Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Not surprisingly, dairy is once again a primary culprit.

As we have reported many times on this website, we find that our optimal diet of mostly whole plants promotes health and prevents or reverses most of the maladies that plague us. One diet for every problem doesn’t’ sound very exciting, but it is refreshingly simple—even though it may not be very interesting reading.

Dr. Campbell discovered that fact when he was turned down by a number of potential publishers who didn’t think that a simple “one diet fits all” was marketable. A few years later, we learned from the Forks Over Knives movie, that up to 80 percent of our health care dollars are driven by what we eat; and in this blog, we’ve written about many of them.

As for MS—according to Dr. Roy Swank, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and other reputable scientists, it turns out that once again cow’s milk is one of the culprits that promotes this terrible disease. Beginning on page 194 of The China Study, Dr. Campbell presents a wealth of information, beginning with:

“Even though there is widespread medical and scientific interest in this disease, most authorities claim to know very little about causes or cures. Major multiple sclerosis Internet Web sites all claim that the disease is an enigma. They generally list genetics, viruses and environmental factors as possibly playing roles in the development of this disease but pay almost no heed to a possible role for diet. This is peculiar considering the wealth of intriguing information on the effects of food that is available from reputable research reports. Once again cow’s milk appears to play an important role.”

There are several graphs; among them, one showing the clear correlation between the incidence of MS and the consumption of cow’s milk. Back to The China Study text:

“This work is remarkable. To follow people for thirty-four years is an exceptional demonstration of perseverance and dedication. Moreover, if this were a study testing a potential drug, these findings would make any pharmaceutical manufacturer jingle the coins in his or her pocket. Swank’s first results were published more than a half century ago, then again, and again, and again  for the next forty years.”

What does Dr. John McDougall have to say about MS? Quite a bit, as a matter of fact. And he says it all in this 67-minute video:  “Diet and Multiple Sclerosis.” This a great, comprehensive video featuring the legendary work of Dr. Roy Swank.

Dr. McDougall is the primary teacher of his great work. You really should take the time to watch this sometime soon.

For more information. The main go-to resource for more information about MS is the Swank MS Foundation. Here is an excerpt from that site:

The rise of MS in recent decades has mirrored the increase of highly saturated animal fats in the Western diet, which caught the attention of Dr. Roy L. Swank, Ph.D. He researched and devised what is now known as the Swank MS Diet, which he first introduced in 1948. The Swank MS Diet looks back to our pre-industrial roots for inspiration – when we ate the fruits of our own soil, when meat was a luxury – before food was distilled into a list of nutrients and ingredients. Now the Swank regimen is not only about food choices, critical as they are, but is also about a calmer and more relaxed lifestyle with time to smell the roses.

Dr. Roy Swank

• Very helpful article. McDougall Interview with Dr. Roy Swank, MD – Dr. McDougall
• Success Stories; See #25 and #32 on this list. Arthritis, MS, Lupus & more…a total of 81 success stories

One-on-one MD Help. Sadly, 95% of our medical doctors are not aware of the power of plant-based nutrition to combat many chronic diseases, including multiple sclerosis. If you would like a second opinion (about MS) from a medical doctor who truly “gets it” about food, you may wish to visit our MD Help page and schedule a telephone consultation with one of the MDs listed there.

Please forward this page to anyone you know that may be interested in learning more about the causes and prevention of MS.

Handy 4-piece take-charge-of-your-health kit—from Amazon.com

• The movie that’s changing the lives of millions: Forks Over Knives DVD 
• Healthy Eating, Healthy World, The “big picture” about food (our book)
• An essential scientific resource: The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell
• Dr. McDougall’s new book, The Starch Solution, with lots of great recipes.

Want to find out how healthy your family is eating? Take our free 4Leaf Diagnostic Survey. It takes less than five minutes and you can score it yourself. After taking the survey, please give me your feedback as it will be helpful in the development of our future 4Leaf app for smartphones. Send feedback to jmorrishicks@me.com

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