needing some type of support — a cane, wheelchair or scooter — to walk 25 feet, Fitzgerald says.
People with the highest-quality diets consumed 1.7 servings of whole grains and 3.3 servings of fruits, vegetables or legumes daily. Diets of those on the lowest end contained 0.3 servings of whole grains and 1.7 servings of fruits.
If you lead an overall healthy lifestyle, you’re about half as likely to experience depression, 30 percent less likely to have severe fatigue, 40 percent less likely to have pain, and one-third less likely to have thinking and memory troubles.
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Which diets work best for MS patients
As an MS patient, you are probably used to experiencing inflammation, so naturally, it makes sense to consume a diet that decreases inflammation, Samantha Heller, a registered dietitian with the NYU Langone Health System in New York City notes. This will improve some of the disability and pain that you experience.
What about those popular diet trends that claim to have “life-changing” results?
The study shows that a number of popular diet plans, such as the paleo diet, Wahl’s diet, Swank, gluten-free and more have a slightly positive effect on the risk for disability due to the weight loss people often experience from these diets.
“When you lose weight, you also decrease inflammation and give your joints a break,” says Heller. “For every pound lost, you lose 4 pounds of pressure on your joints.”
If you are concerned about the effect exercising might have on your MS, for most people with MS exercising is fine.
“Exercise, as tolerated, can help maintain muscle strength and quality of life,” Heller shares.
Riley adds that she tells her patients to find an activity they enjoy doing. She also suggests getting aerobic exercise three to four times a week for at least 30 to 40 minutes and to work in some strength training, too.
“Exercise can put people in a better place,” Riley says. “If they experience a relapse, they may be more able to recover quickly.”
Living with MS can be challenging, but maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle can bring you a great deal of comfort.