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Dr. Terry Wahls recommends 9 cups of fruit and vegetables a day. I am curious about this recommendation and too many vegetable could cause bloating. Most people think of fruits and vegetables as teeming with the vitamins, minerals, and powerful antioxidants we need to live and thrive. It is true that many plant foods are rich in many of these substances, but just because a food contains a particular nutrient doesn’t mean we can access it. Unfortunately, plant nutrients often suffer from low “bioavailability”—which means that they are hard for us to extract, absorb, and utilize. I would also like to know why a low fat diet is recomended for MS. Answer: Nine cups of vegetables is, indeed, quite a lot of fiber, so you may experience some bloating. I'd also recommend spreading out that large vegetable intake so that you aren't taking in more than 2-3 cups at a time. You may also try Gas X or Tums. It is also a lot to chew. To help with this, you may choose to blend the vegetables into a drink or smoothie and drink it through the day. While there is no specific diet recommended for MS, many people do choose to follow a low fat diet, or at least choose to control the fat in their diet. Because achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is so beneficial to someone with MS, reducing the fat in their diet is a good way to help them achieve a healthy weight if they need to lose weight. Saturated fat is also pro-oxidant, which is exactly opposite of an anti-oxidant. So, reducing overall saturate fat intake may provide benefits in reducing inflammation. Tad Campbell, MCN, RD, LD. Registered Dietitian University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center MS Clinic Comments are closed.
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