Nerve Food: Nutrition for Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the nerves - in the literal sense: the body's own immune system attacks its own nerve fibers. The process can be slowed down with medication, but those affected can also protect their nerves with the right diet.
A woman seasons a fish dish for a healthy diet for multiple sclerosis.
The attack on one's own nerve cells
MS is also called the disease with a thousand faces because it has countless different symptoms and progressions. The only thing that all of the thousand faces have in common is that the body's own immune system attacks the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. More precisely, the myelin sheath of the nerve cells. This is a fatty layer that electrically insulates the nerve cells. If it is missing, signal transmission is inadequate. This is exactly where the drug treatment of the disease comes in: on the one hand, anti-inflammatory drugs such as cortisone are intended to contain the spread of the demyelinating lesions, and on the other hand, the immune system is prevented from attacking the body's own myelin, which it considers to be a foreign body.
Which fats are beneficial for MS?
The world of fats is complicated: they are not popular with health-conscious people, but they are needed - especially for MS. The reason: the myelin sheath consists of around 70 percent lipids, i.e. fat molecules, and the body must be supplied with enough fat so that nerve cells can function properly. A distinction is made between saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Fats consist of chains of carbon atoms of different lengths. If the carbon atoms are firmly connected to one another with so-called single bonds, they are called saturated fats. In contrast, there are two types of unsaturated fatty acids: monounsaturated fats contain one, polyunsaturated fats contain several of the less stable double bonds. If the double bond is between the ninth and tenth carbon atom, it is an omega-9 fatty acid, after the sixth atom it is an omega-6 fatty acid, etc. Why this excursion into the nomenclature of fats? Omega-6 fatty acids – found primarily in meat and sausage products – are involved in the formation of arachidonic acid, which is suspected of promoting inflammation. The proportion of omega-6 fats in the diet should therefore be kept as low as possible.
The right ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6
Omega-3 fatty acids, on the other hand, are metabolized into eicosanepentaenoic acid (EPA). EPA helps maintain normal triglyceride concentrations in the blood. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are linseed oil, rapeseed oil and walnut oil, but also fatty fish such as mackerel or salmon. Fish oil can be a useful dietary supplement. Even if it seems obvious, the goal is not to avoid omega-6 fatty acids entirely. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is important. A ratio of 5:1 is often recommended for an anti-inflammatory diet.
Nerve cells with myelin sheath.
Chemical processes in the body
It takes a whole lot of steps to turn breakfast into a beautiful, new cell wall. Countless reactions take place in this metabolic chain, from the cheese sandwich to the finished lipid layer. In chemistry, this is called oxidation. This creates extremely reactive molecules as intermediate products that can trigger unwanted reactions. For example, the cell walls are attacked or - in chemical terms - oxidized.
B vitamins against exhaustion and fatigue
The B vitamins - vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and niacin - contribute to the normal functioning of the nervous system. Without B vitamins, the transmission of signals between nerve cells would no longer function properly. Vitamin B-12 must be obtained from animal foods, as it is only found there in usable quantities. Grains, nuts, mushrooms, beans, tuna, spinach and cabbage are among the good sources of the other B vitamins.
Foods with healthy fats for a multiple sclerosis diet.
Sunlight protects against vitamin D deficiency
You should also ensure you have an adequate supply of vitamin D. Vitamin D contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system. Fat-soluble vitamin D does not have to be supplied exclusively through food. If the skin is exposed to sufficient sunlight - ten to thirty minutes a day in the sun is enough - it can also be produced by the body itself. However, more is not better than more: as soon as more vitamin D is produced than can be transported away by the blood, the excess is rendered ineffective by further exposure to sunlight. This is how the body protects itself from an overdose of vitamin D and we should definitely protect ourselves from sunburn and eye strain caused by the sun . Otherwise, egg yolk and fish in particular provide the necessary vitamin D.
Important Minerals and Trace Elements in MS
Calcium and magnesium work together to transmit nerve signals and muscle contraction. Magnesium contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system. Calcium, on the other hand, contributes to normal signal transmission between nerve cells. An imbalance in the balance of the two minerals can lead to the muscle twitches that often accompany MS. Magnesium is also necessary for the production of vitamin D. Everything that is green is a reliable source of magnesium. Another aspect beyond nerves plays a role for MS sufferers: Due to the increased risk of osteoporosis caused by cortisone therapy, it is also important to ensure an adequate supply of calcium. Calcium is needed to maintain normal bones.
Zinc promotes brain performance
Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal bones. It also plays an important role in the transmission of signals between nerve cells by regulating the flow of messenger substances between nerve cells. Zinc therefore contributes to normal cognitive function. In patients with brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, zinc concentrations have been found to be too low. Zinc has a function in cell division, for example in the formation of white blood cells, the defense cells of the immune system. It is therefore a real miracle weapon. Seafood, pumpkin seeds, whole grain products and beef are suitable sources of zinc.
How big is the influence of nutrition on the nerve cells of MS patients?
It is worth taking a closer look at your own eating habits. An adapted and balanced diet not only promotes your own well-being, but also actively supports the body in its regeneration, as the body has an increased need for nutrients. The accompanying illnesses of MS, such as muscle tremors or exhaustion and fatigue, can be deficiency symptoms that prevent normal nerve function. Of course, medical therapy approaches can at best be supplemented by diet, but some of the thousands of faces of MS may be able to smile more often thanks to fatty acids, zinc and the like.
