The study used a case-control approach. This research method compares characteristics and factors about the people being investigated (in this case, those with a demyelinating event) with those of other people in the population without this particular neurological illness to see how the people with the demyelinating event differ from the controls; this can help identify factors that may be causative or protective in developing the demyelination. Cases were adults aged 18 to 59 years when they received their first clinical diagnosis of a central nervous system demyelinating event. Controls were people who had not had a demyelinating event. For each case, two controls who were the same sex, of similar age, and lived in the same part of Australia, were selected from the Australian electoral roll. Cases and controls were asked to provide information about pregnancies and live births. The researchers then compared the data collected from cases and controls to assess the association between having children and risk of MS. They used a statistical technique called regression analysis so they were able to include other information such as the amount of skin damage, antibodies to glandular fever and region of Australia in their statistical models. This meant that they could allow for differences in sun exposure and rates of glandular fever infection that we know are associated with MS risk, so that the true effect of number of pregnancies could be isolated.

A strength of this study is that it included people as cases only when they were first diagnosed with a clinical central nervous system demyelinating event whereas other case-control studies have included women with MS whether or not it was recently diagnosed. This better allows for the possibility that women’s decisions about childbearing can change as a result of being diagnosed with MS. This study was extremely well conducted from an epidemiological point of view. We know that over time, more and more women are being diagnosed with MS compared with men. It is possible that this increasing preponderance of women with MS could be due the fact that women are having less children than they have in the past.
This is a really important study. For years, many women with MS have felt pressure to not have many children for a variety of reasons. This study strongly suggests a protective effect of pregnancy on the disease process in MS.

Similarly, daughters of people with MS, who are at considerably higher risk of MS than the rest of the population, can take some comfort in knowing that having children of their own will provide some protection against developing the disease, along with the well known protective effect of adequate sun exposure and vitamin D supplementation.

To view the study please click the download button below.

Those of us who have been successful when following a lifestyle modification program for multiple sclerosis (MS) believe in our bones that healthy living effectively treats MS. After all, there does not seem to be any other way to explain going ten, twelve and even more years without a relapse once we start living ultra healthy.  The recent study published by Professor George Jelinek, M.D., provides more scientific support for our views. While the study has its weaknesses (e.g., relying on self-reports of subjects rather than measures such as MRIs), most drug companies would be elated to offer any drug that could offer such great research results.If you haven’t read Jelinek’s new report, you can see it here: Remarkable five year follow up results of OMS retreats.

Moreover, the results of Jelinek’s new study are simply consistent with a plethora of research being published everyday by researchers all over the world. Increasingly it is apparent that nothing beats ultra healthy living in preventing disease–whether it be cardiovascular, liver, or neurological disease. It is interesting indeed that the very diet that helps treat MS helps prevent and treat heart and vascular disease as well as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The following table probably shows why Jelinek’s OMS program has such good results–unlike other proposed MS ultra healthy living programs, it is based on solid research. For example, Jelinek’s program recommends avoiding red and organ meats which studies throughout the world are now showing contribute to heart disease, neurological problems and even early death. (As the table shows, studies have reported that red meat increases mortality by 31% in men and 35% in women, and red meat increases the risk of cancer mortality by 27% in men and 50% in women.) At the same time, Jelinek’s proposed diet includes legumes which studies show can contribute to extremely long lives. While the table includes only a few of many studies, it helps summarize the overall picture: Jelinek’s OMS program intelligently reflects the best of current scientific research.

All and all, many studies are showing the healthiest diet includes whole plant foods and fish–an abundance of fruits and vegetables, low glycemic foods, small oily fish (such as sardines and salmon), nuts, legumes and whole grains. At the same time, an ultra healthy diet excludes red and organ meats, large fish, and sweets. Jelinek’s proposed diet reflects these research findings to a “t”. In summary, Jelinek’s OMS approach contributes not only to neurological health but also to all around good health and vitality.

