Is There An MS Diet?

How might diet have an effect on MS?

What you eat may have a direct effect on the immune system. The National MS Society shares that “recent immunological research has shown that metabolism plays an important role in the function of several types of immune cells,” with receptors for dietary metabolites, such as vitamin D or fatty acids, found on immune cells. Food may have an indirect effect on the immune system through modulation of gut flora, shifting the immune system towards a pro- or anti-inflammatory state.

Research is investigating the effects of diet and altered metabolism on the central nervous system. Various foods and diets are being studied for their effects on cellular components of the central nervous system such as neuron and glial cells. Diets could have a beneficial role by providing factors that could protect these important cells. 

Read this post in its entirety:

MS Diet and Nutritional Approaches to Treatment

Carnival of MS Bloggers #159

Welcome to the Carnival of MS Bloggers, a monthly compendium of thoughts and experiences shared by those living with multiple sclerosis.

Gut health

from MirandasMSBlog

Bacteria and Digestion

I quite often get asked about bloating. But did you know that you don’t have to have digestive symptoms to be suffering from ‘dysbiosis’ or wrong bacteria in the gut? It might be easy to think of this as something that’s just a minor inconvenience. However – gut problems are not just miserable & uncomfortable, they can also possibly play a role in auto-immune diseases like MS. In fact Hippocrates, the ‘Father of modern medicine’ is quoted as saying that ‘all disease begins in the gut’.

If the health of the gut breaks down, undigested food molecules can pass into the bloodstream. This is known as ‘leaky gut’. These undigested food molecules can be interpreted by the body as ‘bad guys’, and activate an immune reaction, causing a food intolerance. According to the theory of ‘molecular mimicry’, the confused immune system can then mistake other molecules, of the body’s own tissues, which are similar to these undigested food molecules, to also be ‘bad guys’ or pathogens, and launch an immune response to its own tissues, setting up an auto-immune disease.

So let’s take a look at this one aspect of gut health; bacteria, & how it affects us. The gut is basically a long tube, that travels from the mouth to the anus, with many shapes & sizes along the way, to accommodate the different stages of digestion! I’ve discussed constipation, diet and stool health, and the link between auto-immune disease and food intolerances before in this blog , but today I’m thinking about the tiny beings who live with us, lovingly help to keep us healthy but also depend on us too for their existence – Bacteria! bacteria


From the 1600s, and the invention of the first microscope, we have known about the existence of our internal bacteria, but up until quite recently, the focus for medicine has been more about the ‘war on germs’, and the eradication of infectious disease. We now understand that our gut is home to approximately 100 trillion micro-organisms. Did you know that: Bacterial cells outnumber our human cells to the extent that you could say that we are actually only 10% human, and 90% bacterial? Or that three pounds of your body weight is bacteria?

75% of our immune system is comprised of intestinal bacteria – and it also helps to regulate metabolism, digestion and the absorption of nutrients from food. The health of our gut depends on this intestinal ‘flora’ being in balance, and gut health is critical to overall health, with poor gut health implicated in a wide range of diseases including diabetes, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis and other auto-immune diseases, autism spectrum disorder and even depression. So what can disrupt the healthy bacteria in the gut? Top of the list is

• Antibiotics – life saving but also seriously disrupt the ‘biome’

Amongst others,

• Steroids and other medications like birth control and non- steroidal anti-inflammatories
• Diets high in refined carbohydrates, sugar and processed foods
• Diets low in ‘fermentable fibres’ – food for the good bacteria
• Chronic stress and Chronic infections

What can we do to help repopulate the gut with healthy bacteria? And what to do if suffering from ‘digestive discomfort!’?

• Eat plenty of fermentable fibers (sweet potato, Jerusalem artichoke, yams, dandelion greens, leeks, onion, garlic, or bananas) or take a pro-biotic ( good bacteria) capsule that includes Pre-biotics ( food for the good bacteria)
• Eat fermented foods like kefir, live yogurt,( be aware these 2 are dairy based), kombucha, sauerkraut, kim chi, – traditionally most societies do, but we’ve forgotten to!
• and/or take a high-quality, MULTI-STRAIN PRO-BIOTIC ( good bacteria) capsule daily – Bio-Kult is a good one, many others too
• Keep your diet as close to whole foods as possible
• Learn how to manage stress healthily

Taking regular probiotics helps to re-establish the strength of our gut and digestion, reducing the incidence of food intolerances, and allowing the body to free up more of its energy for healing painful conditions. It has also been found to help prevent recurrent infections like urine infections, and increase our ability to fight off the bad bacteria. The cheapest dairy-free way to get good bacteria into your diet is by making your own sauerkraut – It’s super easy to make – just get a head of organic cabbage, chop it up, punch it in a bowl, sprinkle salt on it, let it sit for half an hour, then put it in jars with a bit of salt water and let it sit on your kichen top for a week. There’s loads of instructions on the internet, but that’s about the size of it. Then use it like pickle. Til next time :)


This concludes the 159th edition of the Carnival.  The next Carnival of MS Bloggers will be hosted here on October 2, 2014. Please remember to submit a post (via email) from your blog of which you are particularly proud, or which you simply want to share, by noon on Tuesday, September 20, 2014.

Comments for this post.

Can Nutritional Deficiencies Cause MS Fatigue?

Daily dietary intakes of vitamin D, folate, calcium, and magnesium were significantly lower than DRI as well. In men, zinc was significantly lower but iron was higher than DRI. In women, iron intake was significantly below DRI levels. Researchers have previously demonstrated that low calcium and iron intake may be correlated with progression of MS (Ramsaransing 2009).  In addition, deficiencies in vitamin D and magnesium have been implicated as risk factors for MS (Pennington 1997; Yasui 1992).

Fatigue and nutrient deficiencies

In the current study, only the nutrients, folate and magnesium, were associated with increased fatigue.  Researchers found that lower dietary intake of magnesium and folate in MS patients is significantly correlated with higher Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) scores, specifically the physical subscale.  Fatigue scores were not significantly associated with vitamin D and calcium intake.

- See more at: http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/19065/169283/folate-correlates#sthash.kgaQt9nV.dpuf

A recent study in Iran investigated the relationship between nutritional status (dietary intake of nutrients) and its relationship with fatigue in MS patients.  Researchers have found that diets which are lower in magnesium and folate are correlated with higher fatigue scores in MS patients (Bitarafan 2014).

Daily dietary intakes of vitamin D, folate, calcium, and magnesium were significantly lower than DRI as well. In men, zinc was significantly lower but iron was higher than DRI. In women, iron intake was significantly below DRI levels. Researchers have previously demonstrated that low calcium and iron intake may be correlated with progression of MS (Ramsaransing 2009).  In addition, deficiencies in vitamin D and magnesium have been implicated as risk factors for MS (Pennington 1997; Yasui 1992).

Fatigue and nutrient deficiencies

In the current study, only the nutrients, folate and magnesium, were associated with increased fatigue.  Researchers found that lower dietary intake of magnesium and folate in MS patients is significantly correlated with higher Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) scores, specifically the physical subscale.  Fatigue scores were not significantly associated with vitamin D and calcium intake.

