DANCING WITH MS Vol5. – Little Insights About My Diet in MS

Hello! In this article, I want to share my Diet in MS what I need to do, what I’m trying to do, and what I actually do in terms of my diet for managing Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Many people who reach out to me are curious about my dietary habits, hoping to find a path that suits their own needs. So, I’ve done my best to explain everything based on my own experiences and research. I don’t follow a specific diet plan or see a dietitian, and aside from my MS medication, I don’t take any other drugs. However, please keep in mind that I’m neither a dietitian nor a doctor. This is simply an account of how my husband, John, and I have adapted our diet to fit our lives. It’s not meant as a recommendation for others, so be sure to consult your own healthcare provider before making any changes. This is just My Diet in MS.

I want to emphasize again that I’m not a dietitian or a doctor about telling you My Diet in MS

I hope my lists are helpful. I did some research while compiling them, but nobody knows better than your own doctor what you need to establish in your diet and health. Please read this list only as ‘Pirden’s and John’s (my husband) adaptation to their own life.’ Don’t read this list as ‘Pirden’s recommendations to you’ please 🙂

Firstly, What I’ve eliminated from my life for preparing My Diet in MS:

1. White flour. Whole grain flour. Any kind of flour. I don’t eat it.
   a. Any product that combines flour and yeast.
   i. All kinds of pasta included (‘even pasta!’ for those who ask 🙂
   b. Any food and soup that contains flour. (I make the flourless version)
   c. Any bakery and patisserie product, even homemade, I don’t eat them (I don’t make them either)
   i. Bread
   ii. Bagel
   iii. Cookies
   iv. Cakes, pastries

2. Sugar, brown or white, any kind and anything that contains it, I don’t eat.
   a. Therefore, anything sweet
   b. Yes, including beverages
   c. Maybe, except for chocolate. 😛
3. Of course, things like chips and other junk food are out of my life.
   They are replaced by raw nuts 🙂
4. Store-bought kefir and yogurt
   I prefer homemade.
5. Rice, white, or any other color.
   I use Bulgur Wheat, but very rarely.
   Even in stuffed dishes, I prefer not to make them often due to their high consumption.
6. Roasted nuts and dried fruits that are not naturally dried or are sweetened.
   I consume raw, naturally dried, unsweetened nuts and fruits.
7. Mixed sauces, canned goods, ready-made meals, I don’t eat
   When you look at the ingredients, there are so many laboratory products. Why eat an additive that starts with E, A, or another letter followed by a number? 🙂
8. Deep-fried foods in a lot of oil.
   a. Fish, potatoes, meat, vegetables, and whatever else is fried. I prefer steaming, baking, or grilling instead of frying.
9. I don’t use frying oils and margarine.
   a. Think about where we use margarine—most of it in pastries. I don’t eat pastries because I don’t consume flour. But even when making bulgur pilaf, I use olive oil or butter instead of margarine.

Cooking for MS doesn’t have to be a challenge—find out how.

What I frequently consume and have added to my life while My Diet in MS;

I make and eat homemade yogurt and kefir.
Yes, it takes time and effort, but in the end, it’s all for your own health.

I eat raw nuts and sun-dried fruits.
You can never be 100% sure if they are sun-dried (unless you or someone you trust does it). Even if you are confident, you don’t know about the toxic substances in the air at that time. There’s much more detail to it. But at least try to find and consume naturally dried, especially additive-free dried fruits.

I consume vegetables and fruits that are seasonal, not greenhouse products.
a. Cooked with olive oil, steamed, or baked.
b. Salads of raw vegetables
c. Fruits are only for breakfast and in small amounts; let’s not forget fructose sugar.

I eat seasonal Fish and, as naturally as possible, eggs and white and red meat.
Cooked in the oven or steamed, maybe grilled, lightly sautéed in a little olive oil or butter.

I use natural dried spices and herbs from herbalists.
I bought all the spices I’m sure don’t interact with my medication.

I consume tea and coffee as naturally as possible.
a. Definitely not granular (the kind that dissolves in water). I drink seed and freshly ground coffee and herbal teas from the herbalist.
b. I try to buy teas from herbalists. I don’t trust the bags of tea sold in stores.

It might sound strange, but I researched it; I drink a small liqueur glass of natural vinegar daily.
Mainly, I can say it’s good for my gut 🙂 I recommend apple cider vinegar. Actually, it can be made at home, but I haven’t started that yet 🙂

I drink 3 liters of water daily, with a high pH level, sometimes alkaline by adding lemon.
The realistic result is 1.5-2 liters… but my goal is to drink 3 liters; I think that’s something 🙂

Soda, I make an effort to drink one every day.
I think the minerals in it are suitable for the body. Especially in the summer, we sweat a lot of water and minerals, so why not replenish them with soda.

I use butter and olive oil, which I believe to be natural.
Since I can’t make butter and olive oil, I try to buy as reliable as possible. However, especially with butter, I don’t use it too much (like spoonfuls into a dish, for example).

