Cutting Out Meat Eases Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

A paper published in this month’s issue of scientific journal Nature explores the effect of dietary choices on symptoms experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Science writer Sujata Gupta identified various dietary studies conducted to determine the effects of nutrition on MS symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, and impaired coordination. Gupta points out that researchers have historically encountered difficulties in studying dietary effects on MS due to the inability to create adequate control groups. While several studies that excluded most meat (note that fish was still included) in the diet of MS patients proved inconclusive, Gupta reveals that a year-long study conducted on 61 patients who followed The McDougall Diet—which does not include any animal products or supplements—effectively lowered symptoms of fatigue in all participants. In recent years, multiple studies have proven plant-based diets effectively ease the pain associated with type 2 diabetes and lower the risk of heart disease, obesity, and certain types of cancer.