Query on Food habits

[FindingAnswersMaccy]

Hi MS family

Learning about MS to help myself

Do you consume dairy products ? I have read it’s bad for people with MS, is that true?

Has quitting dairy products helped you?

Also which other things have you stopped consuming that has help you?

[falalalala]

Rarely do I have dairy.I notice more problems with digestion if I do.

My husband has a lot of pain when he consumes it. It aggravates his arthritis/bursitis in his shoulders.

[starlight5]

I gave up dairy completely for a few years even though I felt no difference while not eating it. I now eat dairy sparingly and when I do I go for the full fat, heavy cream in my coffee, whole milk, etc.

[NorasMom]

I cook with powdered milk and am a cheese addict, but I rarely do any other dairy products. The only food that seems to cause me problems is if I have pasta or deep-fried anything for several days in a row.

A friend with long-time MS swears by living without pasta. He managed to keep working at a very physical job for another 5 years after his neuro wanted him to quit and go on Disability.

[BlanketTime1 in reply to NorasMom]

i love cheese!

[kdali]

The dairy theory is interesting, and has to do with A1 protein. There are A2 farms now with a variety of products. I consumed no dairy for a few years (no animal protein, no processed foods) and it made no difference. I did figure out that my gut issues were not because of dairy, which I assumed, but from fiber. So, I guess I avoid legumes and grains, and will eat dairy. I don't really focus on what I "shouldn't" eat, but make sure I'm getting good things, like choline and omega 3 from real foods. For MS symptoms, I feel better with keto.

[ahrogers in reply to kdali]

I had learned it was the protein in dairy that caused inflammation and not the fat. I hadn't heard there is a new dairy protein out there. I wonder how they made that happen?I don't like milk and gave up cream in my coffee (it was heavy cream so mostly fats anyway) to do intermittent fasting. I had also given up yogurt because of way too much added sugar and can't get past the smell of greek yogurt. So now it is mostly cheese as far as dairy for me. A very rare ice cream or shake too.

Since I have so little dairy protein I don't think it affects my MS.

I got started back on Keto this week. Down a couple pounds but no improvement in fatigue yet. Hoping in another week or two I will feel better. Also hoping by the time I go to Daytona Beach in a month I will be down another 5 pounds. That will hopefully make it easier to tolerate the heat and humidity!

[kdali in reply to ahrogers]

A1 is a newer protein, A2 is what cows all had before something mutated, possibly blamed on years of farming...and I'm botching the story, but it's interesting to Google about. Goats and sheep do not have this mutation, and that's why their products are recommended for those with milk allergies, eczema, etc. I found a fabulous plain yogurt from a local farm! I don't like the sugars either, it's weird. Congrats on sticking to it and planning to give keto time to work! 🎉 You'll get there, especially if you're doing IF too! Just takes time to adapt, but I hope you have some heat protection in Daytona! I can't do FL any other way 🥵 I also take an electrolyte powder with me.

[ahrogers in reply to kdali]

Interesting.Good idea, I will have to get some electrolyte powder!I have some Arctic Cool clothing that works pretty good. We are staying right on the beach so will be in the pool or ocean too.

[kdali in reply to ahrogers]

I think electrolyte replacement once you are making ketones is crucial to prevent fatigue or "keto flu" in the first week or so. Bone broth or broth with some salt substitute (potassium) is another thing you can do. That sounds lovely!!! I want to see the beach! Enjoy 🥰

[LissaH in reply to ahrogers]

good luck and have fun, be safe.

[Frances_B in reply to ahrogers]

Here's a simple explanation about the A1 and A2 proteins and their differences. abc.net.au/news/science/201...

The article also contains links to various other non-speculative resources and articles.

Not much has actually been properly proven in relation to the A1 protein causing problems, and there's a bit of a whiff of "marketing opportunity" and "profit motive" hanging around the whole subject of promoting A2 milk, especially in relation to the unproven claims about milk proteins causing diseases such as diabetes and MS.

[ahrogers in reply to Frances_B]

Interesting article, thanks for sharing! I have always found it odd that cows (and other animals) don't drink milk their whole lives the way humans do and that we drink the milk of other mammals.

[StacyHayward]

Love milk. I drink and eat a lot of dairy products. I haven’t noticed an impact on my MS. For a short while I had some stomach issues and went dairy free for six months. Then I was able to add it back in without problems. I don’t follow any special dietary restrictions. It’s worked for me. Each of us has to figure out our own bodies.

[HensTooth]

Here’s my take on the food thing: it’s not to avoid any specific food for all people. It’s to avoid the foods that cause YOU inflammation. Not all people should avoid pasta (wheat/gluten) but for many people, gluten causes inflammation and will worsen their MS symptoms. Not all people should avoid dairy, but for many people, dairy causes inflammation and will worsen their MS symptoms. If you can find the foods that cause inflammation in YOU, you will know how to improve your MS symptoms.