Please note that the table rows highlighted in yellow provide special alerts  and comparisons for those with MS. As mentioned, the research quite consistently shows problems with red and organ meats for everyone and for those with MS. Likewise, research consistently shows benefits in eating legumes and whole grains–for everyone and for those with MS. While other programs for living with MS encourage eating of troublesome red meats and discourage eating of legumes, Jelinek’s OMS program both avoids meats and includes healthy legumes and grains. It is is this all around scientific approach that makes Jelinek’s OMS approach most helpful. When all is said and done, the research will likely show that Jelinek’s OMS program is the one that is most helpful for those with MS.

Many of the suggested diets for those with MS have much in common–all suggest eating generous amounts of vegetables, for example. Those that are suggesting eating red meat and organ meats while avoiding legumes are likely, however, to lead to problems. Even if eating red and organ meats worked for MS, early death from heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease becomes more likely when eating these foods. All in all, Jelinek’s programs makes sense! Bravo! As usual, we never have enough research. Let’s all push for this whenever we can.

A side benefit of an ultra healthy living program is that it will even help with the abs. While our friends may get rotunder and rotunder, we all soon become leaner than average. What’s not to like? Looking good has always been the fun part of adopting the OMS program.

The Mana Centre, Coromandel, NZ

I was diagnosed with MS on Christmas Eve 1998. My neurologist at the time initially thought I had a tumour on my spine. When he told me the results of the MRI, he said “I’m sorry, it’s not cancer, it is multiple sclerosis”. For quite a while my only noticeable symptom was numbness in both legs and feet. Gradually over the years my balance and mobility deteriorated. I have seen three neurologists over that time; I have only been offered steroids but no advice.

I found George’s book in February 2010 and started following the program. It wasn’t until now that I have been able to attend a retreat.

I have just come home from the MS retreat at Mana in the Coromandel; a wonderful setting, and an amazing and inspirational experience. There were 23 fellow people with MS all with varying degrees of disability, some recently diagnosed but all amazingly honest, brave, generous and very funny at times! George, Sandra and Craig are well respected medical professionals with an amazing ability to present the evidence and inspire hope.

George clearly explained exactly what we needed to do, and also explained the scientific studies that support it. The evidence is compelling. Craig taught us the importance of mindfulness and meditation and we had plenty of opportunities to practice. Sandra had many practical tips and pointers to help us on our way. We heard from a young doctor who has overcome her disease by following this lifestyle choice. She looks amazing and has just taken her final Psychiatry exams, after being initially advised by her neurologist that she could only hope to be a part time GP not a psychiatrist! Her insights into the power of the mind and the role of emotions were
very useful.

I became close to the others on the retreat and we have already formed a support group. I found that talking about my feelings of helplessness, anger and frustration allowed me to release some of that built up pressure inside that I didn’t know I had, it was a very healing experience. I came away from the retreat inspired and very hopeful.

I have read the book several times over, and I thought I was following the program as my condition is starting to improve. I now know that there is more I can do; meditation and mindfulness are a daily part of my life starting now.

My GP has been an amazing support and is pleased to see that I am now empowered to take control of my MS. She is always willing to organise blood tests, prescribe high dose vitamin D, even offering meditation sessions in her surgery. If you don’t have a supportive GP, my advice is to change doctors! This is George’s advice too.

Wendy Wood
February 2012
Murchison, New Zealand

Enough sleep is key for beating multiple sclerosis for lots of reasons. It also helps you look like a million dollars.

Those of us with multiple sclerosis (MS) know only too well that a nasty common cold can worsen MS symptoms and make us downright miserable. For this reason, avoiding colds and other infections is key. One way to avoid colds is to get enough sleep — especially over the next few months for those in the northern hemisphere where winter is around the corner and the common cold season is about to start.

Studies show again and again that those who sleep enough not only live longer, they also get fewer colds. One study report from 2009, Sleep Habits and Susceptibility to the Common Cold, reported that the risk of getting a common cold is three times greater for those who sleep less than seven hours per day than for those who sleep eight or more hours per day.

