Just in case anyone has not seen this.
"calorie-restricted diet which mimics the effects of fasting may reverse the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and help repair the damage caused by the disease.
Scientists are so excited about the finding that they are moving to large human trials and are already recommending it for very ill patients ‘who cannot wait.’
The regime simply involves cutting normal calorie counts in half for three days in every seven"
Morning Bob.
These “findings” really annoy me. Take super high doses of vitamins X, Y and Z, drink this, avoid that, avoid red meat, follow this diet, sleep in an oxygen tent, stand on your head whilst drinking a glass of water!
If it were only that simple.
None of us would have ms, would we? Whichever of these things would be “the cure” and patented. There wouldn’t be any need for a site such as this one!
I’ll just continue with my life as it is, eating a normal healthy, balanced diet as I’ve always done. I don’t believe in miracles either. 
Hello Bob.
I’ve been on a dieting frenzy for nearly two years losing just on three stone. Regardless of my symptoms I feel tons better in terms of health and self-image. It’s something I would have done without having MS.
It all seems a bit too extreme to go through a regimented eating pattern for a long period just in case it might help a little bit. Dieting can be a miserable experience, especially if you love your carbs. i have no carb days and low carb days and vary my food types just to keep my body on its toes. It seems to work but the bottom line is visible tangible weight loss. That’s my main motivating factor. If human trials show something then fine. But we all know the individual nature of our demon. I’m not holding my breath.
Best wishes, Steve.
I had a pear and a cup of tea for breakfast.
Of course, now I look, I can’t find the article, but I did read one that said people with MS fatigue particularly should follow the guidelines for any chronic fatigue condition, and fasting was definitely not encouraged.
Usual thing, totally contradictory advice.
I should do what works for you. Diets are generally so restrictive, they are setting you up to fail, so the lack of results is your inability to follow the diet, rather than the diet’s inability to deliver the promised results.
You could always give it a go and see whether it works for you or not.
Jo x
Afternoon Poppy
Hope u doing OK. Bright and sunny here. At least outside! What u say makes a lot of sense. But I still feel that I need to do everything I can to try and slow down or halt whatever is happening to me. And at least doing something has made me feel more in control and less full of self-blame.
So I’ll stick to high Vit D, other vits and minerals, really high biotin, high omega 3, two teaspoons of termeric a day, no dairy, and popping outdoors every time the sun peeks through teh intractable welsh rain clouds.
At least it keeps me busy.
Hi Steve
For me the trouble is that I eat much of teh time to try and keep my mind off the tinnitus, flashing lights, muscle pains etc and I know that Ive slipped inperceptably (since I kind of avoided looking) from slim to more rounded and god knows where Im heading next. So I know I need to do something about it.
Losing three stones sounds pretty good. I get the self-image thing. I have kind of gone through giving up on life in te last few months and trying to get slim again (and who knows maybe meet the third Mrs Bob) is a kind of reminder that Ive decided to keep going. Also sounds like you are an accomplished cook and get a lot of pleasure out of it. Im snding off for the MS cook book and of course will keep eye out for your occasional recipes.
But pear would not be enough for breakfast for me. Unless it was followed in quick succession by an early lunch.
Cheers
Rupert
Hi Bob. Yep, a glorious sunny day here in s/w Ireland. Trying to enjoy it while it lasts!
I agree with you doing something to make you feel in control. My mobility has rapidly declined now and I find things I would do and take for granted are becoming less and less. This evening I have a man in his sixties, coming to see me about my garden. It was my pride and joy. Something I’d dreamed of having when I lived in Suburbia in the UK for years. Now I have about an acre of garden and it has only recently dawned on me, that it is quite likely to become a concern to me. It was basically a field of scrubby grass when we moved in eleven years ago. I created a large flower bed, planted a few trees…now I can barely manage a few pots by the front and back doors. 
I hope this man calling will be reasonable in his charges. We already pay a guy with a ride on mower to keep the grass in check.
How do you take your Turmeric? I only ever have that if I make a curry from scratch.
Sorry, I seem to have gone off on a tangent! I do that when I’m talking as well.
South west Ireland sounds great. The coast line must be pretty wild facing on to teh Atlantic. Ive only been to Dublin and to County Clare I think. I was once engaged to an Irish woman. I hope the guy can help at a reasonable price. I sometimes just add turmeric to baked beans. Curry is the ideal place for it I guess but Ive kind of lost my energy for proper cooking atm. I tried just eating the tumeric on its own but that wasnt a great idea. Im also thinking about ceylon cinnimon as Barts site says it too is good for auto immune conditions but am not sure if that would count as double dose if also taking termeric. tbh I would prefer to have a bag of chips followed by chocolate cake and extra thick cream.