Daily dietary intakes of vitamin D, folate, calcium, and magnesium were significantly lower than DRI as well. In men, zinc was significantly lower but iron was higher than DRI. In women, iron intake was significantly below DRI levels. Researchers have previously demonstrated that low calcium and iron intake may be correlated with progression of MS (Ramsaransing 2009).  In addition, deficiencies in vitamin D and magnesium have been implicated as risk factors for MS (Pennington 1997; Yasui 1992).

Fatigue and nutrient deficiencies

In the current study, only the nutrients, folate and magnesium, were associated with increased fatigue.  Researchers found that lower dietary intake of magnesium and folate in MS patients is significantly correlated with higher Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) scores, specifically the physical subscale.  Fatigue scores were not significantly associated with vitamin D and calcium intake.

- See more at: http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/19065/169283/folate-correlates#sthash.kgaQt9nV.dpuf

Daily dietary intakes of vitamin D, folate, calcium, and magnesium were significantly lower than DRI as well. In men, zinc was significantly lower but iron was higher than DRI. In women, iron intake was significantly below DRI levels. Researchers have previously demonstrated that low calcium and iron intake may be correlated with progression of MS (Ramsaransing 2009).  In addition, deficiencies in vitamin D and magnesium have been implicated as risk factors for MS (Pennington 1997; Yasui 1992).

Fatigue and nutrient deficiencies

In the current study, only the nutrients, folate and magnesium, were associated with increased fatigue.  Researchers found that lower dietary intake of magnesium and folate in MS patients is significantly correlated with higher Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) scores, specifically the physical subscale.  Fatigue scores were not significantly associated with vitamin D and calcium intake.

- See more at: http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/19065/169283/folate-correlates#sthash.kgaQt9nV.dpuf

Read this post in its entirety:

Low Magnesium and Folate Intake Correlates with Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue, New Study Shows

Carnival of MS Bloggers #135

Welcome to the Carnival of MS Bloggers, a bi-weekly compendium of thoughts and experiences shared by those living with multiple sclerosis.

Lucky Girl

from A Little of Everything

I constantly see a lot of posts about lack of support for some people with MS. I guess I've been very lucky, my family and friends have been nothing but supportive. I think it's very important for people in our lives to be educated about MS and the effects can have on someone.

Someone can look perfectly fine, but could be having muscle spasms and pain, that they just aren't calling attention to.

The most important part, in my opinion, is trying to keep the persons stress level as low as possible. Also family and friends understanding that. It's not always possible,
but I have found cutting out negative people or situations have helped a lot.

I don't think I would have been able to get through this far without the support system I have. And also knowing the people I don't talk to everyday, or for a while, sometimes give me the space I need. And still love and support me regardless!

I'm a very lucky girl.

With a Grain of Salt

from Needle Fatigue

This week was a slow week for news on the MS front.  Only one article in my Medical News Today-Multiple Sclerosis news feed: Salt May Play Role In Autoimmune Diseases

Anyone in my family would know why that headline got my attention.  It’s because — with maybe two anomalous exceptions — my people are… salt monsters.

When my clansmen go to the Chinese restaurant with the saltiest hot and sour soup in the world, they add soy sauce.  The only thing I think I have ever seen spared from the salt shaker is ice cream, and I’m not actually sure of that.  So one might think I’d be a pretty damn good candidate for a study of salt consumption and MS.

But the thing is, if you ask my family, as an adult, my devotion to sodium chloride has been pretty weak.   (It may be worth noting here too that I’m the only person with MS anywhere in my family, that we know of.)   I’d say that for the last ten years — and well before I had my first attack — my salt intake has been half of what I consumed as a wee salt monsterette.  All of my snacks are indecently raw and healthy.  I use low-sodium soy sauce.  But not all the time.

Recently I’ve read some interesting books on “intuitive eating” (if you’re interested, try this one) and found that that’s pretty much how I already go through life.  I figure if I crave a nice bloody steak (which isn’t often), there’s probably a good reason for it. And sometimes I shove aside the low-sodium Kikkoman and reach for my jug of tamari.  I’m less happy about the sneaky items in my kitchen that seem healthy but probably aren’t — that innocent box of rosemary-olive oil quinoa, with the sinister “spice sack” inside…

If you have MS, you probably get asked this question a lot: “So are you on a special diet to treat that?” This is something I’m still investigating, but I’m pretty sure the scientific consensus is that there is no diet that will prevent the progression of MS.  There are diets that might make you feel better — generally speaking — and I plan to write about some of that stuff here — but if there was an actual diet that could stop MS, or even better reverse the damage, I think we’d have bloody well heard about it.

So, the salt issue is something I’m just going to look at as one more of those nutritional areas I can improve on.  And after all, if it’s just being considered as a cause of MS, the horse is kind of out of the barn there.  And as the studies in Nature  point out, it’s only one of many.  It reminds me, on the day I was diagnosed officially, I asked my neurologist: “So you said there are all these  ‘environmental triggers’ that cause MS — what are they?”  His answer was “If I knew that, I’d have a Nobel Prize.”

And on that note, hot and sour soup sounds really good right now.

YouTube Therapy: Making MS Manageable with the World Wide Web

by Katie Brind'Amour of Healthline.com

Although progress in the treatment of MS has been slow, individuals with this condition can at least be grateful for one of the best free resources now available: the Internet. This venue for at-home treatment clearly should not replace treatment advice from your own physicians, but things as simple as YouTube videos can offer a new world of simple symptom improvement advice that can improve your daily life.

According to Healthline.com, the type of MS you have or the degree to which your MS has progressed will impact the type and severity of symptoms you experience. Always remember that your own at-home treatments should be tailored to the severity of your condition—start small, and work your way up!

Use YouTube advice to get a handle on bladder control problems. These Pelvic Control Tips offer viewers five strategies for keeping it in. By doing exercises daily, you can both prevent some bladder problems and improve symptoms you may already have.

Get your balance with simple home-based exercises. For those in early stages of MS or with periods of total remission, more advanced balance exercises may be appropriate. For those with more difficulty balancing or a more advanced stage of the condition, balance techniques designed for seniors may be more comfortable. Regardless of your ability level, start all exercises close to a bed, countertop, or wall that you can use for support and stability in case of a totter or fall. Check out the video instructions for guidance!

If you want to avoid losing your hand-eye coordination as long as possible, YouTube has an answer for that, too! Try early preventative exercises (that require agility) to hone your hand-eye skills. Start with a basketball (sitting, if needed), and work your way up to the tennis ball as shown. For those with more difficulty, try one of the numerous videos for children to rebuild your hand-eye coordination. Stringing beads or foam onto a pipe cleaner can be tough at more advanced MS stages!

Another problem that commonly accompanies MS is depression. Use YouTube videos for a little meditation-like pep-talk or learn tried-and-true strategies for fighting depressive symptoms naturally. If fatigue is a problem for you, consider searching out freebie videos like this little clip of using yoga to fight fatigue.

Finally, we all know that MS can negatively impact both concentration and memory. Although options abound, try this video to learn a single exercise that may improve your ability to concentrate during a task. Memory techniques may be good to mix up from time to time, but advice on starting to improve your memory can be key to getting your at-home training off the ground.

No matter what you choose to focus on—just one symptom or a bit of everything—it seems like a bit of a blessing to be living in such an electronic age. Take advantage of everything YouTube has to offer for making your at-home preventive efforts as effective as possible!


