure to not overdo it!
I did eliminate fast food- yes even Chick-fil-A (I KNOW) it was a personal choice, but I stand by it.
I intermittent fast! Personally, my body thrives on this lifestyle! Basically, I only eat between a 7 hour window during the day and fast for 17 hours. My schedule looks like this- I eat my first meal at 1:30pm and stop eating at 8:30pm. More on IF to come, I promise!
And that’s my condensed lifestyle choices for you! But remember, what works for me might not work for you, and always consult your doctor before introducing certain foods/supplements into your diet! Please do NOT become discouraged if something doesn’t work for you! Try, and try again! You got this warrior, I promise you!
Xx,
Arose