Earlier this week (as part of my New Year’s message) I shared this video presentation, Minding your Mitochondria by Dr. Terry Wahls, with my clients who visit me at Function to Fitness Physiotherapy – my clinic in Ottawa.
Dr. Wahls is a mother and Physician who has Multiple Sclerosis. In this 18 minute video she shares how she used science to determine a nutrition plan that healed her body and brain.
The response I received from my Function to Fitness clients was so positive, I felt I had to share this story with visitors to MelioGuide.com.
Onset of Multiple Sclerosis
Dr. Wahls was leading a full life before MS set in. She was physically active, completed her medical studies to become a Physician and had two children. When she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) she turned to her science and medical background to address the challenge. She followed a treatment plan from the best clinicians at the best MS treatment centre she could find – the Cleveland Clinic. Although her treatment plan included the latest and newest medications, by 2003 the disease had developed into secondary, progressive MS. She tried chemotherapy and started using a motorized wheelchair.
An Alternative Approach – Based on Science
Her fear was that she would be bedridden and was concerned that the traditional treatment approach was not adequately countering the progress of the MS. She started her own research into MS and found that the disease shrinks the brain and that the mitochondria (the parts of the cell that manages the energy supply of the cell) did not work well when MS was present.
Dr. Wahls found research studies that showed that the brains and mitochondria of mice was protected by fish oils, creatine and co-enzyme Q. She translated the mice dosage into human equivalents and starting taking each of the items found to be beneficial.
Protect the Brain
In her talk, Dr. Wahls identifies three parts of the brain that need protection and support, and identifies the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that help each of these areas.
- Myelin: The myelin is an insulating material that protects the wiring of the brain. This protective material needs Vitamins B1, B9 and B12, as well as Omega 3 fatty acid and iodine to stay healthy.
- Neurotransmitters: The neurotransmitters in the brain need sulfur and vitamin B6.
- Mitochondria: As mentioned earlier, the mitochondria are part of the cell that manage its energy supply. The mitochondria need B vitamins, sulfur and antioxidants.
Food as a Source
After doing all of the research on parts of the brain affected by MS and identifying what nutrients supported and protected the brain, Dr. Wahls decided that she would use food as the primary source of the nutrients and vitamins. She felt that she would not only get the nutrients she was looking for but would also benefit from other nutrients that are in food that have not been researched yet. She based her diet on our ancestor’s diet: the hunter – gatherer diet.
This was a brave move on her part and countered the message she heard from pharmaceutical providers. But the change has been dramatic. You can see her vitality and energy from her talk. She is obviously passionate about her message and wants to share it with other people.
Dr. Wahls’ Diet
Dr. Wahls diet program is based on two basic foundations:
- She started with the ancient hunter – gatherer diet.
- She structured her diet to make sure that she was getting the nutrients, vitamins and minerals she identified to protect and strengthen her brain and body.
Her diet includes the following items (please note the whopping load of vegetables!):
- Three cups of green leaf vegetables such as kale.
- Three cups of sulfir-rich vegetables such as the cabbage family, the onion family and mushrooms.
- Three cups bright coloured vegetables such as beets, carrots, peppers and fruits such as berries.
- Grass fed meat.
- Wild fish.
- Seaweed.
In her talk, Dr. Wahls goes into more detail on each of the foods and parts of the body that benefit.
I have modified my diet to follow her advice and encourage you to consider moving in this direction in 2012.
Two Bone Healthy Recipe Suggestions
I have put together two recipes (that I use) that are bone healthy and follow Dr. Wahls’ nutrition program.
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