This concludes the 135th edition of the Carnival.  The next Carnival of MS Bloggers will be hosted here on March 28, 2013. Please remember to submit a post (via email) from your blog of which you are particularly proud, or which you simply want to share, by noon on Tuesday, March 26, 2013.

Comments for this post.

Bright Fruits and Vegetables are Good for You

Eating brightly colored fruits and vegetables are actually very good for your health and can help to prevent disease.  In fact, a new study published earlier this year suggested that eating foods containing colorful carotenoids, particularly beta carotene and lutein, may prevent or delay the onset of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Another study published in the European Journal of Nutrition (Boeing, 2012) provides a critical review of the role of fruit and vegetable consumption in the prevention of chronic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis.  Researchers undertook a comprehensive analysis of prior studies evaluating fruit and vegetable intake in regard to several chronic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, osteoporosis, eye diseases, and dementia.  The level of evidence, number and size of studies, and quality of the studies were considered.

Read this post in its entirety:
Nutrition is important in the Fight Against Chronic Disease

Carnival of MS Bloggers #132

Welcome to the Carnival of MS Bloggers, a bi-weekly compendium of thoughts and experiences shared by those living with multiple sclerosis.

Colds, Flu and Multiple Sclerosis: Keep Yourself Healthy This Winter
by Dr. Yumi Izumisato

As we see each year, the cold weather brings a dramatic increase in the number of people catching colds and flu. When we catch colds, we often feel chills. Eastern medical philosophy explains that the body gets chills mainly for two reasons. First, when the body is weak and out of balance, it reacts by shaking to get pathogens away from body, which stick to the surface of body or enter into the body. Pathogens are always present, even when you’re healthy. But whether or not they enter the body and bring problems depends on how strong and balanced your body is.

The second reason the body gets chills is the cold is so extreme the body shakes to prevent the entrance of cold.

In either case, the body is sometimes overcome and we end up getting sick.

The influence of cold temperatures often leads to symptoms in the nose, throat and air tract. But it also constricts the blood vessels, resulting in poor limb circulation. These changes near the surface of the body are easy to feel and usually short-term. But the cold can actually reach and chill the internal organs of the body, bringing more serious consequences.

Even for generally healthy people, chills can cause a dysfunction of the internal organs. Depending on which organ the chills spread to, a number of problems can manifest, including digestive, respiratory, sexual and emotional, among others. During menstruation, pain, excessive blood loss and/or clotting, and infertility can occur.

If the initial causes of these symptoms continue unchecked, they can lead to more serious, long-term illnesses. Perhaps western medicine doesn’t recognize this, but the East goes so far as to say ‘cold is the source of all disease.’

What does this mean for people with Multiple Sclerosis?

It means that MS patients need to be particularly careful to stay warm and avoid catching colds or flu or they’ll be at risk of having a relapse.

Prior statistics have already shown that relapses occur more often after a cold or bout of flu. The question has always been, “why?” A recent Current Medicine study suggested that cold viruses could produce a protein that wakens the sleeping pathogenic T cells, resulting in MS relapses.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM,) which sees the body and illnesses holistically, the fact you have MS means your body is already weak or out of balance. (This is likely the reason you came down with MS.) Catching cold and chills are also signs your body is out of balance, as we mentioned earlier. The combination of the imbalance caused by the cold weather and the original imbalance (that caused MS) can be too much for the body to take and may result in a relapse.

Both views indicate that viral infection resulting in colds and flu is a factor in MS relapses. So patients should be especially careful about catching colds through winter and times that these illnesses are spreading. Of course, the best way to avoid getting chilled and catching colds is to take precautionary measures.

I recommend the following to keep your selves healthy this winter:

MS patients should do their best to avoid crowded areas, make sure to gargle regularly and get plenty of sleep.

Be sure to dress warm enough, but don’t over do it. You should keep your abdomen/waist area particularly warm. Here in Japan, people do this by wearing a ‘belly band,’ or ‘haramaki.’ (hara=belly, maki=wrap) They’re especially popular with the older generation, but have been shunned as uncool by younger people in the past. Recently, though, modern versions are appearing and gaining popularity. Regardless, staying healthy should be your primary concern, so please use one if you can find it.

Also, be sure to keep your neck, wrists, and ankles warm as well.

With that being said, keeping warm is important, but getting overheated can actually be detrimental. Eastern cultures believe maintaining balance is the key to health in all aspects of life, physical, mental and emotional. Think ‘Yin and Yang,’ and act accordingly. In regards to your body, warm is good, but too hot is not. So don’t overdress or warm your body by the fire.

And finally, don’t bathe in extremely hot water. Long soaks in lukewarm water are recommended.

Regarding diet, basically you should be eating foods that warm the body. For vegetables, garlic, ginger, green onion, and leeks all have a warming effect, but tomatoes and raw vegetables should be avoided because they cool the body. Dark vegetables rich in carotene and root vegetables, such as pumpkin are especially good.

For meats and fish/ seafood, sheep, deer, shrimp, mussels, and salmon are good, but you should avoid crab. Other ingredients that warm the body are cinnamon, pepper, brown sugar, walnuts and chestnuts. Spicy foods warm the body, but should be avoided by people who are particularly dry.

Your meals should be a higher temperature than your body, so soups, stews, and pot cooking are recommended.

I also recommend limiting your alcohol consumption. But if you’re going to drink, do so in moderation. Choose red wine over white. Beer cools the body so you should avoid it, if possible. Again, balance is the key to health, and overconsumption is not balance.

Exercise moderately. You should raise your basal metabolism by building muscle. Lack of muscle makes it difficult for the body to generate heat, so it’s easy to get chilled. (It’s also easier to gain weight for this reason.)

Many people with MS have lost some mobility, thus making traditional exercise difficult. All I can say here is do your best to get some exercise. Even if you’re in a wheelchair, you should be able to do light exercises or yogic postures. There is much info on the net about this so please do some research, or consult your doctor. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Your body will thank you for it.

During the winter, in general you should do your best to just take it easy and not do anything extraneous in work or play. Also, keep your mind stable and calm. Follow the eastern saying, ’Go to bed early and get up late.’

TCM’s philosophy is that winter is a time when things settle quietly, become passive, and everything is stored away and saved. To welcome the new spring, you should spend the winter quietly and calmly to restore your energy.

These last points are made for everyone to maintain health during the winter. But MS patients should be especially vigilant to stay healthy because we have more at risk from falling ill from the cold. I hope the above advice has been helpful for you and will keep you cold, flu, and relapse free this winter. Please take care.

Thanks very much for your time. I’ve enjoyed sharing with you and look forward to doing so again in the near future.


This concludes the 132nd edition of the Carnival.  The next Carnival of MS Bloggers will be hosted here on February 14, 2013. Please remember to submit a post (via email) from your blog of which you are particularly proud, or which you simply want to share, by noon on Tuesday, February 12, 2013.

Comments for this post.

(Top image courtesy of Shutterstock)

Eating Foods High in Beta-carotene and Lutein May Protect Against ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rapidly progressive motor neuron disease affecting as many as 20,000-30,000 people in the United States.  ALS attacks the nerve cells (motor neurons) that control voluntary movement and strength.  Motor neurons are located in the spinal cord and brain.  In ALS, motor neurons gradually die which interferes with muscle control and movement, ultimately leading to death.  The cause of ALS is still unknown although research has identified a genetic risk factor in familial (inherited) cases of ALS which account for 5-10% of all ALS cases diagnosed.

