Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a health condition that messes with your brain and spinal cord. It can make you tired, numb, and affect your balance and vision.
Some people need to take a lot of medicine for their symptoms, which can have side effects. So, finding a diet that helps is a big deal.
Scientists from the University of Virginia found that a Keto diet could help people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The researchers followed 52 people who have relapsing MS.
These people were on a keto diet for six months. After the diet period, they were tracked for another three months to see how they were doing.
The Keto Diet and MS
People like the keto diet for many reasons, like losing weight or eating fewer carbs. But this diet could be special for those with MS.
Why? Well, at the end of the six months, almost half of the people said the diet made their MS symptoms better. Some even said they could take fewer medicines because of it.
The types of food they ate changed too. They ate more proteins and healthy fats and fewer carbs and added sugars.
After the six-month diet period, they found out that people who lost more weight and felt less tired stuck to the diet longer.
When the scientists checked on them three months later, many still said their symptoms had improved compared to before they started the diet.
Can You Stick with It?
Is this diet too hard to stick to? Not according to the study. About 21% of people stayed on a strict keto diet even after the study ended.
Another 37% stuck to a more relaxed version of it. The researchers believe that this shows that the keto diet is not just a “quick fix” but something that people can keep doing to feel better.
What’s the Catch?
Some of the scientists who did this study work with drug companies. It’s something to keep in mind, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the study is not trustworthy.
The Takeaway
If you have Multiple Sclerosis, a keto diet might be worth a try to improve your symptoms.
It seems that a lot of people found it helpful and not too hard to stick with. But remember, always talk to your doctor before making big changes to your diet or medicine.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about potatoes and high blood pressure, and top 10 choices for a blood pressure-friendly diet.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about unhealthy plant-based diets linked to metabolic syndrome, and results showing the Paleo diet plus exercise could boost heart health in people with diabetes.
The study was published in Clinical Nutrition.
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