How to Swank Diet for Multiple Sclerosis

Dr. Roy L. Swank dedicated his professional career to treating multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system. MS is thought to be an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the fatty covering of nerves, causing vision problems, fatigue, numbness, muscle weakness and muscle tremors. Swank, a neurologist, successfully treated his MS patients for more than 35 years with a diet--low in fat, especially saturated fat--that now bears his name. The diet helped them live healthier, fitter, more active lives by slowing the damage to the myelin and the progression of symptoms.

Instructions

• 1

  Start the nutritional changes immediately after you're diagnosed with MS. Swank's diet achieved positive results for newly diagnosed and long-standing MS patients, but he recommended beginning as early as possible after the diagnosis to achieve the greatest results.

• 2

  Limit your saturated fat intake to 15 grams daily, about 3 tsp. Saturated fats are primarily in butter and products from domestic animals such as cows and lambs. The hydrogenation process turns unsaturated fats into saturated fats, so include hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated foods in the saturated fats total. This means staying away form pastries containing margarine or shortening and from most products in the frozen foods aisle.

• 3

  Keep your unsaturated fat oil intake between 20 and 50 grams a day. Include 5 grams (1 tsp.) of cod liver oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids important to a healthy brain. Use sunflower oil, olive oil, safflower oil, sesame seed oil or flaxseed oil in place of butter, margarine and shortening. Count oil used in cooking in the daily unsaturated fats allowance. Never heat oil to a smoking point and never reuse oil for cooking. Store olive oil in a cool, dark area after opening; refrigerate all other oils after opening to avoid rancidity.

• 4

  Avoid red meat the first year of the diet because of its high fat content. After the first year, limit daily intake of red meat to 3 ounces (weighed after cooking). Venison, elk and rabbit are your best choices. Avoid all processed meats, luncheon meats and canned meats.

• 5

  Eat good quality sources of protein for strength and endurance. Consume skinned, trimmed white chicken and turkey meats and white fish such as cod, halibut, mahi-mahi, perch and tuna as sources of protein. Eat an egg about three times per week; egg whites contain zero fat and are dense in protein and nutrients. The yolks contain 5 grams of saturated fat.

• 6

  Consume a wide variety of fruits and vegetables daily for energy, nutrients, vitamins and minerals. The Swank diet allows all fresh fruits and vegetables in any amount except avocados, black olives and green olives, which count in the daily unsaturated fat allowance. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables over canned or frozen.