New research published in the Annals of Neurology suggests that the consumption of foods containing colorful carotenoids, particularly beta-carotene and lutein, may prevent or delay the onset of ALS.  Previous research has suggested that oxidative stress is involved in the development of ALS and that persons who take vitamin E supplements (a powerful antioxidant) have a reduced risk of ALS.
Read this post in its entirety:

Eating Bright-Colored Fruits and Vegetables May Prevent or Delay ALS, New Research Suggests

Carnival of MS Bloggers #123

Welcome to the Carnival of MS Bloggers, a bi-weekly compendium of thoughts and experiences shared by those living with multiple sclerosis.

FDA Approves MS Pill, MS Inconvenience, 
and Anti-inflammatory Foods to Help MS

FDA approves oral drug, Aubagio (teriflunomide), for treatment of Relapsing MS 

from Lisa Emrich of Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA 

Late Wednesday afternoon, the FDA announced that Aubagio (teriflunomide) has been approved for adults with relapsing forms of MS.  Click through to the original blog post to find the FDA announcement, a Reuters news report, abstracts for 12 academic studies published between 2006 and 2012 regarding teriflunomide and oral medications in development for MS, and the Genzyme press release regarding the FDA approval of Aubagio (teriflunomide).

GRRRRR!! 

from Stax of Multiple Sclerosis & Me

i hate being sick; having MS!!

that's all; no funny stories, no lamenting or feeling sorry for myself. i just hate it; it's a pain in my ass and a big inconvenience.

What to eat with MS? 

from The Girl With MS 

Nutrition will allow you to Thrive with MS! Anyone with MS should know what cooling foods are and how they affect the body and the disease.

My research began over ten years ago. Three different Chinese medicine doctors diagnosed me as being kidney yen deficient. While investigating what these doctors were telling me, I found that many of the symptoms for this 5,000 year old Chinese disease were shockingly similar to that of modern day MS and many autoimmune diseases for that matter.

When asked about the cause the Chinese doctors all responded with "Western diet and lifestyle". The Western diet contains many processed and falsely seasoned foods not to mention excess fat. Western people are known to skip meals, eat on the hoof and gorge on salte, fat and sweets with no care about their bodies.

According to Chiness Medicine there are different kinds of food: cool, neutral and heating. Depending upon our makeup and health dictates which foods are best. For an inflamed person with MS the cooling foods are desired.

(FYI - Chinese Medicine offers much more than discussed here where it's been crudely simplified. Resources linked below)

So what foods cool off the body and help my MS?


Some obvious food such as cucumbers come to mind. Apples, bananas, citrus, clams and many more. But what about sushi? Have you ever eaten the eel? Unagi? One summer there was a heat wave in Japan and a subsequent shortage of Unagi due to its cooking effect on the body.

Imagine using foods to cool off and saving that electricity bill!

Information about cooling foods and nutrition for MS has grown significantly these
past ten years. Here are some places to check out:

A good primer on Chinese Medicine and food classifications

Spreadsheet of foods by class from DocStock

Heating vs Cooling Foods. A review

Food as Medicine - a look into Chinese Medicine. (downloadable PDF)

Chinese Food Pyramid for Dogs and More

Nutrition will allow you to Thrive with MS!

This concludes the 123rd edition of the Carnival.  The next Carnival of MS Bloggers will be hosted here on September 27, 2012. Please remember to submit a post (via email) from your blog of which you are particularly proud, or which you simply want to share, by noon on Tuesday, September 25, 2012.

Thank you.

Comments for this post.

Eat More Fruits, Vegetables, and Fiber

At my most recent visit to the rheumatologist, I was instructed to eat as much as 11 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.  I said, “wow, that sounds like a lot!”  My doctor’s response was that it was not as much as you might think when 1/2 cup counts as a serving.

Counting full and half cups of fruits and vegetables is part of a new campaign “Fruits and Veggies-More Matters” launched by the CDC.  Lots of information, including tips and recipes, can be found at FruitsandVeggiesMatter.gov.  When visualizing amounts of food, it may be easier to picture kitchen measuring cups, rather than guessing whether a large piece of fruit counts as one or two servings.

On the homepage of Fruits and Veggies Matter is an interactive tool which tells you how many cups of fruits and vegetables are recommended based on age and gender.  For a 42 year old female who engages in a low level of physical activity, the recommendation is 1.5 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables every day, based on an average 1800 calories/day diet. 

Read this post in its entirety:

Nutrition Matters: Eat More Fruits, Vegetables, and Fiber for Better Health

Carnival of MS Bloggers #62

Welcome to the Carnival of MS Bloggers, a bi-weekly compendium of thoughts and experiences shared by those living with multiple sclerosis.

Thoughts on Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency

This is an early edition of the Carnival featuring posts related to CCSVI.  We will have our regularly scheduled Carnival tomorrow as well.  Enjoy the bonus this week!!

Note: The National MS Society presents information regarding CCSVI, including a recording of the webforum held on April 14, 2010 and hosted by NMSS and the American Academy of Neurology, on their website.

CCSVI Tempo
by Judy of Peace Be With You

CCSVI,
the latest lightening rod
for strongly held views.

Some want us to sprint.
Others ask moderation.
Patients want relief.

Do we ask too much

of this new experiment?

Let's please find the truth.

The Vampire Can Walk In The Sun Again! 

by Ginger of CCSVI, Liberation Surgery & Me

Before my liberation treatment I was not able to live in temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius. In fact, temps around 18 were optimum for me. In the late Spring and entire summer I would be a prisoner in my air conditioned home, held hostage by the sun's heat. I would joke to myself that I was like a vampire but the joke just wasn't funny anymore after living like this for the last 10 years. If I exposed my body to any type of heat above 20 degrees I would get extreme pain in my hands, arms, feet and legs. My feet would feel like they were burning and my body would go all tense and tight and I would not be able to walk at all. I would become dizzy and experience vertigo.

Since spring began a few weeks ago and the temperature has started to rise I have been watching myself with great interest as I'm hoping my heat intolerance is gone. I have had hints that it might be gone like when I had a hot bath and was able to clean the tub after. (Usually I felt like a limp piece of spaghetti and had to go directly to bed leaving the tub to cleaned on another day.)

Two days ago I decided to take my dogs to the off leash park with my son Darin and his puppy. It was around 22 degrees Celsius so I was a bit concerned how my body would react. When I started walking in the park my left knee felt like I had a tensor bandage wrapped around it and I thought "Oh God! here it comes!" But then I kept walking and the "hug" went away. I was waiting for the ax to fall but it never did. I was aware of the sun's heat on my skin and the breeze blowing but I had no exacerbations at all!

I was able to walk in the bright heat of the sun with my dogs and my boy like a normal mom. I did not explode into flames like an Anne Rice character. This was the most marvelous feeling and I laughed because for most people it was so mundane and ordinary for them. My right leg and foot are still the weakest links in my recovery and the leg did start to feel slightly burning but that was all. I am hoping that when the temperature really goes up I will be able to withstand the heat and enjoy my summers again.

Goin' the other way on the CCSVI limb
by Doc of The Gimp Chronicles: Shade-Stealing Crips

I was recently asking some people who know I have MS why certain people reacted as if I had a potentially explosive brain tumor when they heard I have MS. Without hesitation, the response was "they just don't know better."

