Author: dr.vanta

Fasting for MS: Introduction. Types of Fasting and Tips

Posted by | Sep 10, 2017 | |

  Couldn’t find a better day to write this blog than today, a day when I am fasting. I did start to fast (24 – 48 hours fasting)  a couple of years ago, and I love the way I feel…well, except the first day when it’s OK  to experience some food withdrawal. The first thing you should know is that fasting doesn’t feel as bad as it sounds, it is doable. If you experience significant  irritability, fatigue, constant hunger, cravings for sweets or caffeine, or changes in energy levels after meals you likely need to  improve your sugar metabolism (again, fasting would help to optimize blood sugar levels). Secondly, think about the many health benefits of fasting for MS. Thirdly, there are a few options available (you can choose to not eat at all, eat during a few hours window period daily, etc). Ketogenic diet also mimics many of the benefits of fasting. Finally, there are some tips you can use to make fasting a plan you can stick with.   History of fasting Short term fasting has been common to many cultures for thousands of years- whether for religious of spiritual beliefs or simply because the food was not available, humans had been adapted to fasting. Scientific studies are now supporting its many health benefits. Hundreds and thousands of years ago, our eating pattern  was directly correlated with...

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MS Fasting Diet. Health Benefits of Fasting

Posted by | Sep 6, 2017 | |

Fasting Helps You Live Longer and Healthier  Fasting Improves the Metabolism of Sugar and Fats/ Metabolic Syndrome Fasting Helps Relieve Symptoms of MS Fasting Improves Mental Function, Promotes Neurogenesis (the Formation of New Brain Cells), Fights Degeneration and Brain Inflammation Fasting Has Anti-stress, Anti-anxiety and Anti-depression Effects  Fasting Provides More Health Benefits than Ketogenic Diet Fasting & Autophagy (Cellular Detox) Cautions and Warnings It makes sense to get  multiple health benefits of fasting, just by looking at what happens when we do the opposite…  when we overeat. Overeating (or eating unhealthy foods) causes obesity. Obesity is strongly associated  with insulin resistance, high blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, lung and  heart diseases, certain types of cancer, gallbladder, liver and digestive conditions, different forms of arthritis, kidney diseases and an overall decreased health span. The combination of obesity and autoimmune diseases is a very bad one [1].  Even if you are eating healthy and maintain your ideal weight, you can still benefit from fasting.Some of the best studies in humans are those conducted  during Ramadam, when fasting is mandatory for adult Muslims. It is a one month fasting period (from sunrise to sunset). Other studies conducted in both animal and human studies support the many health benefits of incorporating fasting to your  lifestyle.   General Health Benefits – Fasting Helps You Live Longer and Healthier Research shows  that fasting can...

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What is Metabolic Syndrome and How Is It Relevant to MS?

Posted by | Sep 3, 2017 | |

  MS is associated with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome itself is not a disease but rather a group of risk factors. If you have three out of the following risk factors, you have metabolic syndrome. Large waistline (for men, 40 inches or larger; for women, 35 inches or larger). High triglycerides: either 150 mg/dL (or higher) or using cholesterol drugs. Low Good Cholesterol (HDL): either Less than 40 mg/dL (men), Less than 50 mg/dL (women) or using cholesterol drugs. High Blood pressure (BP): either BP: 135/85 mmHg or greater or using blood pressure drugs. Blood sugar: High fasting Glucose Level: 100 mg/dL or higher. These risk factors double your risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, and raise your risk of developing diabetes five times. The good news: metabolic syndrome can be successfully treated with diet and other lifestyle changes. Some studies link MS with metabolic syndrome, while others don’t. My explanation is that some of the risk factors described above are are not always seen in MS. For example, MS is associated with low blood pressure, not high blood pressure. People with MS are often fit or thin, rather than overweight. However, the other risk factors involving fat and sugar metabolism are prevalent in MS. A recent, 2017 study found an overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome  of 31% in a group of 222 participants with MS [3]....

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Success Stories of Reversed MS- Dr. Terry Wahls, MD

Posted by | Aug 17, 2017 | |

  “Drugs are not the answer. Let food, good, wholesome food, be thy medicine.” Dr. Terry Wahls, MD   Dr. Terry Wahls, a highly respected medical doctor, researcher and clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine is a true inspiration for everyone. She was diagnosed with RR-MS in 2000, and her condition progressed quickly (in 2003) to SP-MS. From a very active woman who used to run marathons and climb mountains, Dr Wahls was confined to a tilt-recline wheelchair for four years. She started to use a nutritional/lifestyle plan, which later became “The Wahls Protocol.” Within one year, she was able to walk again without a cane and even complete an 18-mile bicycle tour!   Let’s look at Dr. Wahls’s success story because she describes beautifully the changes she made in her mindset, as well as the treatments she adopted. This is the summary of the first chapter from her latest book “The Wahls Protocol – A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions using Paleo Principles.”   At the beginning, she was simply a patient, following the recommendations of her neurologist and taking the medications (Copaxone, Mitoxantrone, Tysabri, CellCept).   “Taking my life back” chapter from her book reveals some details: “Getting into that wheelchair triggered something. I realized that conventional medicine was not likely to stop what was happening to m… I decided to...

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Top 7 Benefits of Omega 3s for MS

Posted by | Aug 14, 2017 | |

I.Introduction II.Signs and Symptoms of Omega 3 Deficiency III. About Omega 3s IV. Health Benefits  V. Warnings VI. Best Omega 3 Supplements    I.Introduction Omega 3s are essential fatty acids. They are required for our overall health, and particularly essential for the brain function, optimal growth and development. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in higher concentration in the brain where they play a key role in memory, performance and behavior functions. They have anti-inflammatory effects, reduce the risk of chronic diseases and help manage autoimmune conditions. The body can’t make them, thus we need to get them from diet and supplements.   II.Signs and Symptoms of Omega 3 Deficiency Quiz time… Do you have some of the following symptoms: fatigue, poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, poor circulation, joint pain, insomnia, skin rashes such as eczema, unexplained weight gain? These are common symptoms of omega 3 deficiency. Note that you should seek professional advice, since these symptoms can be caused by other conditions and nutrient deficiencies. About 90 percent of Americans are deficient in omega 3, while eating too many omega 6s [1]   III. About Omega 3s The most important omega 3s are: EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). ALA may be converted into EPA and DHA, however, humans tend to have a poor conversion (Conversion efficiencies of ALA to DHA in human...

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