7 Foods You Might Need to Avoid With Multiple Sclerosis
Neurological DisordersMultiple Sclerosis

Do You Need to Avoid These 7 Foods When You Have Multiple Sclerosis?

Do You Need to Avoid These 7 Foods When You Have Multiple Sclerosis?
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects your central nervous system, so at first glance, your diet may not seem to play much of a role in triggering your symptoms or worsening the disease. But it turns out, eating certain foods — and avoiding others — may provide some benefit in managing your multiple sclerosis.

While there aren’t specific dietary guidelines outlined for people with MS, eating a diet that focuses on whole foods — whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean meats like chicken and fish, dairy, nuts, seeds, and legumes — and limiting refined or processed foods is recommended. And what you choose not to eat can be just as important as what you do eat.

Before you start making changes to your diet when you have MS, be sure to talk with your doctor or nutritionist. Together, you can develop an eating plan that works best for you.

Here are seven foods that you might want to leave out of your diet.

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1. Saturated Fats

Saturated fats, which are fats that are solid at room temperature, come primarily from animal products and by-products, such as red meat and full-fat dairy, and are also found in foods that contain palm oil or coconut oil. Saturated fats are linked to increased inflammation, and research suggests that they play a role in gut microbiome-mediated inflammation that affects MS development and relapse risk.

Saturated fats are also known to raise your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. High cholesterol, in turn, can lead to atherosclerosis, which raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. Research has found that people (especially women) who have MS have an increased risk of heart problems, compared with those who don’t have MS.

What’s more, “Conditions such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease are thought to make MS worse,” says Kathy Costello, CRNP, chief executive officer of the Consortium of MS Centers. “They can make the course of MS more challenging, and may even lead to earlier mortality.”

The good news: There are steps you can take to help reduce your risk of heart disease, which is good for MS and your overall health. An easy first step is to avoid unhealthy fats. Healthier choices are monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats such as olive or avocado oils.

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2. Trans Fats

While trans fats have effectively been banned in the United States — the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that manufacturers would no longer be allowed to sell foods containing partially hydrogenated oil — trans fats also occur naturally in small amounts in food products from ruminant animals (such as milk, butter, cheese, meat products), and the FDA’s actions have not affected these natural sources of trans fat.

 Low-fat or nonfat dairy products are a better choice than full-fat ones, as is trimming visible fat off of meat and poultry.

“We know that trans fats increase inflammation inside blood vessels, and thus could lead to cardiovascular problems,” says Amy Jamieson-Petonic, RD, a senior administrator at University Hospitals Primary Care Institute in Cleveland.

3. Ultra-Processed Foods

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are formulations of ingredients that undergo a series of industrial processes; they include fast foods, ultra-processed dairy, breakfast cereals, and store-bought cookies, pastries, and cakes. They often contain ingredients you wouldn’t use at home, like fructose-glucose syrup, maltodextrin, palm oil, hydrogenated oil, and additives like artificial sweeteners or flavor enhancers. Ultra-processed foods also tend to be high in saturated fats and sodium.

A study of 106 people with MS found an association between higher intake of UPFs and worse MS severity.

 A larger study found a weak yet statistically significant association between higher UPF consumption (including carbonated drinks, ready-to-eat or -heat meals, and industrial-processed breads) and increased risk of MS in middle-aged and older adults.

 And a systematic review of studies found that a higher intake of UPFs was significantly related to an enhanced risk of MS.

4. Added Sugars

Too much added sugar can contribute to weight gain. “You don’t want to increase your weight, because it’s going to make it more difficult for you to be mobile and perform activities of daily living,” says Jamieson-Petonic. Excess weight also increases fatigue, a common symptom of MS.

Refined sugars can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, which can contribute to fatigue.

5. Sodium

While the jury is still out regarding the direct impact of sodium intake on MS — some research has reported that a high salt intake is associated with increased disease activity, but other studies have found no association between high salt intake and MS progression.

