Swank Diet And Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a condition of the central nervous system characterized by the degeneration of the nerves of the brain and the spinal cord. The nerves in the human body have an insulation covering known as myelin, which improves the conduction of impulses across the nerves and is also responsible for maintaining the health of the nerves.

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by inflammation and gradual disappearance of myelin. The nerves too get damaged and the person suffering from multiple sclerosis experiences gradual interference with functions governed by the central nervous system.

Multiple sclerosis is more prevalent in women than in men. It is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. People who have a family history of multiple sclerosis or those living in areas where multiple sclerosis is very common are more likely to suffer from this condition.

The main cause of multiple sclerosis is still unknown though it is widely believed to be triggered by a virus which alters the immune system of the human body. The immune system of the body perceives myelin as the intruder and starts to attack it.

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be single or multiple and the intensity can range from mild to severe. In close to 70% of the people suffering from multiple sclerosis, almost complete or partial remission from symptoms can occur early on. Typical symptoms of multiple sclerosis include:

• Visual disturbances: One of the earliest symptoms of multiple sclerosis includes visual disturbances and the person might notice blurred vision, color distortions, or even monocular loss of vision.
• The person might feel muscular spasms, numbness, fatigue, and piercing pain.
• Another symptom of multiple sclerosis includes weakness in limbs associated with difficulty in coordination and balance.
• Other symptoms of multiple sclerosis include speech impediment along with difficulty in articulating words, dizziness, loss of sensation, and tremors. Some people experience gradual changes such as difficulty in performing sequential tasks, memory loss, decrease in concentration, and impaired judgment.

Swank Diet and Multiple Sclerosis

Numerous people who suffer from multiple sclerosis have found that restricting their diet in certain ways can give them a better control of their multiple sclerosis symptoms. Dr. Roy Swank began his research for finding a cure for multiple sclerosis in the year 1949. He observed that the incidence of multiple sclerosis was related to the consumption of saturated fat and dairy products. In specific cases where fish consumption was high, the incidence of multiple sclerosis was found to be lower.

He enrolled about 150 people suffering from multiple sclerosis and subjected them to a very low saturated fat diet. He meticulously examined their dietary fat consumption for 34 years. The results of the study were significant. The patients who thoroughly stuck to the multiple sclerosis diet prescribed by Swank and consumed saturated fat less than 20g/day managed to be in excellent control of their symptoms. Their condition did not deteriorate significantly.

Central to the Swank Diet is the reduction of saturated fats and the inclusion of omega-3 rich foods, especially cold-water fish. This dietary alteration is believed to lower inflammation within the body. Given that inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of MS, mitigating it might lead to fewer flare-ups and symptom alleviation.

Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in the recommended fish, have demonstrated potential neuroprotective qualities in various studies. This implies that the regular consumption of these fats might slow neurodegeneration, a core aspect of MS progression.

With its emphasis on heart-healthy fats and minimized saturated fats, the Swank Diet may confer cardiovascular benefits. This is of note, as some research indicates that MS patients might have an increased susceptibility to cardiovascular complications.

The Classic Swank MS Diet

 The key points about the Swank MS diet are listed below:

• The amount of saturated fat in a patient’s diet should not exceed 15 grams per day.
• The amount of unsaturated fats and oils should be maintained at 20 to 50 grams per day.

• The patient should avoid consuming red meat in the first year. After the first year, about 3 oz. of red meat can be consumed once a week.
• The dairy products being consumed by the patient must contain 1% or less butter fat.
• The patient should not consume processed foods containing saturated fats.
• About 1 tsp of cod liver oil, multivitamins, and mineral supplements must be consumed daily.

Some more details about the kind of products that can be consumed by people suffering from multiple sclerosis are detailed below.

Dairy Products

While consuming dairy products, care must be taken to ensure that they contain zero-fat or not more than 1 gram of saturated fat per serving (cup). The dairy products that can be consumed in any amount include non-fat milk, skimmed milk, non-fat butter milk, non-fat or dry curd cottage cheese, fat-free cheese, non-fat sour cream, and non-fat ice cream. The products that must be totally avoided are margarine, butter, shortening, coconut oil, palm oil, hydrogenated oil, and lard.

Eggs

The egg white contains no fat whereas the egg yolk contains 5 grams of saturated fat. A person suffering from multiple sclerosis is allowed to have three eggs per week but only one egg per serving.

Grains and cereals

The Swank MS Diet encourages the use of whole-grain products. All bread products are allowed but care must be taken to avoid products containing undesirable oils, margarine, shortening, lard, and coconut oil.

Pasta and Rice

Pasta and rice can be consumed in any amount as per the Swank MS Diet but preference must be given to whole grain pastas.

Beverages

Caffeinated beverages must be limited to a maximum of 3 cups per day as they tend to induce nervousness and urgency to urinate. Alcoholic drinks must be avoided by multiple sclerosis patients especially if they tend to be sensitive to alcohol. They can however have a glass of wine or a cocktail with their evening meal.

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds are extremely good sources of natural oils and essential fatty acids. Multiple sclerosis patients are recommended to have daily snacks of nuts and seeds for maintaining good energy levels.

Fruits

Multiple sclerosis patients are recommended to have two fruits daily. All types of fruits can be consumed in any amount. Fresh fruits should however be preferred over frozen or canned fruits.

Vegetables

The Swank MS diet recommends consumption of 2 cups of vegetables on a daily basis. Vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals and are also rich in essential fatty acids.

Poultry

The Swank diet permits consumption of skinned, trimmed white chicken and turkey meat. However, processed meat products that contain dark meat, skin, and fat must be avoided.

Fish

All kinds of white fish can be consumed as part of the Swank diet. The permitted varieties of fish include cod, snapper, abalone, flounder, sole, tuna, mahi mahi, and perch. Shellfish too is permitted as per the diet though patients with high cholesterol levels should not eat it very frequently.