Healthy Eating Plan for Multiple Sclerosis

Nutrition guidelines continually advise the general population to eat more fruits, vegetables and fiber and less saturated fat to keep our bodies (including the nervous system) in good health. This advice carries over to those with multiple sclerosis, with only a few minor changes. As with any diet plan, consult your doctor.

Changing Habits

• MS patients are often told to avoid alcohol and tobacco products, as well as foods and beverages containing caffeine, aspartame, white sugar and highly processed foods. A decrease in saturated fats is healthy and helpful.

  Many patients have found that eating more fresh fruits and vegetables reduces inflammation and pain (frozen would work as well). Some patients even decide to become vegetarian, while others prefer the Swank Diet (which allows animal products) as an alternative.

Fatty Acids

• Studies have found that people who have had MS for a long time tend to have low levels of essential fatty acids (EFAs). Since the brain and nervous system are made up of about 60 percent fat, mostly obtained from EFAs, it is recommended that MS patients increase their intake of these fatty acids. Good sources are oily fish (salmon or halibut), pure vegetable oils (safflower or sunflower), and omega 3 and omega 6 (which can come from foods or in a supplement).

Trigger Foods

• Studies have linked five common foods as "trigger foods" that can intensify the symptoms of MS. They are dairy (milk, butter and cream, but not cheese), grains containing gluten, legumes, eggs and yeast. If you think you are sensitive to any of these foods, ask your doctor if they may be triggering your symptoms.