The MS Society state 5 helpful tips for managing your diet within their 2016 Diet and Nutrition booklet:
1. Aim for a healthy. balanced diet with a variety of different foods that contain the five major food groups: proteins, fats, fibre, vitamins and minerals with enough fluids (eg the Eatwell guide shown)
2. You should be able to cover all your nutrient needs from a proper balanced diet, but if you need extra supplements talk to a dietitian (through your GP) for advice as too many, or the wrong kind of supplements can be harmful.
3. Special diets promoted by their developers - such as Swank or Best Bet (see pages within the 'Diet debate in MS' section) which exclude certain foods, don't have enough evidence to prove that they will help with your MS and should be used with care to make sure that you don't lose any essential nutrients.
4. Make a plan for your diet that helps your own personal needs, such as problems with fatigue, bowel, swallowing and bladder or weight. Speak to a dietitian or speech and language therapist for advice.
5. If you need help with meals; from shopping to preparing or clearing up, ask your GP for an occupational therapist assessment to make sure that you are always able to prepare, eat and maintain a good diet.
These are excellent tips. This mustn't be something you feel embarrassed about asking for help with; there are ways to manage many symptoms like this that prevent you enjoying food and can often be easily solved.
If you don't alert your medical team, they can't give you help; don't be afraid to ask :).
2. You should be able to cover all your nutrient needs from a proper balanced diet, but if you need extra supplements talk to a dietitian (through your GP) for advice as too many, or the wrong kind of supplements can be harmful.
3. Special diets promoted by their developers - such as Swank or Best Bet (see pages within the 'Diet debate in MS' section) which exclude certain foods, don't have enough evidence to prove that they will help with your MS and should be used with care to make sure that you don't lose any essential nutrients.
4. Make a plan for your diet that helps your own personal needs, such as problems with fatigue, bowel, swallowing and bladder or weight. Speak to a dietitian or speech and language therapist for advice.
5. If you need help with meals; from shopping to preparing or clearing up, ask your GP for an occupational therapist assessment to make sure that you are always able to prepare, eat and maintain a good diet.
These are excellent tips. This mustn't be something you feel embarrassed about asking for help with; there are ways to manage many symptoms like this that prevent you enjoying food and can often be easily solved.
If you don't alert your medical team, they can't give you help; don't be afraid to ask :).
Source:
MS Society (2016) Diet and Nutrition Booklet
MS Society (2016) Diet and Nutrition Booklet
