Saw my Naturopath MD - New Diet and Supplement Changes

[Sidesteps]

My MS specialist has a full team of doctor's that work with her patients to provide optiminal health and awareness. I am super lucky to have this available to me. I met with her naturopath MD today. He has made significant changes (all reasonable) to my diet in hopes to help reduce lesion load and help me feel better! This is what he said in a nutshell.  

1) I have hypoglycemia so I am to start eating a diet rich in protein, especially in the morning. Less Sugar.
2) Swank diet (not to go excessive) low dairy,  high fish
3) Organic dairy/meat products - do not worry about vege's or fruit being organic.
5) NO red meat for 1 year.
6) Fish oil supplements (Start with 1000mg increase to 6000mg daily)  
7) Acidophilis 1 - 2 capsules 2 x day with food
8) Pancreatic Enzymes

He is checking my B12, Vitamin D levels, ESD rate, Celiac panel, Progesterone and some new Folate genetic test.

He indicated he will more than likely put me on progesterone and B12 in a month. Pregnant women tend to have less flares (if any) and they are pretty sure it's due to high progesterone levels. This will lower the damage if we can reduce flares. The B12 will help decrease some of my symtpoms and energy. I thought this was pretty progressive treatment and extremely interesting.

All of these things will help regulate my body a bit and reduce the inflammation. I meet with him in a month and we go to phase II. :)

Anyone else have experiences like this? Any other thoughts?

[Sidesteps]

Yeah - the progesterone was a surprise to me as well. I am not sure of the details but he said that was "phase 2" so I'll ask more details in 4 weeks.

I do not drink diet soda's but he told me to avoid any un-natural sweeteners.

I am not super addicted to sweets. I only eat them if they are in front of me. In fact, I almost have an aversion to it. I think my body reacts.

The acidophilus is for my digestion. I had some signs that my digestive tract is unbalanced. He is concerned that I am not absorbing all the nutrition or vitamin supplments the way that I should which won't help how I feel or to fight the MS.

I shouldn't have too much trouble following this diet. He did tell me I will lose weight. I have put on about 15 pounds since all this MS stuff became obvious.

[doublevision1]

ugh, typos.  Sorry.  The last paragraph should start with  "Interesting about the progesterone."

[doublevision1]

Sounds like a very comprehensive services offered at your clinic.  I can see why you want keep going after you relocate.

Do you take the acidophilus for digestion?  I'm not real familiar with it's applications.  Our diets sound very similar: organic poultry, low in dairy and sugar, high in fish.  I also cut out red meat four months ago, pork too actually, and find I do feel better since that change.  Have eaten beef tenderloin and bison a couple of times since then when invited out to dinner at friends, and was much more aware of a feeling of heaviness and sluggishness afterwards than I had noticed when I ate red meat regularly.  I've lost 20 lbs since these changes so be prepared to lose weight, though by your photos you don't look like you have any to lose!

So much damning evidence coming out that sugar really is the devil.  It's not just about insulin resistance and diabetes, and tooth decay anymore, serious as those problems are.  Heightened risk for cardiovascular disease, brain atrophy, cancers, etc.  This is a tough one for those of us with sweet tooths, especially those of us with sweet tooths who loved to bake.  But there are healthier sugar alternatives worth experimenting with.  The insidious thing about sugar is that it is truly physiologically addictive, which is part of what makes it the devil.  But once weaned, the sweet tooth can be reduced.  I'm surprised at how much my cravings have reduced.  

Have also cut out diet soda....in messes with insulin levels in a similar fashion as sugary drinks.

I treating about the progesterone, I'd love to hear more about that.  My understanding was that they attributed neuroprotection in pregnancy to estriol.

[kwarendorf]

Your doc sounds like mine. He runs an full service MS Day Spa!

Like you, I met with the team Naturopathic doc. She helped me clean up my diet and we found the right supplement mix. I've dropped a bunch of weight and my cholesterol is lower than it's ever been.

I think we are very lucky!

Kyle

[sllowe]

Wow!!!!

How awesome is this! That is some specialist you have there. I'm amazed. Thank you so much for sharing this team approach/plan you were given. I think more docs should practice in this manner. It's soooo important to our all around health.

Professional care by docs to help manage this disease better. Simply awesome, SS.

I'm impressed, and super happy you have this available to you. Tell your doc we want what he's got, lol
(((Hugs)))
shell

[Sidesteps]

Hi!

I need to read up on Swank. I think it's primarily a clean diet but with extremely low amounts of dairy but super high concentrations of fish.

Paleo tends to be clean with lean meats - no particular emphasis on fish.

I think.

I am not sure about the affects of sugar. Perplexing.

[tina21067]

Hi Sidesteps,

Your naturopath seems very knowledgable.  I think you will do well in reducing inflammation by cutting out the sugar and insulin spikes.  I have been reading Dr. Hyman's book, "The Blood Sugar Solution" and he is a big proponent of cutting out the sugar to keep your insulin in check.  According to him, this will have a direct affect on the amount of inflammation with the body.  Interesting book if you are looking for a read.  I am insulin resistant and have been having a difficult time with my sugar and insulin balance.  It makes me wonder how much of an impact this has on my current state of health.

I have heard about the Swank diet from the boards, but I am not familiar with it yet.  Is it similar to Paleo with low carbs and high proteins like fish?