I’m wondering if anyone here has tried intermittent fasting as a way of reducing symptoms. It’s been in the general MS news recently and from some small scale studies seems to have had some success in improving functionality.
Not because of any great intent I do sometime find that I don’t eat for maybe 17-18 hours or so - I just sort of end up having a very late/ early afternoon breakfast . No idea whether it’s of any help but I’m thinking of following the regime in one of the studies and restricting eating to an 8 hour window
Intermittent Fasting should be thought of as one element of a diet/ nutrition strategy.
Like you, I quite often find myself going 12+ hours between meals because my tum is slow to wake up. I’m overweight so am happy to let things ride rather than eat out of habit and due to inactivity, it is very easy to take in more calories than I consume.
However, if I deliberately put myself into calorie deficit (i.e. dieting), I have to be careful as it can easily provoke drowsiness and fatigue - a real consideration for us MS-ers.
Have you read any of the books by Dr Michael Mosley? Fast 800, Blood Sugar Diet etc. I’m not sure the 5-2 or 4-3 day diets are so suitable for MS-ers but certainly pushing your intake into a narrower daily window appears to have benefits. 8 hours may be a bit aggressive but 10 would be sustainable.
Hi,
I’ve been fasting for 16 hours a day for almost exactly 3 months. And I would have continued indefinitely, but I am now on metformin so think it is probably less useful/advisable.
The initial reason for fasting was a video reporting research findings about the way that fasting enhanced remyelination in mice (the mice were on 24 hours alternate day fast…).
My experience was as follows:
I did not find it particularly hard to cope with the “hunger” of a 16 hour fast. In fact it did somehow feel a bit healthier to be genuinely hungry at least once a day and I realised I do not need to eat breakfast-lunch-dinner.
Unlike mice put on a fasting diet, I did not lose weight. This might be because I knew I was fasting, so ate more to compromise during the 8 hour window. I have an ok weight for my height - being lucky enough to be able to exercise.
What was really hard was fitting this around work (and social life). I work “very” full time and travel internationally. This made it very hard, in logistical terms, and I sometimes ended up not eating for 19 or 20 hours. You have to work out what eating window will work for you: 8-4? 10-6? 11-7?
Because of this logistical problem, I would have found it really tough to continue indefinitely while working.
No apparent effect on MS, but then my symptoms are mild anyway. I would not expect an effect in just 3 months, especially at the level of symptoms.
I find it hard to keep my weight up as it is, so do not fast other than the natural 12-hour overnight fast. But I think it’s a very healthy thing to do if your system allows it.
What I DO do to help with metabolic health is stick to three good meals a day, not much sugar or stodge and no snacking between meals.
I’ve practiced 18/6 IF for years, and have experienced an MS relapse twice in that time (RRMS), couldn’t say if it’s been helpful in reducing symptoms though, i would err on the side of probably not.
Hi Graeme, thanks and no I haven’t read his books but have read bits and pieces of his. I would definitely find the 4-3 etc diet hard but as of 3 days ago I’ve started eating only in a daily 8 hour window. It’s OK and I could probably reduce the window but not so as I go to bed feeling hungry ( I’m sure I would just lie there feeling very aware of a desire for food!).
For some time now I’ve tried to follow a low saturated fats- high unsaturated fats, Mediterranean type diet which is fine , and for no reason other than that I’ve never been a great fan of red meats I don’t eat those either ( personal tastes but the thought of a large steak really does not appeal to me). I try to eat anti-inflammatory foods e.g turmeric .
( for relatively healthy enjoyment I also have little bit of 75-100 % chocolate and half to one bottle of red wine a week)
I guess I will never know if my diet is or has made any difference but I can but hope that someone one day carries out some trials ( but without money to be made from the results I’m not living in expectation of this). If nothing else, I should benefit from a generally healthy diet
Thanks Leonora. Yes I have seen the report of results in mice and there has also been a limited study in humans. I can well understand that following any particular diet when travelling a lot is hard ( I used to travel internationally on work a bit my self and if staying with - meeting hosts you don’t get much room for altering eating times).
I’ve just started the 8 hour window thing and it’s fine for me ( today is probably going to end up 7 hours). In those 8 hours I try to eat healthily including adopting a low saturated fats - high unsaturated fats diet
Thanks for the info on your personal experience. I’ve started with eating within a daily 8h window. I guess that as you say I will never know if it’s making any difference but I’m sort of going with the idea that it’s not going to cause any harm but might do some good
It’s probably safe to assume that, all else being equal, better metabolic health tends towards better management of MS. That’s what I reckon anyway. And even if it doesn’t, better metabolic health is still good!