PT Health Life – As multiple sclerosis progresses, you may easily gain weight. People with multiple sclerosis should have a balanced diet high in fiber to maintain a healthy weight.
For people with multiple sclerosis , healthy nutrition to ensure overall health is important, because the healthier you are, the easier it is to control the disease.
Nutrition experts recommend that people with multiple sclerosis should maintain a balanced diet, limit fat and eat lots of fiber.
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, lifelong chronic disease that can cause anxiety and depression. Some sick people may turn to “indiscriminate” eating to comfort themselves.
Some multiple sclerosis medications (especially steroid medications used to treat flare-ups or relapses of multiple sclerosis) lead to weight gain as a side effect.
Additionally, multiple sclerosis often makes you tired. When you’re too tired to exercise, it’s difficult to burn excess calories in your body, leading to weight gain.
1. Why is weight gain harmful for people with multiple sclerosis?
The risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke increases when you are obese.
In fact, if you’re overweight or obese, you could be making your multiple sclerosis worse because those extra pounds can lead to:
- Feeling more tired
- Increased pressure on joints
- Increased pressure on the heart and lungs
- Feeling disappointed in yourself
- Increased risk of other diseases
2. How can people with multiple sclerosis lose weight?
To lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than your body burns. That means people with multiple sclerosis should avoid foods containing saturated fat. When eating, you should divide the portion into smaller portions. Drinks containing refined sugar should be avoided. And you should exercise regularly.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends the following steps for weight control:
- Increase knowledge about healthy nutrition, through nutritional pyramids and healthy menus given by nutrition experts.
- Set realistic goals. Aim to lose about 10% of your body weight.
- Avoid fast food and hasty meals.
- Start your day with a healthy breakfast.
- Avoid eating while watching TV or snacking while watching TV.
- Exercise moderately every day. Even with just a few minutes of exercise every day, people with multiple sclerosis have noticed a difference.
- Join the multiple sclerosis community and health groups. Exercise with others or join a weight loss group.
