It all started back in August 2000. Andrew and I had independently come across Direct-MS in our search for things to help MS. WOW! moments were experienced in Scotland and England, as we realised what a resource we had found. We were both immediately in contact with Ashton asking lots of questions, to which we always received thoughtful and detailed replies. Ashton put us in touch with one another. Somehow the idea of a support group emerged (Andrew), as we wanted to spread the message to others, having found that Neurologists did not believe diet could be a valid treatment (they have not read the carefully researched papers and arguments on Ashton's site). I suggested we try Topica as a means of distributing the email initially, and 2 years later, we switched to Yahoo! groups, which offered more features.
--Brian

• Direct-MS website: Most of the journals, scientific papers, and essays from which the BBD was derived, can be found there.

The Best Bet Diet is the diet at the core of our MS-Diet group. It has been developed by Ashton F. Embry according to scientifically based information on the relationship between multiple sclerosis and nutritional factors. He has stated that we should stay away from some allergen foods. Those foods have been introduced in human diet relatively recently with the apparition of agriculture and we are not yet genitically adapted to them. Based on the work of Dr. Swank, he also recommends to severely restrict the consumption of saturated fats. According to Dr. Embry, "... it appears that diet revision [toward BBD] may be a very effective therapy for slowing or halting MS progression."

• Direct-MS website: Most of the journals, scientific papers, and essays from which the BBD was derived, can be found there.

• All dairy products
• Gluten
• Legumes
• Allergenic foods identified by ELISA tests
• Avoid eggs and yeast if you are allergic (otherwise in moderation)
• Avoid processed sugar and margarine
• Limit saturated fats to 15 grams per day.

It's important to remember that the diet represents a major change in eating habits, lifestyle and (to start with) elimination. It may take you some time to feel at ease with these changes; make them gradually if you want. Above all, don't be too hard on yourself.

• Getting Started Guide: for more details on foods to avoid.

• Chicken (breast only, cooked without skin)
• Turkey (breast only, cooked without skin)
• Liver
• Fish (be aware of mercury)
• Bison (grass-fed)
• Ostrich (grass-fed)
• Wild game
• All fruits
• All vegetables
• Some nuts and seeds
• Non-glutenous grains

• Quick Start Guide: for many adaptative tips and tricks.
  
• But What Can I Eat?: for a list of menu and ideas compiled by the group.
  
• Where can I find BBD-friendly recipes ?: Another common question addressed here.
• FitDay - Your online nutrition, weight loss, diet and fitness manager: A free, online tool to manage what you eat.

• Elisa (food allergies and sensitivities)
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B12
• Serum Calcium
• Magnesium

• What are the normal and optimal levels for the different tests ?: Another commonly asked question addressed here
• Vitamin B12: Are You Getting It?: An article from Dr. Mercola's website providing a lot of information on vitamin B12.

• Less fatigue
• Diminish or remove brain fog
• Decrease in the number of new symptoms
• Minimize the damage caused by a new symptom
• Halt MS progression
• Healing past symptoms (done by time, not BBD)

Every single person will have a different response to the diet and will improve differently and at different speeds - some may not see obvious or quantifiable improvements at all but will slow or halt the progression of their disease.

Not everybody can achieve a complete halt of their MS progression through BBD. It mainly depends on the form of your MS: Relapsing/Remitting, Secondary Progressive or Primary Progressive, how long you've had MS and how drastically the MS has physically affected you.

However, everyone following the BBD sees positive changes and there are many other avenues you can explore which, when combined with the BBD, could produce even greater positive results.

It's different for each individual. If you have allergies to the restricted foods you can easily feel better in 2 weeks off dairy, or wheat for instance. Habitually, fatigue lessens after some weeks. The slow down and halting of MS can take from several months to several years. In some persons, the halting of MS is never achieved. It appears to be evident that the sooner in the MS process you start the BBD, the faster you see results. The healing of MS symptoms is a process that could take weeks or months if there is only inflammation, and years if there is damage to the myelin.

Many people often feel worse before they feel better, as they are ridding their body of toxins and adjusting it to a new, healthier way of living.  Some people get colds, runny noses, headaches, and other symptoms that may lead them to believe they are getting worse!!  If you experience a "correcting crisis" while on a nutritional program, stay the course - it's working!  When your body begins cleaning out toxins, metabolic wastes, parasites, candida die-off and the like, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms. Because you may feel worse before you feel better, it's important to read up on this phenomenon so you can better understand this process.

The correcting crisis, when understood, is a clear indication that your improved nutrition program is truly working and leading you to improved health.  If you experience this, it doesn't normally last more than a few days to a week, at which point you'll be enjoying increased energy and a better overall sense of well-being.

Simply by sending an email to MS-Diet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Some time later, you'll receive a response from Brian asking you which email profile you want and... you're done! You are free to just read the posts silently or to introduce yourself to the group, and enjoy being a part of our interactive, lively discussions as you embark on a healthier lifestyle to improve your situation and take control of your MS!

Alcohol is largely a no-no. However a glass of wine a day is fine as grapes are a natural anti-oxidant.

