Top 5 Dietary Tips for Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a medical condition that makes the immune system attack the central nervous system. This condition does not have any cure. However, there are certain ways in which patients can manage living with MS, including taking prescription medications such as Ocrevus, Vumerity, Kesimpta, Aubagio, Mayzent, and Zeposiato to help reduce the severity of attacks of relapsing-remitting MS and delay disability. Many healthcare professionals also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to manage MS symptoms. For instance, the following recommended dietary tips for multiple sclerosis can help improve mobility and boost quality of life for MS patients:
Probiotics
The health of a person’s gut affects his/her overall health. This means, an unhealthy gut can be related to immune disorders like MS. There are many microorganisms, which live in your intestines. These are mainly bacteria and they form a very complex system of gut flora. These bacteria help in breaking down nutrients and food, maintain the health of the digestive system, and keep the immune system healthy. If a person’s gut is not in a healthy condition then that can lead to MS and other disorders related to the immune system.
This is why adapting to the right diet is important, as keeping the gut healthy with the right food is important. The one type of food that can help with it the most is probiotics. These foods improve the levels of helpful bacteria in the gut, which makes the immune system stronger. Certain fermented foods and supplements have probiotic bacteria. These include fermented tea or kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and yogurt.
Prebiotics
The right dietary tips for multiple sclerosis should include prebiotics as well. Prebiotics are foods, which work as nourishment for the probiotic bacteria. These are rich in fiber and are necessary for the probiotics to do their job properly. Some of the prebiotic foods are chicory, onions, asparagus, leeks, garlic, and artichokes.
Fiber
Fiber nourishes the gut bacteria, keeps the cholesterol and blood pressure under control, and improves bowel movement. The diet for those suffering from MS must include fiber-rich foods such as fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, brown rice, and fruits.
Biotin
Biotin is a type of vitamin B. Some studies have shown that it can help people with MS. Maintaining a diet plan, which includes foods with biotin, is an important tip for multiple sclerosis. The most effective foods are whole-wheat bread, broccoli, spinach, and almonds.
Antioxidants
Many foods contain polyphenols, which is a substance that can stop cell damage because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities. People with MS can benefit from that. Some foods with polyphenols are fruits, vegetables, spices, cereals, legumes, herbs, and tea.
Talking about the dietary tips for multiple sclerosis, there are certain foods that people with MS should avoid too, such as saturated fats, processed foods, sodium, and gluten.