OK, I can dig that, I guess... because it corresponds with my own lack of overwhelming concern about dying from MS, or disability. I've never really felt like MS would kill me, and I've long been ready to be a fulltime crip. I won't be overly stressed when it happens.

I've had signs and symptoms for at least 3-4 years now, with diagnosis Jan of 2009, but I kind of figured well, can anything be done? It can? Well, let's do it. That is not to say I haven't had bad times and that I won't have more... doesn't mean I enjoyed avonex shots and side effects (which went away), but I just don't have the feeling of MS as a "horrible, disabling, crippling, monstrous" yadayadayada life-sapping badguy. I know I must seem very lucky to some who have MS-- I have insurance, a fanTAStic neuroimmunologist, a working clinical trial, a job, and a genetic predisposition to get things done. I have done about 90% of things I've wanted to (honestly-- i'm just missing the Oscar), and all that is left is to live a good, decent life and create as little terror and pain as possible.

So yeah-- I just am not hopping on the CCSVI bandwagon. There are serious problems in the methodology of research (yeah, I'm a PhD in English, but I read pretty well too). My major surprise is that I didn't really think I'd see a shrill (both ways) medical fad/ cure/ treatment/ whatever it is or might be acted out as they were in the past. Hey, I'm a vegetarian, I like my herbs and adore my teas, but it's not those that turned the Xmas lites off in my brain. Whatever the reason, the clinical trial drug works VERY well in me-- may not in others.

I look at it this way-- I was so ridiculously low risk for MS (not Scandinavian, raised in the sun, not even ONE yeast infection, and a non-environmentally risky job-- but yeah, female), yet my lesion load was so tremendous that it took 8 docs 7 days or so to hesitantly determine what I did NOT have-- by god, SOMEONE would have noticed blood drainage/circulation issues!

Or not...

And that is how the discussion of CCSVI goes. There is always someone who was cured or will believe themselves to be cured via unorthodox ways-- I swear one person said he was cured by parsley, chorella, and vitamin D. HMM!! Shouldn't the vegetarian have been protected from MS if veggies were the key? Undoubtedly, I'd contracted some invisible yeast infection.... or it's stress... or blocked veins.

I really do hate monolithic arguments. I can understand fear and loathing of MS. I am sure I'm relatively "lucky". I'm even a bit credulous.

But not about MS. And if one more person declares "all docs"/neuros are "in bed with Big Pharma" I'm gonna smack them freakin' silly. With my still-functional right hand, then beat them with my occasionally-needed cane.

Grump. I await some science.

And anyone mention grammar errors are "not supposed to be in English-major blogs!", I will say I'm off duty-- and THEN beat 'em with my cane. Grr.

CCSVI, liberation treatment and what you need to do to treat your MS NOW 

by ManOnAMSion

It is human nature to want a quick solution to our problems – the silver bullet that will make it better.  The recent excitement around chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and “liberation treatment” put me in mind of that fact of life.  The reality is that this is a theory and a treatment in the early stages of research, and you need to put your multiple sclerosis into remission NOW.

It has been widely reported – in sometimes breathless, overstated terms – that Dr. Paolo Zamboni of Italy has discovered the cause – and cure – for multiple sclerosis.  If only either were true.  As well reported by Canada’s National Post, this very preliminary research has been totally blown out of proportion.  And if people living with MS line up for unproven surgery, rather than doing what we know we can RIGHT NOW to treat our MS, the results can be harmful.

It is true that Dr. Zamboni has found some support for a hypothesis of a connection between restrictions of cerebral blood flow and multiple sclerosis. And the limited data indicates that there may indeed be a correlation.  But  it isn’t clear to me whether what he has discovered is a cause of MS, as opposed to be yet another symptom, and this doesn’t point to the silver bullet treatment that many media reports have suggested.

As Dr. Jelinek explains well, this finding isn’t even all that new and in fact was written about by Dr. Swank many years ago in his book.  And Dr. Swank’s work, confirmed by Dr. Jelinek, has already given us a treatment plan, albeit not a silver bullet.

The fact is that for us folks with multiple sclerosis, staying well is within our control, but, sorry folks, it takes discipline and a life-long dedication to changing our lifestyle, starting with our diet.  Controlling what is put into our bodies is the key to controlling our bodies.

Does that sound like a silver bullet?  No, I suppose not.  But step back and think about it for a minute.  Do you really think surgery (as suggested by Zamboni) is a preferable solution to eating healthy?  I suppose there are many who wait for the heart attack and then have angioplasty or stents (or bypass) instead of eating right, but I sure wouldn’t choose that.

And I know that Dr. Swank and Dr. Jelinek’s recommendations sound difficult, if not impossible, when most of us first read them.  Take it from me, a man who had no discipline (75 lbs. overweight), it is daunting at the outset.  But after 8 months of living on the plan, I feel great, have lost almost 30 lbs. (and counting) and, most importantly, I have learned to love this healthy lifestyle and will never go back.

Do yourself a favor: if you are not a Swanker, commit to trying the plan for 2 months.  Really stick with it, see how you feel and see if you really want to go back.  The worst that will happen is that you will have a healthy diet for a couple of months.  The best that will happen is you will become committed and live a longer, healthier life, with less disease progression.  You’ll even help ward off cancer and heart disease (isn’t MS enough for you?)!


This concludes the 62nd 'early' edition of the Carnival.

The next Carnival of MS Bloggers will be hosted here on June 3, 2010. Please remember to submit a post (via email) from your blog of which you are particularly proud, or which you simply want to share, by noon on Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

Thank you.

Comments for this post.

Is Diet the Answer to Treating MS Symptoms?

Remember how March is National MS Education and Awareness Month?

Well The New York Times has jumped onboard with a short series of articles written about multiple sclerosis by their very own "personal health columnist and science news reporter." Ms. Jane E. Brody writes weekly articles for NYT and is considered a leading authority on 'health & nutrition' and 'health & fitness' on the speaking circuit.

Last week I discussed Ms. Brody's first article discussing multiple sclerosis. This week, I'll discuss her latest article with bold emphasis mine. Excerpts from other websites are presented in italics.


"Some With MS Put Their Hopes in a Diet"
By JANE E. BRODY
Published: March 11, 2008

What you are about to read is not an endorsement of any particular diet as a therapy for multiple sclerosis. Nor is it a suggestion to forgo established medical treatments.

not an endorsement...but definitely a plug for one particular book which was released in September 2007

But so long as it is part of a medically approved treatment program, the diet described here is unlikely to hurt, except perhaps to make meal planning a challenge. And on the testimony of those who have followed it, the plan may be worth trying, despite the lack of scientific evidence to support it.
The diet has not been subjected to a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, the gold standard for determining the value of any therapy. But Ann D. Sawyer and Judith E. Bachrach, co-authors of “The MS Recovery Diet,” say this should not dissuade people struggling with the debilitating symptoms of the degenerative disease.


The diet they outline extends one developed decades ago by Dr. Roy L. Swank, an emeritus professor of neurology at Oregon Health Science University. It severely restricts saturated fat and increases essential fatty acids like fish and vegetable oils, measures endorsed by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as part of a healthy diet.