Avocado is allowed on the BBD as it is relatively low in saturated fats and high in "good" fat. But each avocaco contains about 5g of saturated fats and you should keep them below 15g per day.

Carob is a legume, so it is not allowed on the BBD.

Milk chocolate is definitely out. Dairy-free (dark) chocolate is best avoided due to the high saturated fat and sugar content. However, since cocoa beans are NOT a legume, some members treat themselves to a nibble of dark chocolate (Green & Black's organic Maya Gold for one) in moderation! Use your discretion, and check labels carefully.

Coconut oil is about 87-92% saturated fat, so should be avoided. Coconut itself is high in saturated fat, so should only be eaten occasionally and in moderation.

It has been stated that a cup or two of coffee a day won't do any harm. However, for overall health reasons many on the diet have cut caffeine out completely and prefer to avoid it altogether. Moreover, caffeine can interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A and complex B vitamins.

Honey is allowed on the BBD. If you are also following a anti-candida diet or cutting back on carbs, then it should be avoided.

Legumes are to be avoided on the BBD.

• Legumes and the Best Bet Diet: Trish's information sheet.

Nuts and seeds contain a lot of fat, so you should limit the quantity that you eat. Especially those containing high amounts of saturated fat.

• Nuts and Seeds and the Best Bet Diet: Brian's information sheet.

Oats are a gluten grain and are not allowed on the BBD.

Soy and soy products are derived from soybeans, which are legumes and therefore not allowed on the BBD. But Soy Lecithin is OK and we checked this out with Ashton ages ago.

• Why Soy Can Damage Your Health: Dr. Mercola's list of articles explaining the various reasons why we should avoid eating soy and soy products.

"Saturated" means "saturated of hydrogen atoms". Each carbon atom in this kind of fat molecule is linked to two hydrogen atoms. There's no double-bonds between carbon atoms as in unsaturated fats, and there is no room for new hydrogen atoms. This characteristic makes saturated fat solid at room temperature. It's a very stable molecule, so your body can do almost nothing with it except produce energy.

• Fats and Oils and the Best Bet Diet: Carol's information sheet.
• Fats and Oils: The chimical aspect: for simple, clear chemical details with pictures.

You should keep saturated fats to a maximum of 15g per day.

• Red meat and many other animal products
• Hydrogenated oil
• Partially-hydrogenated oils
• Milk, cheese, butter, and other dairy products
• Margarine
• Coconut and coconut oil
• Avocados

• Where can I find out how much of each fat type different food contain ?: Another commonly asked question addressed here

Also called Omega 9 or Oleic acid, monounsaturated fats have only one double-bond between carbon atoms. It makes them the most stable unsaturated fat when heated. This is the kind of fat that should be used when cooking.

• Fats and Oils and the Best Bet Diet: Carol's information sheet.
• Fats and Oils: The chimical aspect: for simple, clear chemical details with pictures.

These fats are neither good nor bad; they should take up a large proportion of all the fats you eat for two reasons: to replace Omega 6, and to give you more calories and energy.

• Olives and olive oils
• High Oleic Oils
• Canola oil
• Avocados
• Some nuts and seeds

These fats, which include Omega 3 and Omega 6 families, have two or more double-bonds between carbon atoms. This makes them quite unstable and they should not be used for cooking to prevent the formation of saturated fats and trans fats. Your body uses them in many biochemical processes.

• Fats and Oils and the Best Bet Diet: Carol's information sheet.
• Fats and Oils: The chimical aspect: for simple, clear chemical details with pictures.

Omega-3 (you may sometimes see it written as n-3 or w-3) is the name given to a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The parent omega-3 - alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) - is described as "essential" as, like vitamins, it must be obtained from diet.

• Fats and Oils and the Best Bet Diet: Carol's information sheet.
• Fats and Oils: The chimical aspect: for simple, clear chemical details with pictures.

Yes. Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory benefits and are essential to our health as they are components of nerve cells and cellular membranes.  They must be consumed regularly as the body has limited storage for them.

• Fish and fish oils
• Cod liver oil
• Flaxseed oil

The best and richest sources of the omega-3 fatty acids are oil-rich fish and fish or cod liver oil supplements. This is because they supply the preferred omega-3's eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA) that the body can use most readily.

• Where can I find out how much of each fat type different food contain ?: Another commonly asked question addressed here
• Fats and Oils: The chimical aspect: for simple, clear chemical details with pictures.

Omega 6 is another essential fatty acid, a vital component of membranes and used in the body to lower blood cholesterol and support the skin. Although essential, omega 6 is inflammatory and most traditional diets are quite high in it.  To keep the omega 6:3 ratio in a more favourable position, it is recommended you supplement mainly with omega 3 and allow omega 6 to come from the fat in your diet.

• Fats and Oils and the Best Bet Diet: Carol's information sheet.
• Fats and Oils: The chimical aspect: for simple, clear chemical details with pictures.

Since Omega 6 fats are pro-inflammatory, you should limit their consumption.

• What should I aim for relative to the quantity and ratio of fats I eat ?: Another commonly asked question addressed here.

