My Multiple Sclerosis

Ελληνικά - Δυσκοιλιότητα και ΣΚΠ

The Importance of Bowel Function

As these toxins remain in your body, you become more susceptible to health problems like irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, diarrhea, weight problems, haemorrhoids, joint pains, vision problems, loss of memory - to name a few and of course feeling your MS symptoms more intensely.

My doctor says that the most severe diseases come from the colon. Some toxins found in the intestines are used to cause cancer to mice within weeks for special experiments!!!

A day of a bad bowel cleanse can be generally a bad day according to experience. Constipation is a chronic common problem to most MS patients and can certainly cause symptoms that have remained calm for some time, suddenly cause a bad day by appearing again, or make symptoms that you may currently have feel much worse.  

Constipation in MS may have both neurological as well as nutritional base. In most cases  good nutrition combined with the right supplements can be extremely helpful.

TAKE MEASURES

1. Nutrition.

A good nutritional program is a necessity in order to maintain a good bowel health. The protocol stresses on a high protein diet but this is not enough on it’s own. You should combine your protein (fish, meat, sea algae) with "good" carbs  like vegetables (juicing of 2-3 different vegetables is better for absorption – avoid artichoke and aubergine) and fruits (avoid anything that is too sweet, orange and grapes because they are very acidic and have a high glycemic load). Try to create a ratio of 1:3 proteins to good carbs. Try using olive oil on a daily basis.

Also it is good to have a food allergy/intolerance test to see what foods you may eat. Definitely quit gluten (bread, spaghetti, wheat, rye, barley), any kind of milk and diary (I think at least a three month quit of all dairy is necessary and then try to eat some goat or sheep yogurt or cheese - NOT DAIRY CATTLE PRODUCTS), sugar, mushrooms. Also quit carbs with a high glycemic load such as rice, corn or starch (eg potatoes). Replace the above with milks from almond, coconut etc from health food stores or with gluten free bread (amaranth, quinoa, millet) but in low quantities.

Make sure you eat at specific times every day and generally that everything happens in a systematic way. Don’t eat very late at nights, food shouldn’t be taken later than 2 hours before bedtime,  except a small snack.. Don’t skip meals. Make sure you eat enough food but not excessive portions. Everything about the protocol must be done in a systematic way for best results. 

2. The  kind and amount of water you drink. Make sure it’s clean, fresh and at least 1 lt per day.

3. Have all of your vitamins in time and make sure you have the correct Calcium/Magnesium analogy. The types we suggest taking is Calcium Carbonate, Citrate (same goes for Magnesium). I take the Citrate for both and works fine.

   Make sure:

   a) Calcium should be taken on it’s own, at least 1 hour before a meal, or several hours after. The reason for this is that Calcium is "antagonistic" to Magnesium, plus the fact, that calcium has been proven to "grab" and take with it, micronutrients, vitamins, that are taken with it.

   b) CALCIUM, which is important, and works in many of the same ways as magnesium, when it comes to relaxing muscles and blood vessels, relieving spasticity, etc., can cause constipation, however, by balancing it with the correct amount of magnesium there will be no problems.

   c) Raise your magnesium, until you find your own level that brings out soft easy stools, that are passed once, or even twice daily, clearing the colon.

   d) Take your Magnesium WITH all of your other vitamins at meals.

   e) There is something else concerning magnesium which I would suggest as a last option. Use magnesium Oxide type additionally to the Calcium / Magnesium intake. It’s like a mild natural cathartic. Use a small amount because it is strong (70mg at a time). The best way to have ν natural and long term control of your constipation is by applying all of the above and use any type of cathartic as a last option at the same time with the rest of the measures not more than three times weekly.

4. Try to move or exercise as much as your condition allows you. Exercise with the help of a professional will improve your mobility and bowel function.

   S PICES and some fruits MAY HELP!

Add some Turmeric spice along with your meals. It comes as a powder and it’s extremely antioxidant as well as antifungal spice. You can either cook it but simultaneously make sure you use it raw, just use it like pepper. It comes from the root of the Curcuma long plant and has a tough brown skin and deep orange flesh. It is a powerful medicine that has long been used by the Indian and Chinese systems of medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions.

Peppers can be good (black pepper, cayenne pepper, chili pepper)

Cinnamon and nutmeg is considered antifungal and said to have antimicrobial properties also. You can use it with most of your fruits. You shouldn’t have an excessive consumption of fruits though.

Vinegar must also be avoided as it is depletes the stomach of acids and can cause inflammation.  The only vinegar that has been known to successfully combat yeast is apple cider vinegar and it can be used as a food or as a wash. It’s a little odd, but it appears to have an alkalizing effect inside the body and out. 

Some of the above are suggestions, not rules. You should check them on yourself and see how they affect you. Anything you try which makes you feel uncomfortable in any way (like cocoa or cinnamon) you should stop at once. Of course some of them are a must like quitting sugar and vinegar and having a combined healthy nutrition.