If this does not make you want to sleep more, consider that other studies show that those with MS do better if they get enough sleep. Of course, sleep should not be overdone because exercise, etc. is important too.

Some do have difficulty falling asleep at night. Some ways to overcome this problem include: getting exercise each day, stretching before going to bed, avoiding coffee and tea for several hours before going to bed, avoiding eating protein before going to bed, eating a snack with carbohydrates shortly before going to bed (a bowl of popcorn or rice works well), etc.

Finally, remember as we always do on the Intelligent Guide that what is good for our health is good for our looks. As usual, what makes us feel good makes us look good too. Fun!

“Roxon rejects plea on drugs.”

MS Australia blocks access to lifestyle therapy.

The first headline actually came from the front-page of The Age, 21st June 2011. Have not seen the second one yet, but the first made me wonder why? How come the drug companies are so good at getting widespread coverage, when non-patentable things like therapeutic lifestyle changes are ignored?

Maybe it is because of a perceived lack of evidence. Well, consider this. The published research that evaluated the outcomes for people with MS who attended the Gawler Foundation’s residential program Prof. George Jelinek and I established, demonstrated results that no known drug comes close to matching.

This research re-tested people one year and 2.5 years after attending the program. Over this period, the normal expectancy for people with MS is that their mental health and physical health would both steadily deteriorate. Whether on drug treatment or not, and in the absence of a definitive meta- analysis of the wide number of studies that have examined this question broadly, it seems reasonable to suggest that the average deterioration in physical and mental health over this time frame would be about 5%.

So what did our people show? After one year, the specific MS mental health composite figure (a figure that aggregates a number of relevant psychological assessments) had improved by 13%. Was it all in the mind? How about this? The physical health composite figure actually improved by 15%!

What about at 2.5 years? Better or worse? Did the benefits stick? Well no, they got even better! The mental health composite was now up by 15%, physical health by 17%.

There is no known MS drug that has shown these levels of benefit. In our study, the people did not get worse, they got statistically significantly better! Can you imagine the front-page news that such a break-through drug would produce? So what happened with our research?

Well first, it was quite hard to even get a medical journal to publish it. Then, no front-page news. Not even any page 17 news. We were fortunate that the ABC’s 7.30 Report ran a good story on George and the results; but then no other media took it up.

And MS Australia? Well, enthused by the research results, the Gawler Foundation had arranged with the MS office at Blackburn to recommence presenting the 12 week lifestyle based program that was presented there back in the early days when we first commenced the residential programs. But that was cancelled.

MS Australia to their credit used to hand out copies of George’s book to any newly diagnosed MS patient that asked for it (many of these books were actually paid for by a private benefactor). That service was also stopped.

It would be nice to think there was some sound reason for these two cancellations; but they did cause me to wonder. If a drug was blocked or withdrawn that was as effective as this program, we would have the headlines like at the heading of this blog.

Are the drug companies so good at convincing the public, the health professionals and the media that health solutions are their exclusive domain and the only thing worth taking seriously?

Surely it is obvious that Nicola Roxon rejected the new drugs requested for the PBS because the Government simply cannot afford them. Pharmaceutical medicine has become very expensive.

Surely it is obvious that lifestyle related disease is lowering life expectancies generally and fuelling the explosion in chronic degenerative diseases. Surely it is obvious that the treatment of chronic, degenerative, lifestyle related diseases starts with a healthy, therapeutic lifestyle. Surely it is obvious that a lifestyle program is relatively cheap and very cost effective. The MS research demonstrates the potency of such a remedy.

What is missing is widespread support for the uptake of a therapeutic lifestyle – as a treatment. All too often we still hear of people with MS or cancer who are taking their lifestyles seriously being dismissed by their friends. “There, there dear, a little bit of this won’t hurt you”. Rubbish. Do it often enough and it may well incapacitate you if you have MS, or even kill you if you have cancer. How often do we hear of well-meaning, but one has to conclude uninformed doctors dismissing the therapeutic benefits of lifestyle changes?

