MS and diet - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

CJRT · 07-17-2007, 07:15 AM

I have read that some of you modified your diet. Can you tell me how. What do you eat? What do you avoid?

I have recently had to go on a BID diet. It's very bland, but after only 2 days I'm seeing a big difference. I've been having horrible stomach problems off and on and then mostly on for almost 2 months. They thought it was the hernia. Got that fixed, still having the problems. Surgeon says its not the hernia. He has my abdomin xrays and CT scan and says that the intestines look fine, no blockages, no pockets, nothing. So he suggested that I go on the BID diet for a few days and see if it was just inflammed bowel.

Let me tell you that soda crackers, cherrios and bananas and rice milk are already getting old, but its helping, so I'm sticking with it. I can also have other mild fruits and veggies and some eggs, rice, etc.

But I'd be willing to change my diet if it helped the other symptoms too.

Thanks,
CJ

Jill1221 · 07-17-2007, 07:54 AM

Hi CJ - I know of two diets for MSers. One is the Best Bet diet. It involves elimination of wheat, dairy and legumes as well as the reduction of other foods and addition of many supplements. I tried this but it was SO hard to stick to. Having said that, yours sounds much more difficult! The other diet is the S**** diet. I have not read the book but according to the web site it involves reducing fat (saturated fat no more than 15g per day and 20 to 50g for all other fat), no read meat for the first year and no dairy fat. You can find out more by doing a web search. I haven't been diagnosed with MS, but altering my diet helps me to feel proactive as I wait for answers.

CJRT · 07-17-2007, 11:29 AM

Thanks. I'll check both of those out. I don't eat a lot of red meat now. But that is due to my gastric bypass surgery. I have a tougher time with steaks, roasts, chops, etc. I can eat hamburger, but I don't eat any pork or beef unless its ground up.

As far as the BID diet. My stomach has hurt so badly that I haven't wanted to eat. So soda crackers and cheerios are about all I can put in there that I don't feel like its going to kill me with pain or make me sick. I dont think a few days of cheerios is going to hurt me any and if it helps, then I'm all for it.

Same with the MS diet. If it helps, then I'm all for it. Off to search the web for more info on these.

hotflash · 07-17-2007, 12:55 PM

Hi CJRT
I have recently started on the s**** diet and you can eat more than you think. I hate red meat so I don't eat that anyway. My mom used to say eat your meat you need it for protien and I would tell her I get it in my beans and peanut butter to so she gave up. I just don't like the taste of it. I do however eat broiled chicken and I love fish and almost every veggie. On the s**** diet you can eat all white fish and a couple cups of veggies and all the spices you want for your food you can also have whole grains and all the rice and pasta you want. It's not bad at all, you just cook in a different manor. I was going to get cheerios when I was at the store and decided on wheat chex,kix and life cereal instead as all of those are things you can eat, you can also eat cream of wheat, and angel food cake which is really good with strawberry topping. There are a lot of great receipes out there and you can go gaga with your own experiments. Good luck
hotflash

MSNik · 07-17-2007, 01:56 PM

Hi CJ.
Just to let you know this BID Diet you are on, does conflict with some of the things they say NOT to eat with MS...for instance, all those cherrios and soda crackers have flour in them. Most MS diets call for whole grains only, no white breads or processed foods...however, the S**** diet does allow you some of these..
Cutting out red meat is just plain heart healthy, and almost all MS diets suggest cutting it out..interestingly enough only one red meat is on the list of approved foods..have you ever tried Buffalo? I get it online- and I buy both ground buffalo and buffalo steaks...there is NO CHOLESTEROL and less FAT than Chicken, and if you buy organic, you are getting healthy meat without any preservatives or pesticides...my family didnt know I was serving them this when I was making meat loaf, or hamburgers for the first few months...the steaks, are fabulous! I break down and eat some Buffalo at least once a week..the rest of the time I stick to chicken and fish...

Theres a ton of conflicting info out there on diet, supplements and MS. There are some really good posts online here on the board, reserach key words and see what you find....the best thing is what makes you feeel good. If the BID diet is helping what might be internally related, then stick to it until you feel like it has helped to "clean out your system" . Be careful of things like tomatoes- not only are they acidic, but they are also inflamatories- they can cause MS symptoms. Bananas are high in potassium, so they are good for you for both the blandness and MS...cut out as much saturated fat as possible, limit your white flour and use whole grains where you can..follow the heart healthy dietary guidlines that we hear so much about and dairy - well the jury is out on that one. IF you drink alot of milk, use non-fat or low fat milk...however, if you are like most adults, and only use dairy moderately - then use it moderately....unless because of your stomache history you have been told to avoid it, dont avoid it completely...just limit the fat intake of milk products. I found that when I switched to non fat dairy in everything, from sour cream to cream cheese, to drinking milk, to ice cream, IT DIDNT MAKE ANY DIFFERNCE in my life...however, its healthier so I stick to it....some people swear that cutting out dairy makes them feel better..again, whatever works for you! I started a new supplement program about 3 weeks ago, Im incorportating all sorts of anti-inflamatories (trying to get my hand to work) such as Fish oil, Flax Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil..Ive added Vitamin
D-3 and calcium to my diet...I take a handful each night...so far, no difference, but I imagine its going to take longer than 3 weeks, probably more like 3 months to see if this is helping...(keep ya posted). You have to do what works for you....your internal issues are more important right now. Between your 2 surgeries, you need to make sure you are following that doctors advice to the letter, and let the rest fall into place.
Good luck....keep reseraching...youll get all sorts of opnions on this.
Nikki