The Swank diet in MS
The number of relapses can be reduced with the "Swank Diet"…
In the 1950s, Dr. Roy Swank developed a special diet particularly for people with multiple sclerosis and named this diet the "Swank Diet." It is designed to reduce the number of relapses and relieve typical MS symptoms.
The rules of the Swank Diet:
- -Processed foods (packaged products) containing saturated and hydrogenated fat are not allowed. The proportion of saturated fat in the diet must not exceed 15 g per day (animal fat in meat, sausage, dairy products, packaged products).
- -Unsaturated fats can be taken in amounts of 20 to 50 g per day (olive oil, hemp oil, hazelnuts, seeds).
- -Fruits and vegetables are allowed without restriction.
- -Only whole grain varieties of bread, rice, and pasta should be consumed.
-Red meat is forbidden in the first year. After the first year, if desired, you can eat approximately 90 g of low-fat red meat once a week.
-Poultry (skinless) and fish are allowed. You should not eat more than 50 g of oily fish per day.
-Dairy products can be eaten only if they contain 1% fat or less.
-Egg whites can be eaten, but the yolk should not be consumed.
-1 teaspoon of cod liver oil should be taken daily, or in capsule form, along with a separate multivitamin and a multi-mineral preparation.
-Hazelnuts and nuts should be eaten as a snack. They are good sources of natural fats and provide plenty of energy.
-Beverages containing caffeine and alcohol should be consumed only in very small amounts.
The less saturated fat consumed, the more slowly the illness progresses
Dr. Swank published a study in 1990 (in The Lancet) and followed 144 people with MS over 34 years. It showed that in those who consumed less than 20 g of saturated fat per day, the illness did not progress as quickly as in those whose diets contained high levels of saturated fat. Swank determined that consuming 8 g of saturated fat per day (1 hamburger or 60 g of kashkaval cheese) significantly increased the risk of MS or of the illness relapsing.
Saturated fats are found particularly in meat, sausage, butter, palm oil, and coconut oil. Spreadable fats can also be rich in saturated fats. It is important here to examine the ingredient list and check the nutritional content. Of course, ready-made products also contain hidden saturated fat. However, since you will avoid ready-made products as part of a healthy diet, this source of fat will generally be eliminated.
The more trans fat in the diet, the more inflammatory processes there are in the intestine
Sources of trans fat should also be avoided. These are unsaturated fatty acids produced through industrial processes or high heating. They are just as harmful as saturated animal fats, raising cholesterol levels and triggering the formation of belly fat and weight gain.
In addition, the more trans fat there is in the diet, the stronger the inflammatory processes in the intestine become. On the other hand, trans fats hinder the use and metabolism of natural unsaturated fatty acids, which can be very healthy. Trans fats are found particularly in baked goods (sweets, buns, croissants, pastries, etc.), fried foods, some margarines, and many industrially produced packaged products containing solid fat.
Healthy fats, on the other hand, are components of the myelin sheath (the protective covering of nerves that is damaged in MS) and other tissues of the central nervous system, and can therefore help in the repair of MS relapses. These are the monounsaturated fatty acids (olive oil, canola oil, avocado, and hazelnuts) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (particularly omega-3 fatty acids) found in certain vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, and fish.
You can benefit from my book "The Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition Guide" for more information on this and similar topics.