It is about time families, friends, health professionals and the media gave the therapeutic benefits of lifestyle changes their due recognition and active support.

For the doctors, anyone diagnosed these days with either MS or cancer needs to be counselled at first diagnosis regarding their lifestyle, just as would happen for anyone diagnosed with heart disease or type2 diabetes. I contend that given the evidence, not to do this probably constitutes professional negligence. If there was a drug with the same benefits, and it was not recommended, that would be negligent, so why not with lifestyle intervention?

For the media – for goodness sake, get past the incessant publicity machine of the drug companies and support people in need. A healthy lifestyle offers so much, yet making personal change is not so easy and I suspect many people do not even know how potent it can be. Here the media has the potential to be a driving force in improving recovery rates from major illness, and to preventing them as well.

For friends and family? Recognise the important of what someone with MS or cancer eats and drinks, whether they exercise or not, the quality of their relationships, the state of their mind, whether they meditate or not, their spiritual views. These things do affect their health, their state of mind, their mobility, even their survival. Making lifestyle changes and sustaining them for life requires good and active support. The best way to do this if you really care about someone, is to share in the changes; to actually make them yourself. Of course to do this has a potentially major side effect, chronic good health for yourself!

Finally, a disclosure of interest statement. I no longer work for the Gawler Foundation or present the MS programs. George does, along with staff from the Foundation. I do continue to actively promote a healthy lifestyle and support people actively working on their health and wellbeing. So my vested interest is in the health and wellbeing of people with MS and cancer. My concern is that the media and the system are letting them down and we all need to do something more about it. I do recommend anyone with MS or cancer to attend the Gawler Foundation’s programs. In my informed opinion, there are no residential programs anywhere else in the world that have such a body of experience to draw upon, have such a high quality or are as truly comprehensive in their scope.   Let your friends and your politicians know.

RESOURCES

RESEARCH click here

RELATED BLOGS
Recovery from MS is possible: Gawler blog 21 Feb 2011
Eating for recovery: Gawler blog 25 Oct 2010

BOOKS
Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis; George Jelinek
You Can Conquer Cancer; Ian Gawler
The Mind That Changes Everything; Ian Gawler

WEBSITES
Prof Jelinek
The Gawler Foundation
Ian Gawler

PROGRAM
Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis – healing program for MS

Doing little things to avoid infections is important in beating MS. This includes excellent teeth brushing and flossing. I recommend a power toothbrush. ------------------------------------

Most experts agree that beating multiple sclerosis (MS) requires avoiding inflammation and infections. Why is that? Because MS involves mis-educated t-cells that attack the myelin rather than germs.  That’s why we eat an anti-inflammatory diet and avoid infections.

The research shows that both viral and bacterial infections can cause a worsening of MS symptoms or relapses. One study, for example, suggests that about 50 percent of relapses may be the result of infections. Other studies have shown that MS relapses are more likely to occur with almost any type of infection. For example, one study found relapses were more likely to occur in the presence of upper respiratory infections. Both viral and bacterial infections are culprits — making MS worse.

The culpability of infections makes sense. Since infections trigger production of t-cells, there are more mis-educated t-cells around to attack the myelin when infections occur.

Avoiding infections is important, and my blog includes some suggestions for avoiding infections. In addition, it is wise to pay attention to oral care because poor oral care can result in gum infections. At the suggestion of the staff at the University of Minnesota’s Dental School, I personally added use of a power toothbrush to my own brushing routines a few years ago. I am glad I did. My need for visits for dental cleaning dropped by more than 50 percent and some inflammation in the gums disappeared. In addition, my teeth now look and feel like a million bucks — sizzling, as we say, and drop dead gorgeous.

As so often is the case, what is good for MS is good on the ‘drop dead gorgeous’ front. Viva la healthy living.

P.S. Here’s a great tutorial on Proper Brushing. (Many get a bit lax about brushing correctly so it helps to review information on brushing technique every now and then.)