No one can change their DNA, but we can address the environmental factors that influence our health. By making good food choices, you can greatly reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases. Nutrition is a critical factor for those suffering from progressive neurological disorders like ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). The risk of developing ALS comes from an interaction between a person’s DNA and environmental factors, such as dietary choices, toxin exposure, physical activity, social networks, family relationships, and infection history.
As ALS progresses, a patient’s appetite declines, and eating can become increasingly difficult. Tube feedings are often used to maintain nutrition, but patients may not consume enough calories, leading to weight and muscle mass loss. To increase calorie consumption, physicians may recommend calorie-dense foods containing a lot of sugar and white flour. Unfortunately, this approach neglects the nutritional requirements of motor nerves, brain cells, and mitochondria.
At the Therapeutic Lifestyle Clinic at the Iowa City VA Healthcare system, we recommend a modified Paleo diet structured to maximize the intake of 36 nutrients that science has identified as important for healthy brain and nerve function. When people embrace this new way of eating, their neurological problems stabilize and often regress.
Removing Harmful Foods and Adding Nutrient-Dense Options
We exclude sugar, white flour, and gluten-containing grains because of the potential for unrecognized gluten sensitivity. Instead, we encourage the consumption of 6 to 9 cups of vegetables, such as leafy greens, sulfur-rich vegetables (cabbage family, onion family, and mushrooms), and deeply pigmented vegetables and berries. The diet also includes 6 to 12 ounces of meat, depending on size and gender.
I prescribe targeted vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D for most of the people we see in the clinic. We also encourage choosing organic foods to lessen the body’s toxic load, recommending the Environmental Working Group’s consumer guides that list the dirty dozen (most pesticide use) and the clean fifteen (least pesticide use) to prioritize which foods to buy organic and which are safe to buy conventionally.
By following this diet, you’ll consume plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential fats, and resistant starch, providing nerve cells, brain cells, and mitochondria with the nutrients they need.
Tailoring the Diet for ALS Patients
For those living with ALS, we recommend a nutrient-dense diet, either in the form of the modified Paleo diet or our MCT (medium chain triglyceride) ketogenic diet. These types of diets have been used to treat seizure disorders since the 1920s and, more recently, as an intervention for brain cancers, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive decline, and ALS.
Our MCT ketogenic diet allows for 60 to 80 grams of carbohydrates while still providing the 36 essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fats needed by the brain and nerve cells to thrive. This diet is an excellent choice for those with ALS and has helped many with neurological and cognitive disorders regain their health and vitality.
The Power of Nutrition
My passion for nutrition stems from personal experience. In 2003, I was diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and spent four years relying on a tilt-recline wheelchair. I created a dietary and lifestyle program specifically to support better brain health, and within just one year, I went from needing a zero-gravity recliner (due to weakness) to being able to bicycle 18 miles with my family.
This transformation changed my view of disease and health, how I practice medicine, and the focus of my clinical research. Today, I study the use of the modified Paleo diet, a ketogenic version of the Paleo diet, in the setting of multiple sclerosis.
By adopting a modified Paleo diet or MCT ketogenic diet, those with neurological disorders can greatly improve their health and quality of life. These diets provide the essential nutrients needed by the brain and nerves, leading to stabilization and even regression of neurological problems. Remember to consult a health-care practitioner trained in functional medicine for personalized recommendations and support in adopting these dietary changes.
