The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Beating Multiple Sclerosis

Worried about your memory and thinking? Exercise for those with MS (and others) helps beat memory loss and cognitive problems November 10, 2011

You can help yourself be smart by eating right, exercising and kicking the bad habits. Of course, these same steps will keep you looking like a babe! Whoa!

Those with multiple sclerosis (MS) are not the only ones to experience memory and cognitive problems. So, not surprisingly, the same steps that may help those with MS beat memory and thinking problems help everyone.These steps involve getting exercise, eating right and avoiding soy.

Exercise is one key because it helps both increase both memory and brain power. In one study,  with a report entitled Physical activity associated with increased resting-state functional connectivity in multiple sclerosis, researchers found that exercise actually improves connectivity in the brains of those with MS and their memory. In another study, scientists found that physical activity improves brain processing speed: Physical activity and cognitive function in multiple sclerosis. Of course these are just two studies but many other studies have showed the same results.

It is not just exercise that is needed for brain power — a healthy diet is also needed. When diet does not provide essential nutrients, all kinds of neurological problems can develop including diminished intellectual capacity. For a sense of the ability of poor nutrition to severely hamper intellectual functions, see Effects of poverty on cognitive function: a hidden neurologic epidemic. To preserve robust thinking abilities, an ultra healthy diet such as the Swank MS Diet or the diet recommended by Professor George Jelinek, M.D. can help everyone not just those with MS.

Finally, avoiding some soy foods may help prevent cognitive problems. While fermented soy found in tempeh and miso has not been found to be problematic, other soy foods are associated with early loss of memory as well as other cognitive issues. Avoiding tofu may be a good idea (see High tofu intake is associated with worse memory in elderly Indonesian men and women). Other unfermented soy foods seem to have similar results. One study, for example, showed use of some soy products by older women reduced both memory and processing abilities in women (The effects of soy milk and isoflavone supplements on cognitive performance in healthy, postmenopausal women).

All of this points out the importance of following an ultra healthy living program of the type recommended by The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Beating Multiple Sclerosis. By eating right, exercising, avoiding bad habits such as smoking, etc. one maximizes each of the following: mind, body, good looks and fun! So live healthy and have fun. Remember, you only get to live once so it makes sense to take full advantage of the experience and enjoy!

Remember too that MS does not necessarily cause memory and cognitive problems. I took a class a couple of years ago and was, as usual, at the top of my class. Likewise, many with MS have gone to law school, serve in public office, work as doctors and professors, etc. Some of what happens depends on making smart choices. It is important to follow an ultra healthy living program — no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Please let me know if you find my blog helpful. Please add a comment. What did you like? What would you like added? Thanks! Together we can change the way the world views MS. Please also join the Intelligent Guide to MS page on Facebook. I will use that page to make timely posts on new research and other issues likely to be of interest to others.

Please remember to consult your with doctors about how to stay as healthy as possible. Nothing here should be interpreted as medical advice. Instead, please use the information you find here in your discussions with your doctor.

Copyright 2011 Rebecca Hoover

Crimini mushrooms may help beat multiple sclerosis and CCSVI October 26, 2010

Can crimini mushrooms help you beat MS and CCSVI while making you look this good? The science looks promising. At the very least, when the mushrooms help keep your blood vessels free of plaque, they will help give you a healthy glow.

Crimini mushrooms do look promising for both multiple sclerosis (MS) and any chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). Research shows the mushrooms have a couple of effects that are likely to produce some good results for those with MS. Even so, a smart approach to using the mushrooms involves combining the mushrooms with other health enhancing vegetables as discussed below. A few of us tried out eating more mushrooms and the vegetables and we have some results to report.

The first effect that makes crimini mushrooms of special interest to those with MS is identified in a study entitled Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of 2-Amino-3Hphenoxazin-
3-one and published in 2008. In that study, researchers from Japan explained that the crimini mushroom, which has a scientific name of  agaricus bisporus, contains a compound that “can down-regulate the inflammatory cascade that can lead to tissue and bone destruction at sites of inflammation”. The scientists suggest that this compound may prove useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The article is difficult reading but the above link takes you to the full article.