For me, the following foods cause inflammation and worsen my MS:

LIQUID DAIRY (like milk and ice cream) but NOT high-fat dairy such as hard cheeses, butter, and whole cream. These are just fine and cause me no symptoms!

GLUTEN (like pasta, bread, and crackers made with wheat)

SUGAR (especially burnt sugar like that found in caramel, flan, crème brûlée and smores)

I recently did the stupidest thing ever, and ate a combination of all 3… ice cream with cookie dough and caramel in it. I got a migraine within 1 hour and was in laid up in bed for another 14 hours!

[erash]

I like Michael Pollan’s philosophy, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

[erash in reply to erash]

P.S. by food he primarily means Whole Foods rather than processed.For awhile, I tried to avoid the dirty dozen and ate organic but because of inflation and supply chain shortages too $$$

[goatgal]

I have a herd share which supplies a half gallon of tested A2 raw milk once a week, and a pint of thick raw cream. I make and eat yogurt, paneer, chenna, fromage blanc, and treat myself to coffee with cream. (It also whips beautifully!) I've never been a milk drinker, but I can drink A2 milk without problems. Cheese and yogurt are included in what I eat someway every day.

[ahrogers in reply to goatgal]

I have thought about making my own cheese like mozarella or paneer. Is there a big learning curve or is it relatively easy?

[goatgal in reply to ahrogers]

Though I have only made mozzarella once, it takes more effort (and has to be stretched while it's too hot for my hands) than paneer, chenna, and fromage blanc. I make paneer, add it to my lunch salads in place of feta, and use fromage blanc in cheesecake, spanakopita (instead of ricotta), or toss it with pasta and herbs. My kitchen is small, galley style with little counter space so I keep things as simple as possible. I also make my own yogurt. My herd share comes from a tested A-2 raw milk Jersey herd and includes a pint of raw cream once a month. The cream is so thick that it spoons out of the jar (milk comes in glass bottles, cream in jars). As there's often more than one old woman can use, I share with neighbors when I have too much!

[mrsmike9]

I drink milk, have sour cream and eat ice cream. I have not altered my diet at all.

[hairbrain4]

I'm sure you've heard the saying "You are what you eat." That is somewhat true. If you eat healthy, non-GMO, & as much gluten-free as you probably won't have too much trouble. As for dairy, some people just can't tolerate it. If you think about it, milk is for baby cows, not people. I was able to drink milk for years, but now that I'm older (67) I can't tolerate the fat in milk & skim milk tastes like water to me. I can't eat fried foods without having some digestive problems like stomach cramps and/or diarrhea. Remember that everyone's MS is different because people are different, nobody is the same.

[BlanketTime1]

i think the main thing is to avoid any food allergies/intolerances. when i was first learning about coeliac after my diagnosis, i kept getting accidentally glutened. in addition to vomiting bile (yay), all of my neurological issues worsened. i've since developed some food allergies and i notice the same thing happening. if i'm exposed to them, my symptoms get soooo much worse. even though it's temporary, it's just not worth it. i learned the hard way.

i know people swear by certain diets, but unfortunately most are quackery. it is important to eat healthily and i'll only add this b/c i've seen it mentioned here recently, not drinking to excess. it's tempting. alcohol is a depressant, it slows down your nervous system. ergo temporary 'relief.' but it usually comes at a high cost. after drinking, symptoms tend to worsen and if you keep self-medicating, you'll have to eventually add more and more. good luck on your journey. this site is a great resource.🤗

[Frances_B]

There's really only one article worth reading about diet and MS and this is it. The author is a dietician who has MS.msbites.com/multiple-sclero...

This webinar is also very informative.

cando-ms.org/multiple-scler...

The obsession with special diets for this and special diets for that has so overtaken the world and the internet and social media that far too many newly diagnosed people with MS don't realise that there is not a mandatory requirement to follow any special "MS diet" - a healthy diet for a PwMS is exactly the same as a healthy diet for a person who does not have MS. There is absolutely no need or requirement to remove entire food groups from your diet unless you have a medically diagnosed reason to do so.

A lot of people who convince themselves they are gluten or dairy intolerant actually have problems with FODMAPS and not with dairy or gluten, and studies have been done where people who were adamant that they were "allergic" or sensitive to things were given them and they had no problems. The less varied a person's diet is the more likely they are to have problems caused by their diet and removal of whole food groups increases their risks of nutritional deficiency - and for PwMS it makes not difference to their MS. More good is achieved by increasing vegie and fruit consumption and cutting out fizzy sugary drinks and processed and junk foods than by cutting out dairy, or sat fat, or gluten, or going vegan.

[green244]

My husband has PPMS and he recently took a blood test for antibodies to certain foods. He has NO antibodies to any foods. The casein studies with regard to MS state that it is the antibodies that are the causative agent, so we assume he is in the clear to consume dairy. However, he is lactose intolerant and must take pills to consume liquid dairy and soft cheeses.

[pamgarner]

quiting sugar (aka.junk food, candy,cake,cookies etc.) causes inflamation