I have started having ginger beer (non alcoholic) as its supposed to be good for ms sufferers, does anyone else take it and if so in what form?
Lisa
Hi Lisa
I often cook with raw ginger as an ingredient as I’ve heard it may be good with helping retain balance.
I don’t know what difference if any it makes, but I like it anyway and ginger with garlic is a fantastic taste I think!
Mark
Thanks Mark, yes i’m going to buy some ginger root and see what recipes i can make with it, if you or anyone else have any good ones then i would be very grateful. Also is there any other foods that is supposed to help?
Lisa
i dont like garlic or ginger, my nan used to eat a piece of garlic a day n eat ginger cake alot,
Hi Lisa
I like cooking and I know a few recipes with ginger, but also I eat gluten free.
One of my favourites is dhal.
I don’t measure so precisely as I’ve been doing it for yonks, but it’s sort of like this:
Give or take
A teaspoon of cumin powder, a fair bit of garlic (a couple of cloves - but I use more sometimes), a teaspoon of turmeric powder. Maybe a little salt.
Fri it all gently in a bit of oil. (What a smell, oh yes)
Add a couple of cups of red split lentils along with some water, maybe two or three mugs sort of thing, but not letting it dry out. I’ve tried it with coconut milk too. Or half and half.
Piece de resistance - I add chopped green chillies. I’m a fan of green chillies but you have to choose your friends coming for dinner!!
Wow, it’s lovely.
Oh, and some chablis.
Mark
OH, plus the bloody ginger of course!!! Fry it in with the cumin and garlic.
I have been reading other post saying about gluten free diet, i will have to read some more about it to see exactly what i should give up. I have also read about giving up dairy but when i saw my ms consultant, he said to make sure i drink alot of milk (i have a pint of skimmed milk a day) and he said that was good so i’m now confused.
Lisa.
If it’s any help, I asked my consultant and nurse practiser about diet and they both said the same…nothing is proven to help. They said eat little, more often as the digestive system sometimes isn’t very efficient, but that a sensible healthy diet is best. 5 a day, carbs for energy and protein for essential repairs. Calcium is important, especially if having steroid treatment. And fork mashable if having problems swallowing.
Sure, not proven. So what, some of us feel better on it. If somebody suddenly jumps up and shouts “it’s proven” will we all change?
Whoa !!! Just repeating what a consultant and nurse practitioner told me as I am generally inclined to listen to them. Someone asked. I thought this forum was to allow people to share experiences and opinions.
Yes it is. My point is you takes your chances. What is not proven may still be true until it is disproved for all. Some things in this world are proven and still useless.
In this era we hear ‘take aspirin’ - ‘no, don’t take aspirin’.
‘Drink wine’ - ‘no, don’t drink wine’
We can’t rely on the government for advice God forbid.
You takes your chances.
Hi
I think the thing with diet is similar to MS in general - i.e. it’s very variable, and different people experience different things. So some people will find cutting certain things out really helps them, others don’t. I guess all we can do is give it a go and see.
Going back to what foods actually help MS, turmeric is another spice that studies suggest could be beneficial. So looks like curry should be a regular fixture for us (I always add turmeric to the rice before cooking it when having a curry, which also helps it look a bit like pilau rice).
Also, thyme is meant to be a muscle relaxant, so that might help with things like cramps & spasms.
Dan
Hi Lisa If it’s any help, I am told that cheese scones are very beneficial, particularly if warmed up with lots of butter on top. Oh and also chocolate…but in order to be beneficial, it MUST be eaten regularly and particularly good for you, are, chunky fudge brownie kitkat’s and, I believe, aero orange bubbles. 
Xx
I think ginger is supposed to be good at removing toxins from the body. You’re probably better with ginger tea rather than ginger beer - suspect the beer contains loads of sugar. Doctors tend to say things like “nothing is proven” when they don’t know enough about a subject to give an opinion. I think it’s basically up to us to find out for ourselves what helps and what doesn’t, and that can mean a lot of trial and error as no two people are the same. If you don’t do it for yourself, who will? Heather
I use it sometimes for dizziness… just cut some root up raw and put with teabag in cup… pour on boiling water & remove teabag but leave ginger in. Add milk, sugar or honey if you want. It’s very refreshing & seems to help a bit (or maybe placebo… but hey, anything that helps).
One slight warning… it does apparently warm the blood so warms you up… so not good in hot weather. Can’t say I’ve noticed but an acupuncturist once told me this.
PatB x
Oh, I’m quite happy that my consultant neurologist who is a long established MS specialist and my nurse who again is a long established MS specialist nurse, both know exactly what they are talking about. And feel able to give an opinion based on their wealth of experience. I’m afraid I’m old school and believe that all of the food groups play a role in nutrition. But then I’m not allergic to or intolerant of anything. So easy for me to say !!
Thanks for your comments, will try the ginger tea. The curry sounds good too
Lisa
I know that I eat ginger and drink ginger tea, because I love thy stuff, but when I read that it is a great foodstuff for aiding digestion and settling, then I was even more keen. I suppose that I should stop eating so much stem ginger cake too, but it is sooooooooooooooooooooo tempting!
Moira
Hi Lisa
I put a piece of ginger in a flask of boiling water and leave it for a couple of hours before drinking it. Lovely
Kaz
tried ginger tea, very nice. will have more of that.
thanks to everyone for your comments, only been with you since saturday but already i feel part of the family. so glad iv’e joined.
Lisa.