The second fascinating effect of crimini mushrooms involves their ability to protect against cardiovascular disease by helping prevent adhesion and plaque buildup in the blood vessels. This ability was discussed in an article published in 2010 and entitled Both common and specialty mushrooms inhibit adhesion molecule expression and in vitro binding of monocytes to human aortic endothelial cells in a pro-inflammatory environment. This report is a little easier to read and the link again takes you to a full text article. In any event, it is apparent from the article that if you are worried about CCSVI, mushrooms are certain to be of interest to you.

This second article also contains some other interesting facts for those thinking about CCSVI and MS. The article points out that phytonutrients contained in leafy greens such as kale, spinach and leaf lettuce; in yellow vegetables such as carrots and yams; and in red vegetables such as tomatoes also have potent abilities to prevent plaque buildup and adhesion in the blood vessels.

What does all of this suggest to those with MS? It suggests eat, eat, eat mushrooms and vegetables. If you are worried about CCSVI, vegetables and some mushrooms might be your best friends. It should be noted that vegetables, especially leafy greens, should be eaten at least twice a day. Some of the phytochemicals in leafy greens and other vegetables that prevent adhesion are available in the blood stream for only a few hours after they are eaten. Then, they must be replenished. The availability of phytonutrients from vegetables in the blood can be increased somewhat with extra virgin olive oil. For this reason, it is a good idea to eat a small amount of olive oil when eating vegetables.

This new information on mushrooms and vegetables makes sense in light of previous epidemiological studies that showed eating vegetables has a protective effect again MS.

Based on the information, a few of us conducted our own little rather unscientific pilot study — we called it theory building. We dutifully ate leafy greens two times a day and ate generous quantities of mushrooms for one week. We also made a point of eating yellow and red vegetables each day.  (I steamed my mushrooms for a few minutes.) The first day, I ate about 1/2 pound of mushrooms and thereafter I ate about 1/4 pound each day. I used both the standard crimini mushrooms and portabella mushrooms which are more mature crimini mushrooms.

Those of us who tried this little experiment thought we had two outcomes: (1) we felt more alert and (2) we thought we slept more soundly at night. I personally felt I also had a small increase in fine motor skills.

All in all, vegetables are an exciting and overlooked way to increase our wellness. Please try out eating more mushrooms and vegetables and let us know if they give you a boost too.

It is interesting that the Japanese, who have very little MS, eat about 19 pounds of mushrooms each year. In contrast, most in the west, where MS is common, eat only one or two pounds of mushrooms each year.

It has long been known that the vascular system does play some role in MS. If you are worried about MS or about CCSVI, based on more recent research, it makes sense to eat more of the protective vegetables discussed and mushrooms. When you try eating leafy greens two times a day and add a some mushrooms, please do let us know the result. Perhaps we can push the MS societies for some real trials that nail down all of the facts on mushrooms and MS.

Viva la healthy living! Remember: nothing will make you look drop dead gorgeous faster than following an MS diet and an ultra healthy lifestyle.

Please let me know if you find my blog helpful. Please add a comment. What did you like? What would you like added? Thanks! Together we can change the way the world views MS. Please also join the Intelligent Guide to MS page on Facebook. I will use that page to make timely posts on new research and other issues likely to be of interest to others.

Please remember to consult your with doctors about how to stay as healthy as possible. Nothing here should be interpreted as medical advice. Instead, please use the information you find here in your discussions with your doctor.

Copyright 2010 Rebecca Hoover

Beating MS may sometimes require being smarter than your doctor October 5, 2010

Every neurologist I have seen likes a hammer and tuning fork. Personally, I prefer some sensible laboratory tests. I suggest these for the savvy person with MS.

(This post was written for use on the wonderful website Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis of medical professor George Jelinek, M.D. I encourage you to visit that website too.)

As someone with multiple sclerosis (MS), I have noticed that some neurologists do not bother keeping up with research or can get lazy about working to enhance wellness for those with MS. For this reason, I think it is usually wise to consider being a pro-active patient and sometimes a pest. This is called “being your own best advocate”.

As part of being your own best advocate, planning a periodic checkup checklist is a good idea because it can help you increase your wellness. Below are the laboratory tests that I suggest when appropriate. If you recommend others, please leave a comment. We can all learn from each other!!

