The Continuing Adventures Of Dave The Intrepid Gastronaut; MS Diet 4 month update
MS has been hammering me since 1998 and nothing seems to slow it down. On 4/20/2011 I finally decided to go 100% on the Wahls diet. This is my 4-month report.
Dr Wahls' story is compelling. (see
www.terrywahls.org) In 2007 she wasn't too far physically from where I am today. She changed her diet and by 2008 she could walk and ride her bike! That will get the complete attention of someone like me!
(she did other things in addition to diet changes, like eletronic muscle stimulation, meditation - but she thinks diet played the primary role in her recovery)
(and, she was never as bad as I am now)
My version of the Wahls diet:
Lots of veggies, esp. sulfur-rich and leafy greens and bright colors.
Small amount of fruit, some grain (but no gluten!)(I do quinoa and rice),
small amounts of meat (chicken, turkey, or seafood)(I avoid beef and pork).
ZERO gluten, dairy, sugar, yeast, legumes, red meat, processed food. I think the first 2 on this list are the important ones, and #3 (sugar) isn't far behind.
Low starch; I do eat half a banana or some corn on occasion. But never a potato or potato chips.
On day 62 I began including a commercial daily green drink; we use Green Magma.
Wahls is sort of the Swank diet (the first recommended MS diet) of today, except I'd say it trades an emphasis on low-fat for an emphasis on veggies.
Wahls = Paleo-diet + anti-inflamatory diet + extra veggies.
I started on this 100% on 4/20... Before, I was 90% on the diet - it isn't far from how I ate normally... but if you walked in with a pizza before 4/20 and offered me a slice, I'd have one. Today - no thanks.
For me, the hardest things to totally give up were pizza, bacon, and cheese. Pretty much everything else was EZ; I don't have a sweet tooth. In the old
days, I'd eat sweets occasionally but I never crave them.
My wonderful wife Janelle is on board with the diet (she ought to be; she found it and directed me to it!) and the food prep - out of necessity; I can't do it.
VVV new stuff VVV
OK, let's keep it short and sweet: I have a bit less MSfatigue, but no real physical changes. I'm still sticking 100% to the diet as described above.
Everyone in my shoes would want to know, when have other people seen an effect?
Short answer: 6-12 months, IF there is an effect at all. Many people have reported this, even going back to the original work of Dr. Swank.
I'm now thinking I'll stay on the protocol 'til my next Birthday, in May of 2012, even if I see no effect.
Call it 5/20/2012. 13 months - a fair shot.
If I I do see an effect, I'm on it for life.
If I see no effect, on 5/21/12 I'm eating a bacon cheeseburger and vanilla milkshake!
I am trying to get my blood test done for a standard screening; my cholesterol should be great! It was in the 140s (pretty good) before this eating protocol... it should be terrific now. When I get the number I'll include it here.
-Gastronaut Dave, over and out
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