Nutrition and Diet - National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Maintenance of general good health is very important for persons with MS or any chronic disorder. A well-balanced and carefully planned diet will help to achieve this goal. MS specialists recommend that people with MS adhere to the same low-fat, high fiber diet that is recommended for the general population.

The Problem with Special Diets

While many different diets have been proposed as a treatment, or even a cure, for the signs and symptoms of MS, evidence of effectiveness is very limited. There is some evidence that a diet low in saturated fats and supplemented by Omega 3 (from fatty fishes, cod-liver oil, or flaxseed oil) and Omega 6 (fatty acids from sunflower or safflower seed oil and possibly evening primrose oil) may have some benefit for people with MS.Most of the diets that have been touted as helping people with MS have not been subjected to rigorous, controlled studies, and the few that have been evaluated have produced mixed results. Most of the claims made for dietary treatments are based on personal accounts, and the reported benefits may have been spontaneous changes that would have happened without any treatment.

In 2003, Dr. Swank reported that among 144 patients placed on his diet 34 years earlier, two-thirds of the 70 who carefully followed it survived, compared with one-fifth of the 74 who were “poor dieters.”

Translation:

~33% patients carefully followed the diet and survived
~10% patients were 'poor dieters' and didn't survive?
~57% patients neither survived nor didn't survive?

Huh??

Dr. Allen C. Bowling, a neurologist and nutrition expert at the Rocky Mountain MS Center in Colorado, wrote that “no well-designed clinical trial has been conducted to determine whether decreasing dietary sources of saturated fat improves outcomes in MS.”

“The whole area of diet has been a loose thread in MS studies — the evidence is tantalizing but not definitive,” he said. “Making reasonable changes in diet is not going to hurt, but at the same time it’s important for people with MS to take advantage of what conventional medicine has to offer and optimize their treatment options every single day.”

Same source and similar quotes to last week's article.

Besides saturated fat, Ms. Sawyer and Ms. Bachrach suggest that other potential dietary culprits include dairy, grains with gluten, legumes, eggs and yeast. “Beyond the five usual suspects, each person may have very individual food sensitivities to herbs, spices or food in any category,” they write. Each patient would have to determine personal sensitivities through trial and error.

In an interview, Ms. Sawyer said: “This approach is simple, it doesn’t cost anything and nobody is making money from it. We’re not saying the diet is a cure; it’s a way to control the symptoms of MS. Walking around watching what you eat is a lot better than sitting in a wheelchair.”

But if there is a product (book) for sale, then somebody is be making money, but I have to disagree with Ann and Judi's "image of Multiple Sclerosis" which "is burned into all of our minds." Sounds like fear-mongering to me.

The image of Multiple Sclerosis is burned into all of our minds: a young adult in a wheelchair, facing an unrelenting loss of physical and mental functions. This does not have to happen!

Welcome to the MS world of Ann Sawyer and Judi Bachrach, where healing and optimism prevail and life can be lived to the fullest, unimpeded. Nine years ago, Ann was totally exhausted and her feet so numb that she could barely hobble about. Now, whether ramping up the treadmill or dancing at a wedding, she is full of energy and vitality. Luckily, she found a treatment approach that worked. Judi’s MS had progressed to the point where she had to spend most of her days in bed. A wheelchair was out of the question because her trunk muscles could not support her sitting up. Now, after 39 years of severe compromise, Judi is emerging into a full life once again, regaining her lost abilities and energy.

Before she started the diet, Ms. Bachrach, a former dancer and movement instructor, could not even use a wheelchair because her upper body had become too weak to manipulate it. She was 35 when she learned she had MS; by 49, she was mostly bedridden. Then, in 2006, she met Ms. Sawyer and decided to try the diet she suggested.

“After one week on this diet, I regained feeling in my toes,” she wrote. “After about six weeks, I also gained incrementally in terms of endurance and muscular rebound. I was even able to walk back down to the waterfall on my land, to carry firewood, to empty the ash bucket, to make a spaghetti sauce and to stay up to greet my husband on his late return from a trip, all in one day, and still felt just fine.

“There is no doubt that on this diet, my good days are definitely better. I continue to gain new sensations, mobility, strength and endurance every month.”

Hers is one of nearly a dozen dietary “success stories” recounted in the book. Several other patients reported that they remained well as long as they stuck to the diet, then relapsed when they got careless about food, only to improve once more when they went back on the diet. Why, you may wonder, isn’t everyone with MS on this diet? The answer lies partly in the complex nature of the disease.

Multiple sclerosis is a highly variable autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own immune system attacks the myelin sheaths that protect axons, which transmit nerve signals in the brain. The most common form is called relapsing-remitting: patients are well for a time, then their symptoms return, only to subside again sometime later, with or without treatment. Thus, it is hard to know whether any improvement is due to diet.

Patricia O’Looney, vice president for biomedical research at the Multiple Sclerosis Society, said in an interview: “There’s a strong placebo effect in MS. With any change a person makes — in diet or whatever — they’re likely to feel better because they’re taking some action. Eating less saturated fat and more fish oil is good for all of us. But we’d never suggest changing one’s diet in place of taking” a therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

To clarify, Patricia O'Looney, PhD, works for NMSS

The theory behind the “recovery diet” is that in susceptible people, partly digested proteins stimulate an allergy-like immune response, resulting in antibodies that mistake myelin for the offending protein. These antibodies can then enter the brain and attack the myelin sheath, disrupting nerve conduction and eventually causing death of the axons. The goal the authors suggest is to identify and eliminate culprit foods from the diet to quiet the immune response.

"These antibodies can then enter the brain...eventually causing death of the axons." This doesn't explain re-myelination.

There are several problems involved in trying to test this or any other dietary regimen scientifically. As Rosalind Kalb, an associate vice president of the MS society, explained, the cyclical nature of the disease means that studies must be long term. “Over an extended period people have to follow an exact diet,” she said in an interview, and the findings among them must be compared with people on ordinary diets. Documenting adherence to a strict regimen like the recovery diet is challenging in itself.

To clarify, Rosalind Kalb, PhD, works for NMSS

And since there may be individual sensitivities, there are too many variables, and it is hard to know what to exclude from the test diet. It is one thing to examine a single nutrient like omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D, but much more difficult to test a diet in which many different nutrients are involved.

“Thus far, no researcher has been interested in taking this on,” Dr. Kalb said. “The medications seemed to show more promise.”

*******************************

If any book should be recommended to someone with multiple sclerosis, it should be Rosalind Kalb's book. I have personally found it very useful and informative.

Multiple Sclerosis: The Questions You Have - The Answers You Need, 4th Edition (2008)
Rosalind C. Kalb, PhD

"The thoroughly revised and updated fourth edition of the classic Multiple Sclerosis: The Questions You Have, The Answers You Need continues to be the definitive guide for everyone concerned with this disease—those who have MS, those who share their lives with someone who has it, and all healthcare professionals involved with its management. It covers a wide range of topics in an accessible question and answer format that allows people to easily find the information they need.

Within each section, MS experts including neurologists, nurses, rehabilitation and mental health professionals, lawyers, and insurance and employment experts, answer the questions they have been asked most frequently over the course of their careers. Each chapter is designed to cover the full spectrum of the disease—from the time of diagnosis through the complex challenges that can arise if the disease progresses."

Pharmaceuticals and Nutrition - Must MS Patients Choose One Over the Other?