Mercury — If you have been around broken thermostats or thermometers containing mercury or if you eat a lot of fish, it is wise to request testing of your mercury levels at a periodic checkup. Mercury can cause neurological symptoms similar to those caused by MS. For more information on the mercury issue, the Food and Drug Administration in the USA has an excellent table showing Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish. I usually eat only salmon and sardines because they are relatively low in mercury.

Lead — When I was first diagnosed my neurologist ordered a test to determine the level of lead in my system. Those who are exposed to higher levels of lead from paints, etc., are wise to have this test done at least once too.

Arsenic — If you work in one of the construction trades around materials that are treated with arsenic, it is smart to include an arsenic test in an annual checkup. Arsenic can cause severe neurological problems such as memory problems and anyone working in the trades using arsenic coated lumber, for example, needs periodic tests for arsenic poisoning. (Coatings for lumber used in decks often contain arsenic in some parts of the world.) If you have too much arsenic in your body, you will want to address this problem promptly.

Vitamin B12 — Many, for some poorly understood reason, do not absorb vitamin B12 well even if there are adequate supplies of vitamin B12 in the diet. Since a vitamin B12 deficiency can cause neurological problems similar to those caused by MS, it is important to have your level tested at least a few times to ensure that your level is always at the higher end of the normal range. More than one case of vitamin B12 deficiency has been misdiagnosed as MS. Also, if your B12 level is low, you will feel better if you correct this deficiency.

Vitamin B6 — Vitamin B6 does not get discussed much but low levels of vitamin B6 are quite common. I discovered a few years ago my own level was running low after I experienced what seemed to be MS related problems with my feet and some nasty arthritis pain. Fortunately, I happened to see an article about vitamin B6 deficiencies so I requested a test and, sure enough, my level was low.

Like the other B vitamin deficiencies, a vitamin B6 deficiency can cause problems similar to those found in MS. Specifically, vitamin B6 deficiencies can cause neuropathy in the extremities, often the feet. Also, low levels of vitamin B6 can cause worsening of arthritis. For these reasons, an annual vitamin B6 test for at least a few times is smart. This is more important as we age because vitamins do not absorb as well in older individuals. If you do find out that you have a vitamin B6 deficiency, do be careful about not taking too much vitamin B6 as I did. (I now know the effects of too much B6, pins and needles, etc., in the extremities. Fortunately, I have figured out the amount of B6 I must take to keep my level at the the higher end of the normal range — and my arthritis pain has largely disappeared.)

Vitamin D — Of course we all know about the importance of vitamin D to those with MS so not much needs to be said. If you know how to keep your vitamin D level at the high end of the normal range, a vitamin D test once a year is still a good idea. If you are having problems keeping your vitamin D level at the high end of the normal range, vitamin D tests once every three months until you have mastered the art of achieving a healthy vitamin D level are wise.

Lyme’s Disease — More than one case of MS has turned out to be Lyme’s Disease, a treatable disease. I suggest that anyone who has possibly been exposed to the virus causing this disease have the test to rule out Lyme’s Disease.

That’s it. Those are the tests I recommend. I hope other can share any recommendations they have too. It is interesting that our doctors often focus on disease while we focus on increasing wellness. Personally, I think our approach works better and the research increasingly suggests our wellness oriented approach is smart. We are so far ahead of the doctors in many ways!

It is interesting that some doctors will be reluctant to order needed laboratory tests. I have encountered this problem myself and offer two suggestions for dealing with it. First, if a doctor is just too difficult, a new doctor is a good idea. In other cases, the doctor needs some education because not all doctors are MS specialists and many just are not up-to-date in the treatment of MS. I know one doctor who was a bit reluctant to order needed vitamin D tests, for example, but when she learned about the importance of vitamin D to those with MS, she started ordering the tests regularly. Sometimes we have to educate the doctors as part of being our own best advocates.

Viva la healthy living! Remember: nothing will make you look drop dead gorgeous faster than following an MS diet and an ultra healthy lifestyle.

Please let me know if you find my blog helpful. Please add a comment. What did you like? What would you like added? Thanks! Together we can change the way the world views MS. Please also join the Intelligent Guide to MS page on Facebook. I will use that page to make timely posts on new research and other issues likely to be of interest to others.

Please remember to consult your with doctors about how to stay as healthy as possible. Nothing here should be interpreted as medical advice. Instead, please use the information you find here in your discussions with your doctor.

Copyright 2010 Rebecca Hoover