Proper Nutrition in MS Disease: Gluten-Free Diet
MS, thought to affect more than 2 million people worldwide, is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease in which the immune system slowly destroys the blood-brain barrier, attacking the protective sheath of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. During the disease, some nerves can weaken, which explains the wide variety of symptoms, from numbness in the arms and legs to paralysis and vision disorders.
Possible causes:
- -Viral infections
- -Heavy metal poisoning
- -Smoking
- -Childhood obesity
- -Low vitamin D status
- -Gut flora disorder
- -A negative lifestyle, including poor dietary habits
A proper diet fights inflammation in multiple sclerosis
Many studies on MS emphasize the importance of nutrition. According to a study from February 2015, 30% of all multiple sclerosis patients currently integrate a specific nutritional concept into their MS treatments.
A healthy diet:
- -Has multiple anti-inflammatory effects, both through cell metabolism and gut health.
- -Renews gut flora, improves the mucosa and thereby gut health. This is particularly important because a large part of the immune system is localized in the gut. For this reason, a disturbed gut flora and a damaged intestinal mucosa (Leaky Gut Syndrome) contribute to the development of MS and other autoimmune diseases.
- -Reduces adipose tissue that causes inflammation.
The paleo diet may relieve multiple sclerosis symptoms
Terry Wahls, a physician, researcher, and MS patient herself, developed the Wahls Protocol, a grain-free and gluten-free paleo-style diet. In March 2017, a study was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showing that a holistic approach to multiple sclerosis can improve the often depressed mood of MS patients, ease cognitive symptoms, and thereby significantly improve quality of life.
A gluten-free diet provides benefit in multiple sclerosis
A gluten-free diet has been shown to have positive contributions to the course of the disease in MS and many autoimmune diseases. It is known that in MS and other autoimmune diseases, genetic predisposition is often present together with genetic predisposition to gluten intolerance, which explains why some people with MS feel worse when they consume gluten-containing foods.
For more information on this and related topics, you may benefit from my book "The Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Guide."