Posted on 05/27/2023 9:58:05 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A new study found a pro-inflammatory diet is associated with an increased risk of relapse in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The researchers found a more pro-inflammatory diet is associated with a higher risk of relapses and more inflammatory brain lesions for MS patients in the years following their first disease attack.
MS is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation that can damage nerve cells.
A pro-inflammatory diet as per the study includes foods containing high amounts of fats and proteins. These foods are thought to drive chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation that could affect the course of MS. The study found an anti-inflammatory diet can help patients prevent flare ups. An anti-inflammatory diet includes consuming foods high in fiber, and other nutrients including turmeric and beta-carotene.
MS is often treated with drugs that aim to shift the immune system into a less inflammatory state. "Disease modifying agents are a crucial part of the treatment regimen in reducing the frequency of relapses and slow the progression of the disease. They are not helpful at relieving a patients' immediate MS symptoms, treating exacerbations, or shortening the duration of a relapse" said Krupa Pandey, M.D.
"We regularly recommend MS patients begin an anti-inflammatory diet, like the Mediterranean diet," said Susan Kraus. "The Mediterranean diet not only limits inflammation, but is found to have lessen the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease." The MS Center recommends whole foods rather than processed foods, whole grains and beans, along with heart healthy fats. "We strongly suggest a broad spectrum of fruits and vegetables in every color including reds like tomatoes, apples and strawberries, blues like eggplant, cabbage and berries, greens like spinach, kale, peppers, and yellows like squashes, corn, peas, peaches and cantaloupes, " Kraus said.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
>> pro-inflammatory
In other words, all the junk food in the middle isles.
“A pro-inflammatory diet as per the study includes foods containing high amounts of fats and proteins.”
So are we to take these as zero (or low) carb diets then?
They used the Dietary Inflammatory Index, which generally looks for nutrition density for the calories:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8483957/
So a high fat diet (Keto) can have a lot of very low carb veggies and can have Omega 3/6 fats that we have to have, but fat for the sake of fat in excess of what can be used is not helpful. However, carbs for the sake of carbs is also not helpful.
However, Keto/low carb greatly reduces appetite, which can reduce total incoming calories, so the overall nutrition from foods is higher, proportionately.
A combo high fat, high carb diet would seem to be the worst, as many nutrients may be missing for the total calories consumed.
More information:
Perspective: The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII)—Lessons Learned, Improvements Made, and Future Directions
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6416047/
Yep, totally with you on that. Just noting that they’re still reluctant to point out the elephant in the Living Room (carbs).
These articles are just great. Thanks for doing this.
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