• Safflower oil
• Soybean oil
• Sunflower oil
• Most nuts and seeds and their oils.
• Non-hydrogenated magarines

• Where can I find out how much of each fat type different food contain ?: Another commonly asked question addressed here.

They are produced through hydrogenation, a chemical process by which hydrogen is added to unsaturated fatty acids. Hydrogenation converts the unsaturated bonds in the oil into saturated bonds, creating a solid, spreadable fat with increased shelf life.

• Fats and Oils: The chimical aspect: for simple, clear chemical details with pictures.

Trans fats are very detrimental to our health and should be completely avoided.

• Over heated oils (See What oils should I be using for cooking ?)
• Hydrogenated oils
• Partially-hydrogenated oils
• Margarine
• Vegetable shortening
• Packaged baked goods
• Crackers
• Crisps (UK) / Chips (US)
• Almost all packaged/processed snack food

Ashton's vision:

Basically I am satisfied with the Paleolithic prescription for fat types, amounts and required ratios. Cordain's analysis recommends 50% monosaturates, 25% saturated, 18% omega 6 and 7% omega 3. Assuming a diet with 35% of calorie intake from fats (pretty standard) one can then work out the amounts of each fat type for a given total calorie intake. For example, for 2000 calories, one would use ~ 80g of fat (equals 720 cal) with 40 g monosaturates, 20 g saturates, 14 g omega 6 and 6 g omega 3.

I think the ratios of the fat types are the key for biochemical functioning. Very low saturated fat intake has been important in the past because of the very low intake of omega 3 and the optimal 3/1 - 4/1 ratio. Thus a 2 g of omega 3 intake would necessitate a saturated fat intake of ~7-8 g if one wants to maximize the immune regulatory benefit from the omega 3.

This idea of stopping all omega 6 is not wise. One just wants to use ~ 15g a day of omega 6 and to ensure an omega 6/omega 3 ratio of ~ 2-3.

Both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are essential but the body requires them in a ratio that is not normally achieved by the typical diet of today's industrialised nations.

Experts think that man evolved on a diet which would have had roughly 1-2 times more omega-6 than omega-3, though there is a school of thought which argues for a 1:1 ratio. Currently, average UK intakes are in a ratio of around 8:1 in favour of the omega-6s, while in the US it is around 10:1, and in Australia nearer 12:1. Many individuals within those populations will have an even greater omega-6 to omega-3 imbalance.

Because the omega-3s and omega-6s compete on the same metabolic pathway and the omega-6s may block conversion of omega-3 ALA to the more useful omega-3 EPA and DHA, non-fish eaters must be extra vigilant in cutting down on omega-6 intake Because of their wide-ranging roles, virtually every area of the human body is susceptible to problems if the balance of the two polyunsaturates becomes out of kilter. How extreme the imbalance needs to be before problems are felt is not yet known for sure and in practice it will probably vary from one person to the next.

Depending on where you live, the label laws differ. Many food labels break down the different quantities of fat by type, in grams.

• Table of Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils in Foods: Linda's fats contents table which indicate, for many foods, each of the fat types they contain and their quantities.
• USDA National Nutrient Database: for a break down of the nutrient content in most foods.

See Ashton's supplement list.

Remember that few persons in the group are taking all those supplements. Most of us limit ourselves to the ones each believe are the most important and he can afford.

• Supplements Explained: Brian's information sheet explaining the reasons behind these supplements and other information.

Before considering supplementation with vitamin D, it would be wise to have your vitamin D level tested. It is very important that your physician order the correct test. The advantage of having your medical doctor perform the test is that it will usually be covered by your medical insurance.

There are two vitamin D tests: 1,25(OH)D and 25(OH)D. 25(OH)D is the better marker of overall D status. It is this marker that is most strongly associated with overall health.

The correct test is 25(OH)D, also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D

• What are the normal and optimal levels for the different tests ?: Another commonly asked question addressed here
• Test Values and Treatment for Vitamin D Deficiency: Mercola's page about Vitamin D from where the text above comes.
• MS and Vitamin D Deficiency - 20 Things You Should Know: about the importance of vitamin D supplementation.

• Vitamin D: 25(OH)D (or 25-hydroxyvitamin D) test:
  

  	nmol/l	ng/ml
  Optimal	125-150	50-60
  Normal	50-140	20-56

  Please note the difference between normal and optimal. We are looking for optimal level.
  
  
• Vitamin B12

  	pmol/L	ng/L
  Normal	247 - 911	335 - 1234
  Low	149 - 246	202 - 334
  Deficient	0 - 148	0 - 201

  
  
• Serum Calcium: 2.15 - 2.55 mmol/L
• Magnesium: 0.70 - 0.90 mmol/L

A blood test (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay) used to identify food allergies and sensitivities.

Two kind of antibodies are tested: IgE and IgG. Whereas IgE antibodies are an indicator of Type 1 hypersensitivity, which is an immediately evident allergic reaction, IgG antibodies have to do with Type 3 sensitivity, which is a delayed reaction.

• What Exactly Is A Food Intolerance?: This article is one clear source where you can read more.

