Some diseases and health conditions directly link with the food we eat and the way we live. For example, there are clear-cut foods to eat and avoid for addressing respiratory and gut-related ailments. As far as multiple sclerosis (MS) is concerned, there is no evidence that a specific meal regime can help cure this condition. So, doctors suggest healthy eating habits that can help improve the symptoms of MS and improve a patient’s quality of life.

Based on such recommendations, here are some healthy nutritional practices that can help patients diagnosed with MS.

1. Cut Off Unhealthy Fats
Recent studies link saturated fats to the relapse of MS symptoms and its progression. Trans fats are man-made fats that can contribute to heart diseases. Meat, eggs, milk and cheese, and some plant-based food like palm oil and nut butter contain saturated fats. Instead, use unsaturated fat that is a good fat to reduce blood cholesterol and inflammation. Include olive and canola oil in your meal plan. Omega-3 is a healthy fatty acid and can fight inflammation. It is found in mackerel, herring, sardines, oysters, flax seeds, walnuts and chia seeds.

2. Include Five Servings of Fruits and Vegetables
Doctors recommend that people with MS eat about five servings of fruits and vegetables –about five palmsful. You can add vegetables to salads, curries, sandwiches and eat whole fruits as a snack or make juices and smoothies. The concentrated amounts and range of nutrients and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables can fight free radicals, prevent tissue damage and fight fatigue and depression.

3. Choose the Right Protein
MS patients are already at risk of heart disease. Red meat, deli meat and processed meat can further add to the risk. Opting for lean meat and fish can give them the required quantities and safe protein. Good sources of plant-based protein are legumes, beans, lentils and tofu.

4. Avoid Dairy Products
Cow’s milk contains a protein called Butyrophilin. Our body produces antibodies to fight against this protein. In addition, the antibodies misread another similar protein called myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein found in the nerve cells and damage it. Since MS is a disease of damaged nerve cells, avoiding dairy can prevent the progression of the disease. Studies of MS patients show that many had inadequate levels of vitamin D. Since dairy can inhibit Vitamin D absorption, it is better to avoid it.

5. Have More Whole-grain Foods
A fiber-rich meal plan is good for the heart and can help relieve constipation, a key symptom of MS. The bran of whole grains is rich in fiber and can supply nutrients like potassium, magnesium and selenium. Food made from whole grain takes longer to convert to glucose and keeps MS patients energetic for longer. This helps them to overcome fatigue, which is a characteristic symptom of MS. A bowl of steel-cut oats, bread made of sprouted whole grain, oat or flax bread can all add fiber and nutrients to their meals.

Eating freshly cooked, including a couple of foods from each group, can benefit MS.