Let me start by reiterating the reasons WHY I decided to become vegan. I was told by my sister and a friend about a movie Forks Over Knives. The movie is about how most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that can afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal based and processed foods. There is also a book by Roy Swank called The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book. In his book Dr. Swank also believed in a low fat diet as a way of treating multiple sclerosis. His book was first published in 1972. His idea was also a plant-based diet but allowed skim milk, egg whites, fish and white meat chicken or turkey. Oil would only be introduced 10-30grams per day. Today his diet has been revised to the more plant-based vegan diet. Most things you read about multiple sclerosis doesn’t directly correlate to diet but there are some strange factors of MS you can’t ignore:

• the further you move from the equator the more common the disease.
• multiple sclerosis and heart disease occurs more commonly where large amounts of animals are consumed
• multiple sclerosis is more common in people who eat 100 grams of animal fat per day then say in the Orient that consumed 50 grams or less
• MS is virtually unheard of in some populations including Eskimos, Inuit, Yakuts, Hungarian Romani, Norwegian Lapps, Australian aborigines and New Zealanders…diet, geography both???

I know I would have been better off doing this diet at the start of my disease 19 years ago but I decided it still can’t hurt. Today marks my 6 week point and this is what I’ve found.

• I’ve had bathroom issues because of my multiple sclerosis and it has caused problems. This diet has definitely helped me stay regular without needing any laxatives other then a glycerin suppository.  That in itself was a HUGE thing for me.
• I’ve lost about 7 lbs since starting. Took off the weight that I kept fluctuating with for months plus an additional amount.
• I’ve had energy. I haven’t felt sluggish. I should say any more tired then my multiple sclerosis makes me feel. Not eating meat hasn’t made me feel like I’m lacking energy.
• I’m definitely less bloated which is a nice feeling.
• I cook. I make food on Sunday for my week.  I love soup and especially during  the winter. I make a batch freeze half and use it throughout the week. Forks over Knives has a really nice app to you can buy for recipes.
• I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. I’m a carb person, I’d rather eat barley then chicken any day.
• I get from Hungryroot.com their cookie dough and brownie batter that are vegan and make them when I have the “sweet tooth”. I tried a recipe for brownies but it wasn’t good.  I keep experimenting.
• I have had good MS day but is it the diet, physical therapy, biotin, alpha Lipoic acid, rituxan, all, some combo, I can’t answer that, but I’ll take those good days no questions asked.

In summary I always knew I’d give this a shot for a minimum of 6 months and see how I felt.  6 weeks in, I’m pretty sure I can see me changing this to my way of life.  I had blood work done recently all numbers were in line and my blood work will be repeated again in a month (because of rituxan) but I’ll request all be checked. As long as I’m getting the correct nutrition in, all is good.