Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis: Natural and Medical Therapies to Prevent Its Progression

"Having been diagnosed with relapse remission type Multiple Sclerosis in 2001, my neurologist recently recommended that I start a course of Beta Interferon drug therapy. After researching and becoming increasingly concerned about this option, I found George Jelinek's work. This wonderful book truly does offer you the tools required to "take control" of your illness and become far more than just a passive recipient of aggressive steroids and interferon drugs dished out by the medical profession. I have now cut all saturated fat from my diet and increased my consumption of healthy oils, take regular exercise (when I am able), do yoga, have learnt to meditate and feel positive about my future for the first time since I was diagnosed."
~ Written on 2008-02-27

"This book is well written, accessible and based on scientific research! It is a balanced account by a medical professional with the genuine ability to understand what it's really like.

Diagnosed at age 15, my MS was initially sensory in nature (relapsing/remitting). I was a 'passive sufferer' and with time it became more disabling until I only experienced 2 months of good health in a year (still relapsing/remit). Time to take action! I read the bulk of this book in a day and it changed the way I ate (and thought) from then on. The first year was a major struggle but now I wouldn't go back (2.5 years later)! It's a pretty tough slog, but I have found it truly worth it! I'm now 29 and at the healthiest I've been in YEARS! It's not possible to promise that all those with MS will experience the same benefits but, to be honest, this lifestyle/diet is truly healthy for anyone (even my active rugby-playing husband is happy to eat what I eat!).

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~ Written on 2008-02-01

"I have read George Jelinek's book (or should I say Bible) on MS and it gives valid hope to anyone who has been diagnosed with the disease. I also went on George's course and met him - he is a fabulous, sincere man who has a lot of medical expertise. He has outlined a program of the best way to deal with MS based on his extensive research and it is a program he is following himself. Many of the people following his program are achieving really good results! If you read one book on MS - make sure it is this one. "
~ Written on 2008-01-11

"Although not diagnosed yet, believe that I have MS.

Whilst I wait on further neurologist appointment, am taking action NOW.

This book is excellent - have started the diet immediately and have become so positive.

No more dairy for me - why take something thats attacking my nervous system. And the fish oil supplements are helping too.

Cant thank the author enough.

Suggest you start at Chapter 15 first for Diet and Lifestyle changest and come back to the science bits after..."
~ Written on 2007-08-29

"Dr Jelinek, a medical professor, who developed MS in mid-life presents a science-based assessment of natural and medical treatments to control MS. His arguments for use of science based natural remedies (mainly nutritional) as well as conventional medical treatments are convincing. Indeed an increasing band of GP's and other medics are now embracing natural as well as conventional treatments for diseases of all types including MS. - See for example the web-sites of Dr Sarah Myhill (UK), Dr Andrew Weil (US) and books by Dr Deborah McManners (UK) and Dr Carole Hungerford (Australia).

Here are a few comments on Dr Jelinek's recommendations based on what has been seen in other books and web-sites:

- ANIMAL INCLUDING DAIRY PROTEIN. Jelinek recommends avoiding dairy protein (including the casein etc in cow's milk) as well as saturated fats from dairy, meat and other sources. He seems to have come to this view independently of T Colin Campbell who in his excellent book `The China Study' expresses similar doubts about animal protein in general (dairy protein in particular) as well as saturated fat from animal sources. T Colin Campbell recommends (and I think Jelinek would agree) that vegetable protein is much preferable to dairy and meat protein.

- NUTRITION. Jelinek's nutritional recommendations for MS sufferers are similar to Campbell's recommendations for the general public who want the best health. Both recommend eating all types of plant foods and avoiding dairy foods and meat but eating fish as the main source of limited animal protein. Campbell adds a recommendation to avoid refined and processed foods and Jelinek adds a recommendation to take good quantities of food containing Omega 3 fatty acids.

- MS SPECIFIC `DIETS' Diets such as `Best Bet' and others can be more restrictive than Jelinek's in that they recommend avoiding gluten, legumes and possibly nightshade foods (potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines , peppers). Avoiding these may be essential if one is specifically allergic to or intolerant of them but Jelinek and Campbell would say that the highest priority is to avoid dairy foods and meat.

- GLUTEN. If one wishes to avoid or limit gluten there are a host of good alternatives such as millet, buckwheat, quinoa, brown rice, basmati rice, oats (low gluten), rye (less gluten than wheat), barley (some gluten) ,spelt (moderate gluten) etc.

- CALCIUM. Conventional wisdom in the West says that one needs cow's milk for it's calcium. However many believe that cow's milk is actually damaging to bones and calcium is best obtained from other sources such as various types of `dark' cabbage greens, broccoli, soy beans / tofu, sesame seeds / tahini and other seeds / nuts, grains, figs, legumes, salad vegetables such as romaine lettuce and celery. and possibly even from spinach. In any case osteoporosis is higher in high milk consuming countries (such as US, ands many European countries) than in low milk consuming countries. It is by no means clear that cow's milk is essential for human nutrition even though the dairy industry would like one to believe this.

- OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS. A good way of taking Omega 3 fatty acids may be to take ground flax seeds. Grinding (preferably at last moment before eating) is needed to release the oils otherwise the seeds pass though undigested. Also flax seeds are more stable than the extracted oils. If taking oils it is recommended to ensure that the diet includes a high level of anti-oxidants preferably from fruits and vegetables.

- OTHER. Other `natural' issues for MS are or may be a) Sunshine / Vitamin D. b) Vitamin B12, c) optimisng diet to optimise digestion (avoiding such conditions as leaky gut so that potential antigens do not get into the bloodstream) and to minimise inflammation.(type 'multiple sclerosis prostaglandins' into google). I do not have space to elaborate here.

In conclusion this is an excellent book on MS. I do not have MS but have unhesitatingly recommended this book to a family member who does.
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~ Written on 2007-04-02