Shortly after being
diagnosed with MS, friends began sending me links and articles that promoted
some things and panned others in regard to MS.
You’ve probably noticed from my general attitude that I take a very proactive
stand on my health. I believe in doing
everything I can to keep myself in good running order. But there’s a ton of information out there;
some it isn’t necessarily valid. It’s my
hope that I can give you a fair representation of what is real and let you make
your own decision. I’ll also let you
know how I, personally, handle each item.
Today, we’re going to look at artificial sweeteners as well as vitamin D.
Unless you’ve turned off all media for the last 20 years, you know that there has always been some controversy about the safety and effectiveness of artificial sweeteners. Saccharin has been shown to cause cancer in lab rats. Aspartame may cause a form of nerve toxicity. The list goes on. I did some research and found out that there is no conclusive proof for any of it. Please note the link for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, http://www.msfocus.org/article-details.aspx?articleID=40 as well as the Snopes article on the same http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/aspartame.asp
On the other side of
the fence there are articles like the following that claim that no artificial
sweetener is safe and some are extremely dangerous. http://www.policymic.com/articles/16014/artificial-sweeteners-why-you-should-completely-avoid-them-to-stay-healthy
Having said that, it’s important to note that many people have noticed an adverse effect from artificial sweeteners in their diets. In addition, many scientists have noted that artificial sweeteners cause us to crave sweets and therefore gain weight. There is no denying that even though the evidence is inconclusive there seems to be a definite correlation between artificial sweeteners and muscle control in MS patients. The following are two links to discussion boards on that very topic: http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/question/98314/154315, http://community.babycenter.com/post/a36594526/say_no_to_aspartame_and_artificial_sweeteners_my_story... You will find tons of these online.
My side…I don’t use the stuff, period. When I first found out about my MS, I was downing several diet drinks a week in order to cut calories. After reading up on this confusing phenomenon, I decided to go back to sugar or do without. It would be unfair to say it made all the difference in my life, because I made a lot of positive changes. However, I will note that if I accidently consume artificial sweeteners, like when I slipped up at the church pancake supper and used sugar-free syrup, only to realize it half-way through my pancakes, I noticed a difference in my ability to stay mobile. For me this is a no-brainer. Why risk something that could potentially cause damage when I can control it? I drink mostly water and coffee now, and I like it. I use peanut butter, fruit, honey, or just plain sugar to sweeten things in moderation. The jury is still out on Splenda and on Stevia but I avoid them because I can’t be sure. I’ve recently convinced my husband to cut back on artificial sweeteners. He’s diabetic, so that took a lot of convincing. He’s lost ten pounds over the last month and tells me he feels better. Again, who knows the actual causes, but I think cutting down on the artificial stuff has helped.
Now for the good thing: Vitamin D. I was told from the start that Vitamin D would help. You know I checked it out.
“A study conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford and another conducted at the New Jersey Medical School have suggested that maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D may have a protective effect and lower the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Another study conducted at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and others suggest that for people who already have MS, vitamin D may lessen the frequency and severity of their symptoms.” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-d-and-ms/AN01894.
“People with high levels of vitamin D in their blood have shown a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis, according to results of a Swedish study released Monday. The new study adds to a growing body of research suggesting a link between vitamin D and MS, an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord that is believed to afflict more than a quarter-million Americans” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323353204578129280745162230.html.
Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to correlate with MS symptoms.
On the other side of that coin, you can cause toxicity with too much Vitamin D. Ask your doctor about your D levels. Where do we get it? From the sun of course. That’s the best way, but I don’t stay out in the sun very much because MS folks can’t take the heat. When I do go out I use tons of sunblock. Milk is another good source but I don’t drink that either because of a milk allergy when I was younger. Fish oil, salami, ham, and eggs are good too. http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/high-vitamin-D-foods.php I take a supplement but try to be reasonable about it; all things in moderation.
So, if you got tired of
reading this long blog, take this with you as the upshot. Stay away from artificial sweeteners if you
aren’t sure. They don’t really seem to
help much and could be harmful. Get lots
of good old Vitamin D in your diet. Take
care of yourself so others won’t have to!
With love.
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