At the present time, there is a choice of two options for ELISA tests, both from Labs in England and both available worldwide.

They are hometests and there is no need to visit a doctor to have a sample taken or to have the results analyzed. A special kit will be sent to your home, from the lab, and all that is needed is a thumbprick to release enough blood to soak a small swab.

Offer Number 1 - Cambridge Nutritional Sciences, 93 foods test.
Offer Number 2 - York Labs, 113 foods test.
(The first one being cheaper)

MSRC is in charge of this offer. So if you are interested in this test or want more information, simply send a email to them.

No. These foods are to be avoided regardless of your test results.

• Organic rice or corn cereal with rice milk. Look for brands that do not contain sugar or barley malt.
• Kiwifruit, grapefruit, bananas, or other fruit in season.
• Rice cakes with almond butter
• Carol's banana muffins (at the bottom of the webpage).
• Gluten free/dairy free waffles or pancakes with pure maple syrup
• Nuts and seeds
• Your leftovers from last night's dinner
• Millet porridge soaked in boiling rice dream.
• Rice Meusli (available at Health shops)
• Millet flakes cooked in boiling water is a good cereal to use. (¼ cup flakes to ½ cup of hot water, pinch of kelp, simmer 2-3 minutes until thickened). Nice with prunes which have been soaked in boiling water. Use the prune water on the millet too. High vitamin content.
• Rice Krispies.
• Meusli made out of a mixture of linseeds, organic puffed rice, sunflower seeds, millet, dried dates, raisins, hazelnuts and toasted pumpkin seeds. This can be adapted to your own combination. Try heating it up with rice milk to make an imitation of porridge. For a quick start to your day, add some fresh ginger.
• Gluten free porridge with fresh fruit.
• Toasted Rice Bread spread with honey or mashed banana.

• But What Can I Eat?: The paper where most of these ideas came from.

It is most important when dining out to not be afraid to ask for what you want, the way you want it! Most restaurants have a "safe" garden salad on the menu, and you can get that topped with grilled chicken. Broiled fish or chicken with steamed vegetables and a baked potato can be done easily enough; Always tell the waiter you are allergic to dairy and gluten, to be assured your dish is free of that.  It is a good idea when possible to call ahead to the restaurant to explain your dietary restrictions, and to be sure they can prepare something for you.

When oils are heated chemical changes occur producing trans-fatty acids, saturated fatty acids and other oxidation products that are far more toxic than trans fats.

Frying is not recommended for health. If you must fry use high oleic sunflower, high oleic safflower, sesame or olive oil. Adding water while frying will keep the temperatures down to acceptable levels. Extra virgin olive oil can be used for boiling and baking.

This quote comes from the book:
Erasmus, Udo. Fats that Heal Fats that Kill.  Alive Books. 1993.  (pages 128-129)

Frying and deep-frying

If you insist on frying and/or deep-frying, it bears repeating that the less oils are heated, the less they are destroyed, and the better they are for us.

Frying and deep-frying destroy all oils and cannot be recommended for health. But some oils are damaged less by frying than others. If you must fry, use refined oils that contain the lowest amount of EFAs, and the greatest amounts of SaFAs and MUFAs, and use sulphur-rich garlic and onions in frying to minimize free radical damage.

Oils least damaged by high temperatures and oxygen include:

• medium chain tryglycerides (MCTs) (in small quantities only, less than 1 tablespoon);
• butter;
• tropical fats;
• high oleic sunflower (not regular sunflower) oil;
• high oleic safflower (not regular safflower) oil;
• peanut oil;
• sesame oil;
• olive oil;

in that order of preference. These oils are EFA- poor, and produce the lowest amount of toxic molecules when heated. The EFAs required for health must come from other sources.

Frying and deep-frying are completely prohibited if optimum health is what you are after, or if you are attempting to reverse cancer or any other degenerative condition using natural means.

Boiling and Baking

Boiling is less destructive of oils than frying because the temperature goes only to 100 C. Even the most sensitive, EFA-rich oils can be used in cooked grains and on steamed vegetables without deterioration.

Baking fits between safe boiling with water and unsafe frying. ... The temperature inside the bread being baked goes up to only just above boiling - perhaps 116 C and the inside of bread is also protected from air and from light.

The inside of 'baked' bread is actually steamed at an acceptable temperature for even the more sensitive oils. Only the crust is actually baked (meaning 'burned'). The oils in the brown (or black) crust are destroyed.

When you cook, always keep your oven temperature relatively low. You can add cider vinegar or water to the oil, as this helps to keep the temperature low.

All you have to do is send a blank email to the address below that corresponds to the new email profile you want. A few minutes later Yahoo send you a confirmation email. That's it!

Profile type	Email address
Normal Mail	ms-diet-normal@yahoogroups.com
Daily Digest	ms-diet-digest@yahoogroups.com
Read on Web	ms-diet-nomail@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe	ms-diet-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Dr. Ashton F. Embry, Ph.D is the scientist behind the research and subsequent creation of the Best Bet Diet.  He is the founder of Direct-MS (Diet REsearch into the Cause and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis).

