Note: March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month (Sponsored by Multiple Sclerosis Association of America)
If you or anybody you know has been diagnosed with MS, please read this post. MS is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system and leads to pain, lack of coordination, dizziness, loss of vision, and other debilitating symptoms.
I once took care of a pregnant woman who worked at a convenience store I frequented. When paying for my items, she was handing me cash back and was unable to complete that task due to her weakness and lack of coordination. She told me that she couldn’t even lift a dollar bill without fumbling and dropping it. Of course, a neurologist wound’t touch her since she was pregnant. So I had to figure out how to take care of her MS during her pregnancy. Learning as I went forward into uncharted waters, so to speak.
A new study from Yale Medical School found that dietary fats might affect immune function in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Here’s how it works and what the researchers found:
- regulatory cells (T regs) control the immune response and prevent autoimmunity. T regs don’t function properly in MS.
- regs burn fats to function.
- regs from healthy people appear to rely more on oleic acid.
- regs from people with MS appear to rely more on arachidonic acid.
Lab experiment showed that oleic acid restored healthy function of T regs in tissue from patients with MS.
Basically, the researchers at Yale found that oleic acid might play an important role in regulating inflammatory signals in people with MS. Oleic acid is most commonly found in…
Olive oil Avocados Nuts
Of course, there are many different variables that influence the severity of MS. The disease is influenced by genetics, environment, lifestyle, and more. The point of this study is that we cannot ignore the role of diet. And the fact that, as always, olive oil is good for you.
Here are some facts about MS.
- It is a “silent” disease with no typical symptoms. There are over 2 million MS sufferers world wide and they have variable
- It is a chronic disease that has no cure. Symptoms can be managed and apparently diet is a part of that management
- It involves relapses and remissions that are both variable in
- It does not change life
- It can affect children and women are 2-3 times more likely to develop
- It is difficult to diagnose and may require multiple tests to figure it
- It involves symptoms related to cognition including memory, difficulty finding the correct words to express oneself, inability to concentrate and difficulty with problem solving skills.
- It helps to stay cool since hot weather, sun exposure, hot showers and exercise can induce symptoms.
- Vitamin D plays a protective role and may help prevent
If you know anybody who is struggling with MS, please send them my way. We have a wealth of options to naturally support immune health and a better quality of life despite the diagnosis. I am available by email at bryanjtreacymd@gmail.com or via my website at www.healthwithoutrisk.com and the Facebook page at Health Without Risk.
#multiplesclerosisawareness #multiplesclerosisawarenessmonth #nutritionresearch #oleicacid #avocadolove
Reference
Pompura SL, Wagner A, Kitz A et al. Oleic acid restores suppressive defects in tissue- resident FOXP3 Tregs from patients with multiple sclerosis. J Clin Invest. 2021; 131. https://www.jci.org/articles/view/138519