In response to my post, The Value of Money or the Value of Health..., a fellow MSer from Toronto left an interesting comment regarding the use of diet to 'treat' her multiple sclerosis. She referenced a presentation given in Alberta last October by DIRECT-MS, Diet Research into the Cause and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, which also supports The Best Bet Diet.

Orla Hegarty is "40 years old and has had a passion for cooking since she was able to whip up her first batch of cookies at the age of 10 or so. She published her first recipe in 1977 at this same age. She blames it all on Laura Ingalls Wilder." Orla blogs at Great Mastications and provides recipes which are diary-free, gluten-free, legume-free, and tomato-free. Her recipes look pretty tasty and you should check them out.

Orla makes the point that her choice of treatment costs considerably less than the $21,000 per year that prescription Copaxone costs. Personally, I do not believe that the use of appropriate pharmaceuticals must be divorced from the use of diet to help control MS symptoms. And I am a little sad that MSers who choose a diet-only approach feel the need to carry a chip on their shoulder when it comes to the skepticism of an MS Cause or Cure found in nutrition from the evidence-based medical community.

Orla also says..."Patient advocacy is a moot [sic] point when it comes to patients choosing diet modifications." I believe that patient advocacy can be executed in a wide variety of situations. Perhaps there is a need to increase the availability of high-quality, fresh foods in urban areas without access to locally grown foodstuffs. Or why ARE so many processed foods, made to be tasty by substances such as high-fructose corn syrup or partially-hydrogenated oils, available at such cheap prices? Could there be a need to eliminate or limit federal farm subsidies which distort nutritional incentives? Just some thoughts.

Namaste to you, Orla, and thank you for visiting.

In the Pursuit of Health & Wellness -- Is Alternative Medicine Complementary?

Not long ago, I received a notice regarding a 14-day belly-fat study sponsored by Curves and the Health & Wellness Center of Alexandria, Virginia. I was curious to sample the services and facilities of Curves, so I responded to the advertisement. Also, a belly-fat study sounded like an excellent complement to the medical advise of my rheumatologist.

During a routine visit in September, my rheumatologist inquired as to my exercise level and food choices. My initial reaction was one of guilt for becoming increasingly sedentary. However, my very smart rheumatologist quickly changed the focus of the conversation. She explained that abdominal fat (adipose tissue) produces specific proteins or cytokines (TNF-a and Interleukin-1) which are involved in systemic inflammation (as is associated with rheumatoid arthritis).

Some of the newer drugs for RA, including Enbrel, Humira, and Remicade, work to counteract interleukins and TNF-a. However, MS patients are restricted from using these drugs due to MS-like neurological side effects. Thus the non-pharmaceutical, anti-inflammatory prescription for reducing the production of these cytokines is to focus on reducing abdominal fat through exercise and nutrition.

This puts me, the patient, in charge of using alternative or natural methods to control the symptoms and dangerous effects of chronic disease. I'd say that I'm fortunate in that several of my doctors welcome an integrative medicine approach to disease management; however, my health insurance doesn't. For example, I do not have insurance-covered access to licensed dietitians or physiotherapists, although their guidance and expertise would be invaluable in helping to limit the effects of chronic disease. Unfortunately, you must be diabetic to have dietitian services covered by insurance and the only approved treatment for obesity is the extreme solution of gastric-bypass surgery.

The Patient as CEO of Personal Health and Wellness

In an ideal patient-centered healthcare system, the individual (ie. patient, consumer, client, CEO of one's own body, whatever you prefer to call yourself) should seek to obtain the most accurate and appropriate information available with which to make decisions regarding his/her choices in achieving a healthy body or treating a specific disease or disorder.

Although the CEO of a corporation does not need to obtain an education or degree in electrical engineering to run a company which uses computers, modern lights, or copy machine technology, he would be wise to harness the expertise of those who do have the knowledge and skills to maintain the desired electrical or technical systems required to facilitate the functions of the corporation.

Likewise the patient does not need to have a medical degree to be wise enough to seek guidance and care from a qualified, educated, and licensed medical or health professional.

License vs. Certification

In general, a license is a government-issued permission allowing the recipient the privilege to conduct business or engage in an activity which is otherwise prohibited. A licensing board determines the conditions and limitations which must be met to allow participation in certain professions or activities. Certification differs from licensing in that it is not issued as a permission to engage in certain activities. Certification serves to set standards, educate practitioners, increase competency, and to verify completion of a specific course of study.

The difference between license and certification can be significant when the patient-CEO is seeking the advise of a qualified healthcare practitioner. For example, consider the difference between dietitian and nutritionist.

Dietitian vs. Nutritionist

Dietitians have a Bachelor's degree specializing in foods and nutrition, and have completed an accredited internship at a hospital, or a graduate degree associated with an accredited hospital. They must pass a national registration exam and maintain their registration through continuing education. As dietitians are members of a regulated profession, they are held accountable for their conduct and the care they provide.

The term 'nutritionist' is not a professionally-regulated term and there are no minimum qualifications for an individual to call himself a nutritionist. Some nutritionists may give their businesses fancy names like "The National Nutrition Clinic" or "International Nutrition Center," but the truth is anyone can open up shop as a 'nutritionist' -- including the 16 year-old kid at the health food store.

What is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a component of the National Institutes of Health, CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Conventional medicine is medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals, such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses. Some health care providers practice both CAM and conventional medicine.

While some scientific evidence exists regarding some CAM therapies, for most there are key questions that have yet to be answered through well-designed scientific studies -- questions such as whether these therapies are safe and whether they work for the diseases or medical conditions for which they are used. The list of what is considered to be CAM changes continually, as those therapies that are proven to be safe and effective become adopted into conventional health care and as new approaches to health care emerge.

• Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. An example of a complementary therapy is using aromatherapy to help lessen a patient's discomfort following surgery.
• Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. An example of an alternative therapy is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy that has been recommended by a conventional doctor.
• Integrative medicine combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM for which there is some high-quality evidence of safety and effectiveness. Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.

As part of the Department of Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, the Program in Integrative Medicine seeks "to lead the transformation of healthcare by creating, educating, and actively supporting a community of professionals who embody the philosophy and practice of Integrative Medicine." Alongside the concept of treatment, the broader concepts of health promotion and the prevention of illness are paramount. Currently, there is no accrediting agency with the authority to endorse a comprehensive education in integrative medicine.

Integrative Medicine is not without critics as is evident in this post by Panda Bear, MD, this post at Respectful Insolence, and this post by The Physician Executive. And Musings of a Dinosaur discusses CAM here, here, and here. I would like to suggest that much research is being done which explains, or at least supports, the beneficial claims of some alternative approaches, including nutrition, acupuncture, deep tissue release, and others.

A book which I have found to be both highly educational and somewhat practical is "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" by Phillis A Balch, CNC and James F. Balch, MD. Research at NCCAM confirms many of the nutritional claims presented in this book now in it's 4th edition.

Back to the Curves/Health & Wellness Center Study

When I answered the advertisement, the woman on the phone told me that I needed to attend a Seminar on Monday night before beginning the study. Since I teach lessons every weeknight, I could not attend but was scheduled an appointment to see the doctor instead. I was told that the doctor would want to conduct a pre-study analysis which seemed reasonable to me.

