What is MS?

I'm making the assumption that you have landed on this page as you were searching for information on Multiple Sclerosis: perhaps you have a friend or family member who is affected or perhaps you have been diagnosed with the disease yourself.  That may be an incorrect assumption so before we jump into discussing some lifestyle factors shown to be (potentially) beneficial in helping to manage the condition it's worth spending a short time defining what Multiple Sclerosis is [click on the flower for a brief introduction].  

What does lifestyle have to do with MS and how can it help me?

My background pre-diagnosis centred around studying various aspects of health through two degrees and a number of accredited practical qualifications  (visit the 'about me' page to find out more) with the aim of understanding how the lifestyle factors which keep us well manage to do so, but also how they can influence the development of disease.  I have carried out various pieces of research for my degrees specifically how diet can influence depression and how elite sport can affect body image and athletes' perception of the pressures involved in specific sports, and subsequent impact on health.  Frankly, as someone who has put such emphasis on looking after myself and 'staying well' throughout my life I was frustrated and rather indignant about my MS diagnosis; however it does mean that I understand the different elements which constitute a 'healthy lifestyle' and how important these are to us whether we have MS or not.  This site explains how these factors can potentially be exploited to help in the management of this disease. 

Now we have this diagnosis it is even more important to adopt a healthy lifestyle; by healthy lifestyle I mean:
  • stay active as much as you are able to improve joint mobility, stretch out stiff muscles and maintain a healthy heart
  • eating a balanced diet in the correct amount to maintain a healthy weight; thereby aiming to avoid other health challenges like diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases such as stroke or heart attack
  • consider the quality of your diet.  Diet is a contentious issue in MS which we will explore in the 'Diet' section; but fundamentally it is about following the UK National healthy dietary guidelines to make sure we are taking in the right amount of energy and getting the correct amount (and variety) of vitamins and minerals to keep all bodily processes functioning, to keep (the rest of) our body as healthy as possible.  This can help to build up the reserves to cope with the additional demands MS puts on us.

To reassure you, this isn't just my thoughts on diet, weight and exercise but is evidence-based and backed up by extensive research.  It has not been 'proven' to improve prognosis but my belief is that it can't NOT help and is worth a try, if only to help prevent the development of additional unwanted diseases.
Sources:
Active IQ (2016) Fitness Instructors handbook
​British Dietetic Association (2016) Food facts: healthy eating
Department of Health (2012) Manual of Nutrition (Twelfth Edition).  The Stationary Office: London 
Gov.UK (2016) One You website