I can’t always ‘fully’ follow all the above in My Diet in MS. So, if I’m going to stray a bit, I’ve tried to summarize how it would be. So, what do I do in certain situations? For example;

In a meeting
My meetings usually don’t last long enough to eat; I prefer to grab the project and leave quickly. However, when offered any dessert or sugary drink, I politely declined and asked for tea or plain coffee instead.

At a guest’s house
When visiting someone’s house, even though I try to choose the least harmful foods from the forbidden ones, since I don’t want anyone to make an extra effort for me, I eat a little of what they offer or make. If I know where I’m visiting, I usually bring my own food. If I eat something I don’t want that day, I try to be more careful the next day.

At birthday celebrations
The hardest is actually birthday celebrations. Refusing a slice of carefully selected/made cake can be perceived as ‘disrespectful’ in some families. Luckily, I’m fortunate in this regard; even at a close relative’s birthday, I prefer to eat the bulgur salad on the side rather than their cake 🙂

Out with friends for the night
When going out for dinner in the evening, I choose the most innocent but not atmosphere-ruining items from the menu. While everyone eats a hamburger, I prefer a wrap instead of sitting and eating a salad. Yes, it’s still flour, but at least it’s not bread, so I try to minimize the damage. But even if everyone drinks soda, I don’t give up my water or mineral water 🙂

At a Coffee Shop
From my other articles, it’s clear that my husband and I work from home. Therefore, sometimes we choose to work in a café to get out of the home environment. Since we both love coffee, this situation suits us well. However, if I miss them often, I still allow myself syrupy coffees once a month. But the truth is, the more you drink it, the less you want it. Unsweetened, good coffee has become my favorite.

We have to eat and drink there depending on how long we stay. In such cases, I weigh the situation. For example, ‘Did I eat something I didn’t want in the previous days? Will I be satisfied with what I eat here? Will the product they serve (say, a sandwich) interact with my current medication?’ I generally solve these questions. It might sound like a burden, but it actually isn’t 🙂

‘Happy tummy day’
I make the day my liver tests, which I do every two months, come out good as a ‘Happy Tummy Day.’
Since the events I attend are generally like the ones mentioned above, I will add to my list if I think of another example 🙂 Considering what I’ve added and removed from my life, I continued to face these persistent questions. I’ve briefly compiled them for you, too;
Siyez Bulgur?
I do not eat bread or rice with any of my meals. We researched and liked Siyez bulgur. I consume it only at dinner or lunch.

What do I eat for breakfast if there’s no bread?
Yes, there is not even a slice of bread in my breakfast. Omelet, seasonal vegetables, plenty of lightly salted olives, natural white cheese I trust, what more could you want 🙂 No spreadable chocolate, jam, etc., since there’s no bread to spread them on 😀

Sometimes, I get tired of eggs, so I eat natural oatmeal made with milk and unsweetened, sugar-free dried fruits. I have a great oatmeal recipe; don’t forget to check the Recipes section!

Cola, too?
I don’t drink any carbonated beverages at all, including sodas. Just natural mineral water, and it’s not fizzy, just mineral-rich 🙂

What about ice cream?
The most challenging question during the summer heat, but you can cool off with frozen/chilled fruit or water refreshed with frozen lemon. Actually, once you stop consuming sugar, you don’t even crave ‘ice cream.’

Getting to this stage might seem like reaching Nirvana, but it’s not that hard 🙂

Menstruation and chocolate
Oh, of course, I eat chocolate.
That Chocolate WILL Come Here!
Who can resist a woman with her nerves on edge? 🙂

WATER
I don’t skip drinking water. It’s probably the rule I adhere to most strictly.
I indeed try to drink 3 liters a day. I have half-liter glasses, and even if I forget how many I’ve drunk, I usually end up drinking 1.5-2 liters typically. Now, in summer, of course, you want to drink more.
However, I also pay attention to my mineral water consumption. I drink from mineral or natural-rich waters because sweating reduces body minerals.
I love to flavor my water with frozen lemon, cucumber, cherry, or a cinnamon stick, and very rarely with cloves.

COFFEE
Coffee is an inseparable part of my life and a pleasure. But as I’ve mentioned, I don’t drink syrupy coffee. I also don’t add milk or sugar, no matter what coffee I drink. I go for plain filter coffee, espresso, or Turkish coffee. I think with a good bean, there’s no need for syrup.
We have particular bean brands we prefer.
Everyone’s taste will naturally differ. Even with my husband, whom I call my soulmate, John, I have different preferences in movies (Me: romantic comedy, John: horror, thriller) and coffee (Me: smooth, John: strong but not bitter). So, I recommend reading this list focusing on your health rather than taste preferences.

TEA
I’m not much of a tea person. But I still love drinking Earl Grey tea in the mornings and lemon mint tea in the evenings. Whatever tea I drink during the day, I ensure it’s not bagged and natural, bought from an herbalist.

I hope I have been a bit of a light on the subject of nutrition. Of course, I can’t always keep up with everything I say I do; sometimes I slip, but once you learn the balance and understand nutrition, you can continue your life compensating. You discover what feels good and what bothers your body. Eliminating them makes you much more peaceful.