Food and Diet Tips From People With Multiple Sclerosis

Tried-and-True Diet Tips That People With MS Swear By

Best of Tippi: These MSers have figured out how to make healthy eating a part of their MS management plan. Here are their top food tips, plus kitchen hacks to make healthy eating easier.
Tried-and-True Diet Tips That People With MS Swear By
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Updated on December 2, 2024
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Let’s face it — following a healthy diet is important to your overall wellness. And many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) say that making the right food choices helps them live better with the disease, too.

In fact, on Tippi MS, a social tool for sharing your go-to tips for living with MS, food is one of the most popular topics.

While an exact diet for MS doesn’t exist, choosing nutritious foods and cutting back on highly processed foods can provide benefits like improving your energy level and reducing the impact of other symptoms. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), the right diet could even play a role in preventing disease progression.

But don’t just take it from us. You can read hundreds of real-life tips in the words of people who have tried it all on Tippi MS. Here are just a few of their best diet tips.

Start With Good Nutrition

Because there’s no specific diet for MS, navigating diet advice might seem confusing. But quite simply, the best diet for MS may be to follow the same healthy eating guidelines as everyone else. The NMSS recommends focusing on real foods, like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein, and avoiding or limiting processed foods that are high in salt, sugar, and other additives.

Eat ‘real’ food. If there are more than 10 ingredients on the label ... is it real food?
— Trevis, age 52, living with secondary-progressive MS (SPMS)
Follow a healthy diet. No specific diet has been shown (yet) to reduce MS progression. You will hear about all kinds of ‘MS diets,’ but the truth is that basic guidelines for a healthy diet also apply to those of us with MS. Mostly plant-based is best for us (and our environment)! I aim for at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day (the more, the better). I also avoid red meat, saturated fat, highly processed food, and limit alcohol.
— Lisa Doggett, MD, MPH, age 46, living with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)

Diet is so important. Watch what you eat each day. Also, I have cut out drinking completely with my MS diagnosis.
— Angela Bradford, age 37, living with RRMS

Don’t get caught up in the diet game! Eat plenty of (organic) fruits and vegetables and limited low-fat meats. Above all, try to maintain a consistent routine and eat around the same time every day. Eating at regular times keeps my energy steady.
— Mona, age 52, living with SPMS

Keep your diet clean. Reduce chemicals and sugar: Processed food depletes nutrients from your body. Eat as many organic foods as you can. I take this seriously because there is plenty of evidence that it’s the better option.
— Jill, age 48, living with SPMS

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What are the top three things you wish people knew about what it’s like to live with MS?

Reduce Processed Foods and Sugars

Which foods are off-limits for MS? None, really, although some people who have MS say that avoiding certain foods or even whole food groups improves their symptoms. Still, what works for them may not work for you.

If you suspect that a particular food group, such as dairy products, or a component of some foods, such as gluten, is negatively affecting your health, speak to your doctor about it. In some cases, your doctor may be able to administer tests to determine whether you have an intolerance or allergy to a food or food group.

In other cases, your doctor may suggest trying an elimination diet, ideally under the supervision of a registered dietitian. The idea behind an elimination diet is to stop eating foods that may be triggering an adverse reaction in your body for two or more weeks, then slowly reintroduce them, one by one, to identify how each food makes you feel.

But cutting back on fast foods, sweets, and foods high in saturated fats doesn’t require following an elimination diet. It generally just means choosing healthful items from the grocery store and preparing more of your meals at home.

I try to avoid foods that are considered inflammatory (like sugar).
— Janice Dean, Fox News senior meteorologist, age 49, living with RRMS

I try to eat healthy and cut out the sugar, flour, and artificial sweeteners. I do feel better when I eat well. It’s not that it brings symptoms on, but I do feel better.
— Amanda, age 48, living with RRMS

I take so many different medications, and each one has its own side effects, so I'm finding by having a healthy diet — eliminating fatty foods, consuming mostly fruits and vegetables with lots of fiber — I feel much better. I've also learned popcorn is helpful for staying 'regular.'
— Aniyuah, age 21, living with RRMS

Drink lots of water. Fatigue from dehydration is worse for me. I drink at least 30 ounces a day. Drinking caffeine and sugar doesn't help. I've tried. Best to stick with healthy foods with low sugars, but a bunch of carbs for energy.
— Male, age 28, living with RRMS

Simplify It With MS-Approved Food Hacks

Now that you know what to eat, sometimes the trickier question can be how to stick with it — especially when you’re dealing with fatigue and other MS symptoms.

Here are some strategies to help you stay on track no matter what life throws your way:

If you cook, keep your knives sharp. You'll save energy, and cuts are less common with a sharp knife. Why? You don't need to exert as much pressure, so the knife is less likely to slip.
— Trevis, age 52, living with SPMS

I ensure that I have a couple healthy snacks for myself that are grab-and-go, for days when I don’t have the energy to go make a more elaborate breakfast or lunch. I love a quick bottled shake, yogurt, granola bar, or fruit to help keep my energy up without worrying about if making it will sap too much time.
— Julie Blackburn, age 40, living with primary-progressive MS

When I am feeling well enough to cook, I make extra portions and put them in the freezer. Then I have already-made meals on days I can’t or don’t want to cook. And whenever I bake a cake, I make two and freeze one!
— Theresa Bagenski, age 71, living with RRMS

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Diet, Exercise and Healthy Behaviors. National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
  2. Diet and Nutrition. National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
  3. Malone JC et al. Elimination Diets. StatPearls. January 9, 2024.
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Jessica Baity, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Jessica Baity, MD, is a board-certified neurologist practicing in southern Louisiana. She cares for a variety of patients in all fields of neurology, including epilepsy, headache, dementia, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.

She received a bachelor's degree in international studies and history from the University of Miami and a master's in international relations from American University. She graduated from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, where she also did her internship in internal medicine and her residency in neurology.

Prior to practicing medicine, she worked in international relations and owned a foreign language instruction and translation company. 

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Kerry Weiss is a New York–based freelance writer, editor, and content strategist specializing in health and wellness. She has contributed to a variety of online publications, including Healthline, WebMD, Sharecare, Twill Care, and What to Expect.
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