I have MS

I couldn't think of a better way to start this blog posting than to just come out and say it. I have Multiple Sclerosis. I'm not posting on the fact that I have this disease, but what I am doing about it. Shortly after I was diagnosed, I was put on this medication that is supposed to help decrease the symptoms and slow the progress over time. You would think I have cancer by the way it makes me feel. The way the drug works is to suppress your immune system so the disease will stop attacking your own body. What a great thing to do. After a couple of weeks of treatment, I knew I was done with it, however, too afraid to stop with the promise of "slowing the disease process" looming over my head. I was searching the net one day about different treatments and such and came across this book: "The MS Recovery Diet". My first though was, "recover?" and them my second though was "recover!". You don't just recover from MS. Studies show that it is a chronic progressive disease. So I was immediately intrigued. I went right out and bought the book. The first words I read were on the back cover: "The MS Recovery Diet targets five common food triggers that can set off the symptoms of MS: dairy, grains containing glutens, leguems, eggs, yeas." I almost threw the book across the room. Then I realized that I should do that with my shots instead. I was defeated. I couldn't help having MS, but I COULD help what I put in my mouth. So I began reading. I have been on this diet for about a week (and veggitarian now for about a month), and I feel pretty good. I decided to post this to give myself more motivation to stick to this. It is a life long change for my health. 

There are certain things that I miss; pancakes in the morning, a juicy hamburger, cake with lots of frosting, and all of my soy products. Other things I can live without like deep fried foods, and most other meats. I have restricted myself to fish, veggies, fruit, nuts, rice, and corn. When you really get inventive, there is a lot you can do with that. Tonight I had acorn squash (cut in half) baked with cut up apples, walnuts, and cinnamon-it was quite tasty. I found out they make rice protein powder, which I pretty much live off of. I have fish every other day, and a mixture of nuts every day. Oils are very important for the repairing of the myelin sheath (you will know what I'm talking about once you look up the disease process). Kick out all of the saturated fats (bad fats) and add more of the unsaturated fats to your diet. I cook with olive, veggetable, and sunflower seed oils. I could babble on but I won't bore you.

My whole point in posting this is for me to feel brave enough to take the plunge. Let my medication go and rely on natural foods. The way it was meant to be. It is scary, but now that I have read the book it makes total sense. There are so many diseases out there, especially autoimmune, that we can change the course of with just our diets. We need to listen to our bodies, and our hearts, and just trust. I pray a lot. A lot more than I used to. Not to get better, or to give me strength, but for thanks. I thank god every day for the life I have and for my health. The realization that I have the power to change this is more than I could have ever asked for.