Dr. Roy Swank is the creator of the "Swank Low-Fat Diet for the Treatment of MS", a diet low in saturated fat (maximum 15g per day) and relatively rich in polyunsaturated oils (minimum 20g and maximum 50g per day). Although the BBD takes the link between diet and MS much further, The Swank diet book is worth reading as it promotes the low-fat aspect and has much useful general information.
The data demonstrates the lack of decline in numerous patients who were on the ultra-low fat diet for 35 years. Visit his website for more information.

Dr. Joseph Mercola is an Osteopathic Physician who practices a "whole person" approach to medicine, treating the entire person rather than just the symptoms.  It is Dr. Mercola's vision to transform the existing medical paradigm from one addicted to pharmaceuticals, surgeries and other methods that only conceal or remove specific symptoms - with morbid results to our health and economy - to one focused on treating and preventing the underlying causes.  His website is filled with comprehensive, clear and researched guidance on the best nutrition, medical, emotional therapy and lifestyle choices to improve and maintain total health.

Krispin Sullivan is a Clinical Nutritionist in private practice in Marin County, CA. She has studied and continues to study biochemistry, psychology, exercise physiology, biofeedback, positive thinking; nutrition and its role in degenerative disease; toxicology, parasitology; nutrient deficiencies caused by prescription drugs, chemotherapy and radiation, and many other nutrition related areas. She is Dr. Mercola's nutritionist and a consulting nutritionist to the health food industry. Her website can be found by clicking here.

• Acacia
• Acacia Gum
• Alfalfa
• Arabic
• Black-eyed pea
• Carob
• Carob (St. John's Bread)
• Cassia
• Chick Pea
• Field Pea
• Green Bean
• Green Pea
• Guar gum
• Jack bean
• Karaya Gum
• Kidney bean
• Lentil
• Licorice
• Lima bean
• Locust Bean Gum
• Mungo Bean
• Navy Bean
• Peanut
• Peanut oil
• Pinto Bean
• Soybean
• Soybean oil/flour
• Split Pea
• String Bean
• Talca Gum
• Tamarind
• Tonka bean
• Tragancanth Gum
• Urd Flour

• Legumes and the Best Bet Diet: Trish's information sheet.

• Barley
• Cous-cous
• Durum
• Khamut
• Oats
• Rye
• Semolia
• Spelt
• Wheat

• Buckwheat
• Corn
• Millet
• Quinoa
• Rice
• Tapioca

Official:

• ACD -> Anti-Candida Diet
• ACV -> Apple Cider Vinegar
• APLS -> Antiphospholipid Syndrome (Hughes Syndrome)
• ALA -> Alpha-Linolenic Acid (omega 3)
• ALA -> Alpha-Lipoic Acid (antioxidant)
• BBB -> Blood Brain Barrier
• BBD -> Best Bet Diet
• CLA -> Conjugated Linoleic Acid
• CLO -> Cod Liver Oil
• DHA -> Docosahexaenoic Acid (omega 3)
• EAE -> Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis (Mimics MS in animals)
• EFA -> Essential Fatty Acid
• EPA -> Eicosapentaenoic Acid (omega 3)
• EPO -> Evening Primrose Oil
• GLA -> Gamma-Linolenic Acid
• GSE -> Grapefruit Seed Extract (anti-fungal)
• GSE -> Grape Seed Extract (antioxidant)
• HFS -> Health Food Store
• HMA -> Hair Minerals Analysis
• HS -> Hughes Syndrome
• LDN -> Low Dose Naltrexone
• MSRC -> Multiple Sclerosis Resource Center
• NP -> New Pathways magazine
• OLE -> Olive Leaf Extract (anti-fungal)
• RA -> Rheumatoid Arthritis

Just for fun:

• BFN -> Bye For Now
• BB1 -> Baker Boy #1: Andrew (it's a long long story full of inaccuracies)
• BB2 -> Baker Boy #2: Brian (See above)
• FDLOL -> Falling Down Laughing Out Loud
• FJLOL -> Fat Jock (a Scot) Laughing Out Loud
• LOL -> Laughing Out Loud
• ROFLOL -> Rolling On Floor Laughing Out Loud

• Drink more water: Up to 2-3 liters (60-90 onces) per day
• Psyllium husk
• Prunes
• Kiwifruit
• Increase consumption of fish oil and flaxseed oil
• Soaked linseeds: Put a tablespoon of seeds in water overnight and drink the next day. It's not very nice. It goes all gloopy but should work. Might be an idea to start with a teaspoon and work up. Can grind them dry and put on cereal etc.
• Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE): Only 10 drops in a glass of water morning and night should kill off the candida and also sort out the constipation. You might need to take it for a good few weeks just to make sure but I reckon you'll start to see some results in a few days.
• Magnesium: Up to 1200 mg per day but not for months because it could put the trio Mg-Ca-Vit D out of balance. If you're still constipated after taking this, you should investigate for hypothyroidism.
• Leaky gut too could be the cause of constipation.

Click here

• Best Bet Diet Group's Recipes (you'll find a link to a 46 pages free recipes book)
• The Paleolithic Eating Support List's Recipe Collection
• Carol's Diet Notes and Recipes
• Mac's Picks: MS Dietary home page

Click here and the Extended section will be removed.

