Diet and Exercise Tips for Managing Multiple Sclerosis

Diet and Exercise Tips for Managing Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a painful disease, which occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own central nervous system. There is no cure for the problem so, certain lifestyle changes for multiple sclerosis help in reducing the symptoms. Out of the lifestyle tips, there can be a few dietary tactics and some exercising tips, both of which are important and discussed in detail here.

Not all exercises will suit patients of multiple sclerosis. On the other hand, if you do the following exercises, you can get a lot of relief from the pain caused by the disease.

Aerobics
It is an excellent way of keeping your heart healthy and it also helps to boost your mood. As one of the lifestyle changes for multiple sclerosis, you should indulge in walking, running and biking as all of these are recommended. You can also try rowing or water aerobics if you have leg pain or other problems with movement.

Stretches
Stretches are actually good for anyone with multiple sclerosis and they work best for those with painful muscle stiffness and spasms. Along with regular stretches, you can try yoga and tai chi as they help build muscle strength and flexibility. They can be highly effective in relieving stress as well.

Strength Training
If you are looking for lifestyle changes for multiple sclerosis, try strength training. Consult your physician before using weights. You can also practice resistance exercises too. The stronger you get because of strength training, the easier it will be for you to move around.

The following dietary tips can help in reducing the pain of multiple sclerosis.

Consume More of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is beneficial for everyone, but it is a must for people with multiple sclerosis. Research shows that people with high levels of vitamin D have lower chances of developing multiple sclerosis. Apart from getting vitamin D through exposure to sunlight, you should consume foods rich in vitamin D. These will include oily fish, fortified dairy products, cereals, yogurt, orange juice, egg yolk, and beef liver.

Biotin
Biotin is another form of vitamin D, often referred to as vitamin H. Incorporating biotin in your diet can be one of the significant lifestyle changes for multiple sclerosis. A few of the foods that have biotin are eggs, yeast, sunflower seeds, almonds, broccoli, and whole wheat bread.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
A diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids can directly help in relieving multiple sclerosis symptoms. At the same time, these acids help in boosting the overall health of the body while also controlling inflammation. Fish such as salmon and mackerel contain a good proportion of these fatty acids and should be consumed by a person with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis can be extremely painful at times. So, following these lifestyle changes for multiple sclerosis is important to ensure that the symptoms are kept under control to the maximum possible extent.