 That said, you should still take steps to shake the salt habit: Excess sodium can increase your blood pressure, and high blood pressure and other vascular conditions have been linked to a decreased life expectancy in people with MS, says Costello.
Ideally, most adults should aim for less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day, according to the American Heart Association.

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6. Refined Carbs

Steer clear of white rice, white bread, and many breakfast cereals. Consuming high amounts of these processed carbohydrates can raise triglyceride levels and may negatively affect your heart health.

Instead, switch to healthier options, such as whole-grain breads, brown rice, barley, and whole-wheat pasta. “We’ve seen in a couple of mostly observational, self-reported studies that people with MS whose diets are high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables have less walking problems and less reported overall disability,” says Costello.

An added bonus: Whole grains are high in fiber, which can help you manage constipation — a common symptom of MS — and prevent overeating by helping you feel fuller longer.

7. Gluten

Most people with MS do not need to avoid gluten, a protein found in some grains, including wheat, barley, and rye. People who have celiac disease, characterized by gluten intolerance, must skip gluten entirely to avoid intestinal damage, but many other people without celiac disease also find that they feel better overall when they eliminate gluten from their diet.

Some research suggests that a gluten-free diet may benefit people who have MS but not celiac disease. The hypothesis is that gluten may increase intestinal permeability and activate pathways involved in the body’s immune response; gluten is also thought to affect MS progression in the way it reacts with neural proteins, increased blood-brain barrier permeability, and the activation of certain immune system cells.

 One small study found that a gluten-free diet improved disease outcomes in relapsing-remitting MS patients over six months.

 But other studies have found no association between gluten intake and disease activity or quality of life in people with MS.

 There are no large-scale controlled trials that indicate that gluten is harmful for people with MS.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
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Resources
  1. Mandato C et al. Multiple Sclerosis-Related Dietary and Nutritional Issues: An Updated Scoping Review With a Focus on Pediatrics. Children (Basel). June 7, 2023.
  2. Palladino R et al. Evaluating the Risk of Macrovascular Events and Mortality Among People With Multiple Sclerosis in England. JAMA Neurology. 2020.
  3. Trans Fat Has Been Banned, but That Doesn’t Mean You’re Free From It. Cleveland Clinic. June 6, 2023.
  4. Trans Fat. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. April 30, 2024.
  5. Guglielmetti M et al. Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption Is Associated With Multiple Sclerosis Severity. Frontiers in Neurology. January 24, 2023.
  6. Vagner P et al. Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Multiple Sclerosis Incidence: A Prospective Cohort Study. Clinical Nutrition. June 2026.
  7. Pourmotabbed A et al. The Association of Ultra-Processed Food Intake With Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Large-Scale Cohorts. Nutritional Neuroscience. May 16, 2024.
  8. Li X et al. The Modulatory Effect of High Salt on Immune Cells and Related Diseases. Cell Proliferation. September 2022.
  9. How Much Sodium Should I Eat Per Day? American Heart Association. July 15, 2025.
  10. Carbohydrates. American Heart Association. September 12, 2023.
  11. Karatas E et al. Effect of a Gluten-Free Diet on Serum Lipopolysaccharide Levels and Disease Progression in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A 6–Month Longitudinal Study. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. December 2025.
  12. Temperley IA et al. Dairy and Gluten in Disease Activity in Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal – Experimental, Translational, Clinical. December 19, 2023.
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Barbara S. Giesser

Barbara S. Giesser, MD, FAAN, FANA, Dipl. ABLM

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Barbara S. Giesser, MD, FAAN, FANA, Dipl. ABLM, is a neurologist who has specialized in the care of persons with multiple sclerosis since 1982. She has been faculty in the departme...

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Beth W. Orenstein is a freelance writer for HealthDay, Radiology Today, the Living Well section of The American Legion Magazine, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and others. S...

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