Multiple Sclerosis

Tried-and-True Diet Tips That People With MS Swear By

Best of Tippi: These MSers have figured out how to make healthy eating a part of their MS management plan. Here are their top food tips, plus kitchen hacks to make healthy eating easier.

Kerry Weiss
By
Jason Paul Chua, MD, PhD
by
man and woman cooking for multiple sclerosis
Making adjustments to your eating habits may help you better manage MS.Shutterstock

Let’s face it — following a healthy diet is important to your overall wellness. And many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) say that making the right food choices helps them live better with the disease, too.

In fact, on Tippi MS, a social tool for sharing your go-to tips for living with MS, food is one of the most popular topics that people are talking about.

While an exact MS diet doesn’t exist, choosing nutritious foods and cutting back on highly processed foods can provide benefits like improving your energy level and reducing the impact of other symptoms. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), diet could even play a role in disease progression.

RELATED: A Healthy Diet Equals a Healthier Brain for MS

But don’t just take it from us. You can read hundreds of real-life tips in the words of people who have tried it all on Tippi MS. Here are just a few of their best diet tips.

Tip No. 1: Start With Good Nutrition

Because there’s no specific diet for MS, navigating diet advice might seem confusing. But quite simply, the best diet for MS may be to follow the same healthy eating guidelines as everyone else. The NMSS recommends eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet that focuses on real food (like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein) as opposed to processed foods that are high in salt, sugar, and other additives.

Eat 'real' food. If there are more than 10 ingredients on the label ... is it real food?
— Trevis Gleason, age 55, author and blogger, living with secondary-progressive MS (SPMS)
Follow a healthy diet. No specific diet has been shown (yet) to reduce MS progression. You will hear about all kinds of 'MS diets,' but the truth is that basic guidelines for a healthy diet also apply to those of us with MS. Mostly plant-based is best for us (and our environment)! I aim for at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day (the more, the better). I also avoid red meat, saturated fat, highly processed food, and limit alcohol.
— Lisa Doggett, MD, MPH, age 46, living with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) for more than 5 years
Diet is so important. Watch what you eat each day. Also, I have cut out drinking completely with my MS diagnosis.
— Angela Bradford, 37, living with MS for 1 to 5 years
Don't get caught up in the diet game! Eat plenty of (organic) fruits and vegetables and limited low-fat meats. Above all, try to maintain a consistent routine and eat around the same time every day. Eating at regular times keeps my energy steady.
— Mona, age 52, living with SPMS
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
What are the top three things you wish people knew about what it’s like to live with MS?

RELATED: 7 Ways to Fight MS Fatigue With Your Fork

Tip No. 2: Reduced Processed Foods and Sugars

Which foods are off-limits for MS? None, really, although some people who have MS say that avoiding certain foods or even whole food groups improves their symptoms. Still, what works for them may not work for you.

If you suspect that a particular food group, such as dairy products, or a component of some foods, such as gluten, is negatively affecting your health, speak to your doctor about it. In some cases, your doctor may be able to administer tests to determine whether you have an intolerance or allergy to a food or food group.

In other cases, your doctor may suggest trying an elimination diet, ideally under the supervision of a registered dietitian. The idea behind an elimination diet is to stop eating foods that may be triggering an adverse reaction in your body for two or more weeks, then slowly reintroduce them, one by one, to identify how each food makes you feel.

RELATED: 4 Myths About Multiple Sclerosis and Diet

But cutting back on fast foods, sweets, and foods high in saturated fats doesn’t require following an elimination diet. It generally just means choosing healthful items from the grocery store and preparing more of your meals at home.

I try to avoid foods that are considered inflammatory (like sugar).
— Janice Dean, Fox News senior meteorologist, age 49, living with RRMS
I try to eat healthy and cut out the sugar, flour, and artificial sweeteners. I do feel better when I eat well. It’s not that it brings symptoms on, but I do feel better.
— Amanda, age 48, living with RRMS
I take so many different medications, and each one has its own side effects, so I'm finding by having a healthy diet — eliminating fatty foods, consuming mostly fruits and vegetables with lots of fiber — I feel much better. I've also learned popcorn is helpful for staying 'regular.'
— Aniyuah, age 21, living with RRMS
Drink lots of water. Fatigue from dehydration is worse for me. I drink at least 30 ounces a day. Drinking caffeine and sugar doesn't help. I've tried. Best to stick with healthy foods with low sugars, but a bunch of carbs for energy.
— Male, age 28, living with RRMS

Tip No. 3: Simplify It With MS-Approved Food Hacks

Now that you know what to eat, sometimes the trickier question can be how to stick with it — especially when you’re dealing with fatigue and other MS symptoms.

Here are some strategies to help you stay on track no matter what life throws your way:

If you cook, keep your knives sharp. You'll save energy, and cuts are less common with a sharp knife. Why? You don't need to exert as much pressure, so the knife is less likely to slip.
— Trevis Gleason, age 55, author and blogger, living with SPMS
I ensure that I have a couple healthy snacks for myself that are grab-and-go, for days when I don’t have the energy to go make a more elaborate breakfast or lunch. I love a quick bottled shake, yogurt, granola bar, or fruit to help keep my energy up without worrying about if making it will sap too much time.
— Julie Blackburn, age 40, living with primary-progressive MS