A leaky gut is when the lining of the intestines has lost some of its integrity and has become permeable, like a sieve. This allows partially-digested foods to get into the bloodstream. This means that nutrients are not absorbed properly. A leaky gut also triggers an immune response which causes inflammation and damage. Leaky gut is common in MS.

• What is a Leaky Gut?: The MSRC's article about what it is and how to treat it.
• Intestinal Dysbiosis and the Causes of Disease: Leo Galland's excellent paper about intestinal health.
• Leaky Gut Syndrome: A Modern Epidemic: Dr. Fratkin's arcticle on Leaky Gut and how to treat it using Traditional Chinese Medecine.
• Pathophisiology of the Digestive System: This site explains how the digestive system works: stomach, pancreas, intestines, etc.

Symptoms of a leaky gut include the following:

• Candidiasis (also knows as Candida overgrowth)
• Dysbiosis
• Allergies - food, airborne, environmental, skin
• A weakened immune system with all the problems that can follow
• Chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle aches
• Auto-immune diseases such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis, CFS and lupus.

You can be tested for gut permeability with the Mannitol/Lactulose test. See Great Smokies Laboratories - Intestinal Permeability Assessment (The group can help you to order this test. Ask for it.)
Mannitol is a mono-saccharide (single sugar molecule) and lactulose is a poly-saccharide (2 sugar molecules). Mannitol should be easily absorbed by the intestine and serves a marker of cellular absorption. If it is not, you have malabsorbtion. Lactuolose, on the other hand, is only slightly absorbed and serves as a marker of leakage as it is a big molecule. If it leaks, you have leaky gut. The test plots the ratio of the two measurements also.

• What is a Leaky Gut?: The MSRC's article about what it is and how to treat it.
• Intestinal Dysbiosis and the Causes of Disease: Leo Galland's excellent paper about intestinal health.
• Leaky Gut Syndrome: A Modern Epidemic: Dr. Fratkin's arcticle on Leaky Gut and how to treat it using Traditional Chinese Medecine.

The steps necessary to repair a leaky gut include all or part of the following:

• Removing the candida yeast and its roots which penetrate the mucous lining
• Flush any parasites out of the gut, both microscopic and visible
• Cleanse the gut of toxins
• Keep away from the non-food foods: sugars, refined carbohydrates, coffee, fatty foods, etc. and give your body proper nutrients
• Take probiotics, digestive enzymes, anti-oxidants, zinc, and others - for a complete list refer to (this paper).
• Drink only purified water and lots of it!

• What is a Leaky Gut?: The MSRC's article about what it is and how to treat it.
• Intestinal Dysbiosis and the Causes of Disease: Leo Galland's excellent paper about intestinal health.
• Leaky Gut Syndrome: A Modern Epidemic: Dr. Fratkin's arcticle on Leaky Gut and how to treat it using Traditional Chinese Medecine.

Also knows as Candidiasis.

Candida Albicans is a yeast that lives in our intestines and other areas of the body e.g. skin. It is kept in check by our immune system and by "friendly" bacteria which live with it. The candida can grow and get out of control when the hormonal balance of the body is disturbed by taking corticosteroids e.g. the contraceptive pill or antibiotics, or being exposed to pesticides and toxins.

When the immune systems is weakened or other conditions for yeast proliferation occur (diet high in sugar, improper pH in the digestive system) Candida albicans will shift from yeast to mycelial fungal form and start to invade the body. In the yeast state Candida is a non-invasive, sugar-fermenting organism, while in fungal state it is invasive and can produce rhizoids, very long root-like structures. Rhizoids can penetrate mucosa or intestinal walls, leaving microscopic holes and allowing toxins, undigested food particles and bacteria and yeast to enter the bloodstream. This condition is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome.

• About Candida: what it is, how to treat it.

Symptoms range from fatigue, headache and depression in adults to ear problems, hyperactivity, attention deficits and autism in children.

Many other chronic health problems are also related to the common yeast Candida albicans. These include:

• PMS
• Sexual dysfunction
• Asthma
• Psoriasis
• Digestive and urinary problems
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscle pain
• Dysbiosis

Your health problems are probably yeast connected if you:

• Crave sweets
• Feel sick all over
• Have taken many antibiotics
• Have seen many physicians and have not found help

• Intestinal Dysbiosis and the Causes of Disease: Leo Galland's excellent paper about intestinal health.
• Candida saliva test: An easy candida yeast test.

• An anti-candida diet MUST be followed
• Caprilic acid + Bentonite + Psillium husk
• Olive leaf extract
• Probiotics

NB: Grapefruit seed extract has been removed from this list because it has been shown that the active ingredient in GSE was in fact the synthetic preservatives used in commercial products. You can read more about this here.

• Candida: Treatment and Diet: for treatment and protocol.
• Intestinal Dysbiosis and the Causes of Disease: Leo Galland's excellent paper about intestinal health.

