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Whats New 2002
Multiple sclerosis
I thought it would be useful to
review the nutritional and complementary management of
this crippling disease. While there are new pharmaceuticals interventions that are
useful forms of treatment these are not without side
effects. It
is also interesting to reflect on the way in which
inflammation factors into the equation with respect to
multiple sclerosis, other diseases of an auto-immune
nature as well as cancer and aging.
In fact this is the unifying theme of this
update. Having
too much inflammation simply means that the immune
system has become overactive and whilst it’s
beneficial to have an immune system that defends us,
once this system gets overexcited and attacks our own
bodies then we’re in travel.
There are many who claim that this problem leads
to premature aging.
Although we don’t yet know the
cause of multiple sclerosis, genetics, viral and
bacterial nasties, environmental toxins, heavy metal
poisons especially mercury and organic solvents like
formaldehyde have all been implicated as possible causal
factors. A
high animal fat diet with dairy as the primary culprit
is also a consideration.
A protocol for managing multiple sclerosis
includes the following:
- Reduce
animal fat, margarine and vegetable oils like
safflower, canola and sunflower oils and increase
cold-water fish. Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil is safe to use.
- Test
for food allergies/intolerance with gluten found in
wheat, rye, oats and barley and dairy foods
including milk, cheese and butter being the
principal offenders.
- Poor
digestion and assimilation of nutrients and an
imbalance of bowel germs should be considered.
Here increased intestinal permeability or the
‘leaky gut’ syndrome should be investigated
together with an evaluation of the presence of
candida overgrowth.
- Antioxidants
such as alpha-lipoic acid, selenium, gingko biloba,
vitamin E and vitamin C might help.
- Omega-3
fatty acid supplements found in fish oil or flaxseed
oil reduce inflammation.
Remember that if you take flaxseed oil it is
a good idea to take extra magnesium, zinc and
vitamin B 6 to ensure that this oil is metabolised
to those by-products that reduce inflammation.
Vitamin B12
injections, vitamin B6 and tryptophan can help reduce
symptoms and improve nervous system function.
see
archives
Spa
Chakra Wellness Centre
The
Wharf
Woolloomooloo
Sydney
2011
02
93680888
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