Yes Bob, it is truly stunning. Rugged, wild and uplifting, and exhilarating when the winds are wild. Now if only it didn’t rain so much… So much for my “gardener”. He never even turned up! I’m hoping as it’s a Sunday, he just forgot and he’ll get back to me tomorrow. I know what you mean about lost energy. Sometimes it’s just plain apathy.
I use my slow cooker for as much as I can. Honestly, it’s a life saver and I believe every home should have one. Almost as indispensable as the kettle!
This week for dinners, I did a spag bol, (doubled up the mince and put some in a lasagne for the freezer), a chicken curry, a bacon joint and a rice pudding! Great dinners and very little effort. When I’m doing this I try to double up quantities. Then I freeze a portion in Ziplock freezer bags. Brilliant for days when I just either can’t be bothered or haven’t the energy. I don’t always do from scratch btw. Sometimes it’s a jar of curry sauce in with the chicken s/cooker, and that’s alright too.
It`s not April 1st yet, is it?
pollsx
They’re just warming up for it, Poll
Jo x
l tried the 5-2 diet - with great success. lt is a lifestyle change - and was not initially just for weight loss- but more for sustained health and reducing risk of type2 diabetes.
For me, l find it easy to follow as the days you eat a restricted calorie amount your stomach shrinks so that on days when you can ‘feast’ you find you do not eat nearly as much as you used to.
Another bonus is the amount of energy l get on the fasting days.
But Frances, do you think your eating method has reversed the MS at all, like the OP was saying?
pollsx
Poll, l think the 5-2 would make anyone feel better. Our lives do seem to revolve around our stomach and digestive system.
Giving our ‘innards’ a break from having to use so much energy digesting food non-stop must be a good move.
So many people think they need to be eating all the time. You only have to see the amount of wrappers that get thrown out of cars. All junk food containers. What happened to 3 meals a day? Why do people have to eat or drink so much out doors - on the hoof!.
Our bodies are not designed to be constantly grazing - like cows.
And on the 2 fasting days - you can still eat 500 calories for ladies - 600 for men. Which could be scrambled egg for breakfast and a nice piece of salmon or chicken breast with green veggies or salad for dinner. l keep off bread/biscuits pasta potaoes on these days.
l only do 5-2 - but might try the 4-3.
Spacejacket, I don’t think any of us disagree that it might be a good thing, the 5:2 diet, however the whole crux of the article is the idea that it can “reverse” ms symptoms, as the op posted. Now that really would be the answer, wouldn’t it. As I said, if only it were as easy as that. Nobody would have ms anymore.
I’m not a mouse.
I’m not a mouse either. We hear these ‘amazing diet cures’ all of time. Just the other day someone told me that a vegan diet cures MS. I couldn’t even be bothered to answer.
Eat a healthy balanced diet. I have managed to lose a stone and a half by having a Wiltshire Farm meal as my main meal (at lunchtime). Not only do I choose their ‘Delicious and Nutritious’ range which is under 400 calories per meal… but are esp good for me as they are smaller portions than I would ever cook for myself… and then I have soup or salad in evening.
Losing weight has made me feel better about myself (I couldn’t bear the sight of myself any longer!) but it hasn’t made any difference at all to my MS.
Pat xx (No I didn’t get paid for the Wiltshire Farm Foods plug! )
If you’re going to try a diet, do it for the right reasons - miracle cure for MS - I doubt it - makes you feel better - yes - and I’m with Spacejacket on that there really isn’t any need for the constant snacking you get these days, anyone would feel the benefit of improving a bad diet - plus, have you ever noticed how good something tastes when you’re hungry?
I do think the 5:2 diet is one of the better examples - because you can have anything you like - no fad foods, just restricted amounts of whatever you like, so you’re more likely to stick to it (and best diet advice I ever got - if you fall off the wagon occasionally - you just do, carry on with the diet, it’s just a lapse, no need to stop the diet) I lost weight on the 5:2 diet, but had no improvement in symptoms.
But please, spare me the “this diet is a miracle cure for MS, it worked for me” - really? How come you’ve still got MS then?
Jo x
Well done Pat and that is an impressive amount of weight to shift. While I agree that it’s unlikely to make any difference to MS, it must make moving about, or transferring, a little easier and bet your body loves you for it.
Hi Whammel, it does indeed! Makes it much easier for the lovely guy who pushes me in wheelchair for hospital appointments. And I just don’t want to get all the other stuff associated with being fat… diabetes 2, heart disease etc etc. Dealing with MS is enough!
Another half stone and I should fit into my 3 pairs of Levis again! Been at the bottom of a chest for a few years but I was determined not to get rid of them!
Hope you’re doing well… and thanks,
Pat xx