Mercury poisoning is the ill effects on the human nervous system and other bodily systems due to the over-exposure of mercury. Mercury is a neurotoxin, meaning it affects the nervous system.

Mercury poisoning can happen when we are exposed to mercury via silver amalgams, toxic foods, vaccines, etc. Exposure to mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with autism and multiple sclerosis, and the similarities extend to neuroanatomy, neurotransmitters, and biochemistry.

• Facts about Mercury and Dental Amalgam: Bernard Windham Paper with Medical Study References
• It's All in Your Head: The Link Between Mercury Amalgams and Illness: Dr. Hal A. Huggins book.
• Amalgam Illness Diagnosis and Treatment: A book on how to cure mercury poisoning by Andrew Hall Cutler, PhD, PE
• Informative posts by Andy Cutler: Andy Cutler's posts, regrouped by subject.

There are many signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning, including:

• Neurological disfunction
• Headaches
• Memory loss
• Allergies
• Fatigue

There is two diffent tests you can get passed to detect mercury poisoning:

• Urine test (ask you doctor)
• Hair test (can be arranged for members by asking for it on the mailing list)

• Mercury poisoning symptoms: for a detailed list of symptoms.

Natural ways:

• Replacement of dental amalgams by composite (white stuff).
• Limit consumption of fish to maximum once a week. And chose only the species with less mercury:
  • Summer Flounder
  • Wild Pacific Salmon
  • Croaker
  • Sardines
  • Haddock
  • Tilapia
• Buy Hal Huggins or Andrew Cutler book (see "For more information" section) and follow their Mercury Detoxication Protocol.
• See Dr. Mercola's Mercury Detoxification Protocol.

Medical ways:
This must be done under the supervision of a qualified doctor who has done mercury chelation many times before.

• DPMS chelation
• DSMA chelation (can be ordered at Supersmart.com)

• It's All in Your Head: The Link Between Mercury Amalgams and Illness: Dr. Hal A. Huggins book.
• Amalgam Illness Diagnosis and Treatment: A book on how to cure mercury poisoning by Andrew Hall Cutler, PhD, PE

In 1983 Dr Graham Hughes and his colleagues described a condition - often known as "sticky blood" or Antiphospholipid Syndrome, in which there was a danger of thrombosis. Patients with the syndrome were at risk, both from vein thrombosis (including DVT's), and in some, more dangerous arterial thrombosis, including a risk of strokes and heart attacks. In women with the syndrome, the "sticky blood" is unable to get through the sensitive small blood vessels to the fetus, and there is a risk of miscarriage.

Fortunately, the syndrome is usually detected by a simple blood test, and correct treatment is effective - usually very effective. The aim of the treatment is to thin the blood - the commonly used medicines being either low dose ("junior") aspirin, heparin or warfarin.

It is of interest here because people with Hughes Syndrome are very often misdiagnosed as having MS.

• The Hughes Syndrome: official website.

(From the New Pathways Magazine, March/April 2003, Page 12)

MS and Hughes Syndrome Symptoms

• Movement disorder
• Difficulty walking
• Bladder incontinence
• Speech Difficulties
• Fatigue
• Depression

More Likely Hughes Syndrome

• Blood clots/Thrombosis
• Headaches/Migraine
• Strokes/Heart attacks
• Memory loss
• Recurrent miscarriage (Not universal)
• Blotchy rashes on skin
• Aches, pains, cramp
• Low platelet count
• Dry eyes

What Makes MS Different ?

• Attacks on myelin
• Relapses & remissions (in most cases)
• Degenerative

There is two tests to determine if you have Hughes Syndrome:

• Anticardiolipin antibodies
• Lupus anticoagulant

The anticardiolipin is the more indicative test, but both are required, because some people react on one and not the other. You need to be positive for antibodies in one or the other to be diagnosed with Hughes Syndrome.

Hormones play an important role in modulating our behaviour, but before we can explore these effects we need to understand how the brain controls the release of hormones. For that, it is recommended that your read the following links.

• Hormones & Stress: for an in-depth look at stress and hormones:
• Temperature Dysregulation in Stress: to learn how stress can lead to hypothyoridism.
• Hormone Balancing: Natural Treatment and Cure for Arthritis: Although talking mainly about arthritis, another auto-immune disease, this article explains exceptionally well the interrelation between the different hormones related to chronic-stess and their consequences on different systems.
• Sharp Drop In Stress Hormones May Set Stage For Arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis After Pregnancy: an article explaining how stress could affect MS after pregnancy.
• Understanding Adrenal Function: about Pregnenolone and its metabolites: DHEA, Cortisol and many other hormones.
• The Endocrine System and the Female Cycle: a general discussion of hormones, particularly female ones, and how they are influenced by chronic stress.
• Living without Stress Overload: for a lot of resources and practical advise about stress, including a some tests.

Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a steroid hormone, a chemical cousin of testosterone and estrogen. It is made from cholesterol by the adrenal glands, which sit atop each kidney. For the first few years of life, the adrenals make very little DHEA. Around age six or seven, they begin churning it out. Production peaks in the mid-20s, when DHEA is the most abundant hormone in circulation. From one's early '30s on, there's a steady decline in DHEA production, so the average 75-year-old has only 20% of the DHEA in circulation that he or she had 50 years earlier. At all ages, men tend to have higher DHEA levels than women.

