Evidence has accumulated from around the globe of the co-relationship between the consumption of saturated fats and the crippling disease M/S. It is no surprise to hear that having saturated fats and altered fats from foods such as cheese, Meat, Processed & fried foods, can be unhealthy if eaten too often, but to sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis, it can be particularly harmful. A study by Professor George Jelinek of overcomingms.org, whose own mother died of the disease in 1981 & himself was diagnosed with M/S in 1999, showed that for those suffering from M/S could if kept on a healthy diet free from certain foods and fats could remain relapse free.
Professional Background
Professor George Jelinek is Professor and Head of the Neuroepidemiology Unit (NEU) within the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at The University of Melbourne. The NEU’s charter is to investigate the modifiable lifestyle risk factors that predict the progression of MS with a view to refining a preventive medicine approach to management of the disease. Professor Jelinek specialised in Emergency Medicine, winning the Prize in the first Specialist Examinations in 1986. He is a past President of the Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine (ASEM) and past Vice President of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM). He was the first Professor of Emergency Medicine in Australasia and Founding Editor of the journal Emergency Medicine Australasia, a MEDLINE-indexed journal that he has edited continuously for 25 years. Recognising his contribution to Emergency Medicine, he was awarded the ACEM Medal in 2003, the highest individual honor in the specialty of Emergency Medicine in Australia and New Zealand. The College for Emergency Medicine also awarded him the 2006 John Gilroy Potts Award and the 2012 and 2014 Edward Brentnall Awards for the best publications in Emergency Medicine and Public Health respectively in those years. Recognising his contribution to both Emergency Medicine and Multiple Sclerosis, Professor Jelinek was a Western Australian Finalist for 2008 Australian of the Year, and a Victorian Finalist for the 2016 Australian of the Year. From https://overcomingms.org/about-oms/about-prof-jelinek/
What Professor Jelinek has found with his research and now recommends is for very healthy diet and lifestyle to be embraced. A plant based diet with Seafood along with regular exercise and of course as anyone who has M/S knows, reduced levels of stress. By removing the harmful elements from the diet, the rates of relapse drastically reduce by up to 95% and in most cases stop altogether. Ongoing damage to the Myelin sheath (the coating of nerves) stops and with that can come the bodies own ability to heal. However, damage to the nerves themselves is often permanent.
Plant Based Diet including Fresh Fish
By simply making some subtle changes to one’s diet, such as eating fresh fish only 3 times a week had better physical and mental health, plus a 50% reduction in relapse rates. So, what does the OMS Recovery Program recommend for optimal health benefits? They advise eating a whole food plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, soy products along with fresh fish & seafood, including shellfish which can be bought from AO Seafood, plus seeds, nuts & egg whites. They also recommend avoiding, saturated and altered fats like, meat, dairy, egg yokes & anything processed.
