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!
Hey - I’m new to this forum. I have remitting and relapsing MS (was diagnosed in 2018). Mobility and balance have been an issue lately, but I have been experimenting with intermitting fasting over the past few weeks and have noticed some alleviatin of my symptoms. My question is to to ask if anyone has tried the 72 hour water fast? If so, any positive results?
Not me. 72 hours sound like a whole different ball game to intermittent fasting for 15 18 or even 20 hours a day and something I would learn as much as possible about .before considering
Thank you for this….yes, I have been doing my research but the jury is still out for now…
Meanwhile, I’m still doing my intermittent fasting and find that ketosis and the beginnings of autophagy do really help with lessening my balance and leg raising issues.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has experienced positive results like this
Not for me because I’m very lean and haven’t the reserves for this. I stick to the natural 12/14 hour overnight fast and I don’t eat between meals. But that’s as close to fasting as I can safely get.
I hope that you continue to feel the benefits and find that fasting works well for you.
I’ve been doing something like 16:8 intermittent fasting for years now. It varies from 16:8 to as much a 21:3 not so much by design but sometimes I can suddenly realise that it late in the day and I haven’t eaten. It’s become a sort of way of lie/ habit for me here days. I really don’t know for sure if it’s helped me but I’m thinking that on balance it has especially when it comes to general energy levels and periods of ‘fatigue’ which seem to be rare these days (fingers crossed). My right leg is the main MS problem. I can stand one legged on my left leg for 10-15 seconds but only 1-2 or not at all on my right. I can however manage to climb stairs two at a time - keeping hold of the bannister for safety and being very cautious!
the complicating factor in all this is time catching up on me- at 72 next year I think I’m beginning to feel my years.
It’s so interesting to get another take on this idea.
Wow, good going with the stairs and the one legged pose!
I was diagnosed with relapsing and remitting MS in 2018, but it’s only been within the last year that my balance has gone awry. I have problems climbing stairs (my left leg won’t raise up high enough and I need to wear an FES device), but everything else works fine - for now!
Thanks for your reply - I’ve been on a weight loss plan since April and have lost 2.5 stone just by calorie counting as I’m conscious that I’m not doing any exercise due to my remitting and relapsing MS. However, since I’ve now reached my target weight and now doing some limited exercise (MS style lol), I’m keen to keep the weight off.
I had such an epiphany moment this summer when I accidently went further with my intermittent fasting and didn’t eat for 24hours… so I looked into research papers in this area of which there are few. I am a teacher and a scientist so felt like I need to give subject some real looking into.
My symptoms abated after not eating for 24 hours and I could walk freely without my cane and FES device….I was elated!!!
Anyway, I am keen to experiment with a 3 day water fast and want to make sure that it doesn’t cause my MS to go haywire!
Thank you for your reply to this - I am grateful to have found this forum and feel in good company with people who understand.
If you do a three day or two day water fast then could you let us know how you get on? My problem is that I find it difficult to sleep when I’m hungry. Don’t like to sleep on a full stomach but find it hard on an empty one.
( as for a one leg pose think more of a 71 year old desperately trying to stay upright )
Of course - I shall let you know how it goes regarding the 72 hour fast.
To be honest, I’m still mentally preparing myself
I know that I need to add in my electrolytes (about a teaspoon of salt per day apparently) to my water and somebody else suggested I can drink beef broth
Also, I need to be busy and out of the house so away from culinary delights in my kitchen..
Yes, I will let the forum know how it goes…
I get you regarding sleeping on a growling stomach - it’s not nice….
I find it difficult in the morning but I find a warm glass of water with a squeeze of lime juice helps to stave off some of the hunger pangs.
Just in case you haven’t come across this, here is Proc Giovannoni’s advice. He touches on the subject of therapeutic ketosis, which might be of interest to you.
The fasting idea sounds promising and reassuring in terms of the idea of potentially resetting your immune system and preventing further damage to the myelin sheath…
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