At the Health & Wellness Center, a video of a lecture was playing in the waiting room. I found that a little annoying while trying to concentrate on filing out all of the paperwork and then reading the handout of recommended dietary guidelines. During the appointment, an assistant measured my weight and height (I was not asked to remove my shoes), asked for a urine sample in a non-sterile container (no instruction given or disinfectant wipes provided for a 'clean catch' sample), took my blood pressure while laying down and then while standing upright (no time elapsed to allow arm to recover between pressure readings), and finally a Heart Rate Variability test while laying down and then standing up (I was told this registered my heart's ability to respond to stress).

While waiting for the doctor, I continued to read the literature provided and make note of the posters and notices placed on the walls. One large poster illustrated the acupuncture points used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. [I have a friend who is an acupuncturist and her treatments have helped me tremendously in dealing with pain and stiffness.] However, no diplomas or certifications were prominently displayed in Dr. Berg's office.

One of the first things that the doctor discussed after introducing himself was the urine test which showed a pH level of 7.0 and elevated leukocyte level. I was told that my pH was completely neutral which needed to be addressed and that the elevated leukocyte level indicated a possible urinary tract infection. The first thing I asked was "what is a normal pH level for a regular person and then what is a normal pH level for someone who takes the medications I do?" It was at this point that the doctor looked down at my forms and replied, "Oh, you are taking a lot of medications. What are these for?"

The red flag began to rise.

I referred to the form where I had carefully listed each medical conditions including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. I also stated cheerfully that, yes, I had double-dipped in the autoimmune pot. Then the doctor showed me a graph which illustrated the results of the Heart Rate Variability test. Apparently, my heart did not show optimum strength and resiliency. The doctor explained it was like 'I had one foot on the gas pedal while the other foot was on the brake pedal.'

The doctor further explained that I likely had problems with my adrenals and thyroid. He encouraged me to attend the next seminar he was offering on Saturday morning in order to get the full amount of information I would need to complete the study. I agreed to attend. But I'll tell you now that if the advertisement had mentioned a Seminar, I would not have responded. Due to recent experience at unrelated seminars (1,2), I have become quite suspicious of such offerings.

At The Seminar

At the Seminar, Dr. Eric E. Berg discussed the influence of hormones on the storage of body fat as is discussed in his recently published book, "The 7 Principles of Fat Burning." To accompany the book, Dr. Berg has made available an online software program, called the "Fat Burning Tracker," which purports to track the hormonal influences of specific foods and activities. It was at the seminar that I first learned Dr. Berg is a chiropractor, a minor detail which had been glossed over until this point.

During the demonstration portion of the seminar, Dr. Berg illustrated a system of muscle-testing various points on the body to locate energy blockages which help to determine weakness in a correlating endocrine system. After further research, I have identified Dr. Berg's technique as Contact Reflex Analysis (CRA), a system of analysis using reflex points on the body and muscle testing which seems to be rooted in the theories of Applied Kinesiology. CRA is not widely accepted in conventional medicine as is evident in this article by Stephen Barrett, MD - "Contact Reflex Analysis is Nonsense."

Also during the seminar, I browsed the "7 Principles" book and noted that much of the material seems to have been taken from Guyton/Hall - "Textbook of Medical Physiology" and Faigin - "Natural Hormonal Enhancement". To promote and ensure the success of this latest book, Dr. Berg employed the services of Gilleard Market Research. I have to admit that the 'Fat Burning' site is very snazzy and presents an interesting approach to educate the user on the interactions of nutrition, hormones, and health.

The Health and Wellness Center and BRT

The Health and Wellness Center is owned and operated by Dr. Eric Berg, D.C. He is a Certified Doctor of Chiropractic by the Virginia and California Boards of Medicine. [California license expired in 1995.] Dr. Berg is the developer of the Body Restoration Technique. The Northern Virginia center is the main training and intern location for over 1,000 healthcare practitioners around the world. The practitioners working at The Health and Wellness Center have been hand-picked and have achieved master-level certification in the BRT technique. When a client comes to our office, we consult them and recommend the best method approach using foods, exercise and nutrition. Our policy is that we never take on a patient who we can't help.

Although Eric Berg does have a valid license to practice Chiropractic Medicine issued by the Virginia Department of Health Professions, its current expiration date is March 31, 2008. Dr. Berg has been under investigation by the State Board of Medicine regarding his unique techniques and has been instructed to "cease and desist the use of, and any and all advertising pertaining to, BRT, NAET, CRT, ACG" among additional requirements to keep his license.

Here's a selection of techniques and certifications referenced in Berg bios:

• Certified - Doctor of Chiropractic
• Developer - Body Restoration Technique (removed)
• Certified - Contact Reflex Analysis
• Certified - Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique
• Certified - Jaffe-Mellor Technique
• Certified - Acoustic Cardiograph
• Inventor - Digital Endocardiograph
• Inventor - Acoustic Heart Monitor
• Advisory Panel - The Health Sciences Institute
• Guest Article - The Natural Health Association
• Member - American Association for Health Freedom
• Member - The Endocrinology Society (no such org in US?)
• Member - The Endocrine Society (unconfirmed)
• Member - Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation
• Member - Citizens Commission on Human Rights
• Member - Association for Better Living and Education
• Associate - Clinical Electromedical Research Academy

Various Websites dedicated to the work of Dr. Eric Berg:

• http://www.drberg.com/
• http://www.bergdiets.com/
• http://www.drberghealthytips.com/ (removed)
• http://www.drbergworkshop.com/
• http://www.bodyrt.com/ (removed - 'under construction')
• http://www.nutrition-n-wellness.com/
• http://www.ridcravings.com/
• http://www.berghealthytips.com/ (removed)

Here are various concerns expressed online by others regarding adjacent businesses headed Dr. Eric Berg and Karen Berg (his wife):

• Scientology involvement since 1995 - Eric Berg and Karen Berg
• Concern over BRT legality issues discussed on Chirotalk Forum (July-September 2004)
• Concern (no date) over possible connection between the Health & Wellness Center and the Scientology Mission in Alexandria, VA (removed)
• Concern in February 2005 over The Mission of Alexandria operating a sauna to perform purification rundowns. (removed) The suspicion was that the Health & Wellness Center was uniquely equiped to prep clients to partake in the purification rundown. [I do not know if this occurs. No mention of sauna treatments were presented during the seminar.]
• Concern in November 2005 over possible connection between Health & Wellness Center and the Scientology Mission in Alexandria, VA

Personal Take-Aways

First of all, I don't wish to get involved in a discussion regarding the teachings or techniques of Scientology or the practices and techniques of trained Chiropractors. However, I do see some validity and benefit to Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and I have found huge relief in the unique deep-tissue massage and range-of-motion techniques of Thai Yoga Massage. Finally, I hope that all readers can agree that our choices of food and exercise affect our health and well-being.

However, if medical professionals and health insurance companies continue to avoid involvement with scientifically-sound integrative medicine treatment options, it is reasonable to think that more patient-CEOs will unwittingly seek the guidance of self-proclaimed 'experts' on any number of specialties and treatment modalities.

Regarding the dietary guidelines of the belly-fat study, I have proactively decided not to make drastic changes in my diet (such as drinking a cranberry juice/lemon juice/apple cider vinegar concoction) which may or may not put undue strain on my liver. As it is, my blood is monitored regularly to detect any potential problems with liver functions caused by pharmaceutical medications. I don't need to make things worse.