DHEA has been used successfully in the treatment of many autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis, Lupus and fibromyalgia. DHEA regulates the immune system and maintains the metabolic and structural integrity of the nervous system. DHEA has been shown to be antiviral and has benefited conditions as serious as HIV infection and AIDS.

DHEA is available over the counter in the US but requires a prescription in most other countries.  If you suspect that your adrenals are under active, the first thing to do is get a blood test for DHEA. If you are then going to self medicate, you will have a baseline by which to compare before and after. Remember that a dose larger than physiological needs could be quite harmful.

If you are not able to get DHEA in your country, there are other adrenal boosting options to help your adrenals make their own DHEA such as bee pollen, ginseng, vitamin C, and adrenal extract from animals. Be careful when self medicating, as too much adrenal stimulation can actually bring on attacks. Start slowly.

• Understanding Adrenal Function: about Pregnenolone and its metabolites: DHEA, Cortisol and many other hormones.

Progesterone is one of two main steroid hormones, the other being estrogen, made by the ovaries of menstruating women. Progesterone is also made in smaller amounts in the adrenal glands in both sexes and by the testes in males. When a woman's monthly cycle is functioning correctly, estrogen is the dominant hormone during the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle.

Many woman are deficient in progesterone, and symptoms include:

• PMS
• Insomnia
• Osteoperosis
• Autoimmune disorders
• Fatigue
• Breast tenderness
• Headaches
• Hair loss
• Thyroid dysfunction

and many others. Find out if your symptoms may be due to a hormone imbalance by taking this quiz from Dr. John Lee.

The following abstract comes from this Mercola's article, at the bottom of the page.

Progesterone has actually been shown in animal studies to promote the formation of new myelin sheaths (Human Reproduction 2000 Jun;15 Suppl 1:1-13, J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1999 Apr-Jun;69:97-107, Mult Scler 1997 Apr;3:105-12). I am not aware of any clinicians using progesterone to treat MS patients, but if any of my readers have any additional information on this, please e-mail me.

If you need progesterone cream, you should try to get it  through your doctor/compounding pharmacy. It needs to be fresh, as it expires after three months. It is recommended that anybody who is concerned about their hormones read Dr. Lee's books - there are lots of answers there that cannot be summarized in these FAQs.

• Understanding Adrenal Function: about Pregnenolone and its metabolites: DHEA, Cortisol and many other hormones.
• Dr Lee's website: offers a wide range of information about natural hormones and hormone balance for women and men.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone made in the adrenal glands, which are small glands adjacent to the kidneys. Among its important functions in the body include roles in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular function as well as regulation of the body's use of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Cortisol secretion increases in response to any stress in the body, whether physical (such as illness, trauma, surgery, or temperature extremes) or psychological. When cortisol is secreted, it causes a breakdown of muscle protein, leading to release of amino acids (the "building blocks" of protein) into the bloodstream. These amino acids are then used by the liver to synthesize glucose for energy, in a process called gluconeogenesis. This process raises the blood sugar level so the brain will have more glucose for energy. At the same time the other tissues of the body decrease their use of glucose as fuel. Cortisol also leads to the release of so-called fatty acids, an energy source from fat cells, for use by the muscles. Taken together, these energy-directing processes prepare the individual to deal with stressors and insure that the brain receives adequate energy sources.

Here is a paragraph from Dr. Lee's book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause" where he gives some interesting advice about steroids drugs:

The way this hormone [cortisol] is used in conventional medicine is another good example of the dramatic difference between physiologic and pharmacologic dosing with hormones. People who take powerful synthetic cortisone drugs like prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethansone for their anti-inflammatory effects suffer side effects like swelling of the face, acne, unwanted hair growth etc. With long term use, these medications cause adrenal cortisol production to shut down completely, so stopping the drug can cause fatal complications. Natural hydrocortisone or cortisone acetate, used in small doses several times a day, has very little incidence of side effects and has been used successfully to treat symptoms of adrenals insufficiency.

• How do hormones interact and how does stress influence them ?: Another commonly asked question addressed here.
• Understanding Adrenal Function: about Pregnenolone and its metabolites: DHEA, Cortisol and many other hormones.
• Dr Lee's website: offers a wide range of information about natural hormones and hormone balance for women and men.

Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland, located in your neck, wrapped around the windpipe, and is located behind and below the Adam's Apple area. The thyroid produces several hormones, of which two are key: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones help oxygen get into cells, and make your thyroid the master gland of metabolism.

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid is not producing enough T3 and T4. This condition is often linked to auto-immune disease. Not necessarily in a cause-effect manner though, they could both have the same origin. With thyroid being the master gland of metabolism, it's important to make sure it works properly.

TSH is short for thyroid stimulating hormone. It is a hormone produced by your master gland, the pituitary. It's purpose is to stimluate the production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid. The higher it is the more stimulation it provides. It serves a negative feedback loop to the thyroid. So when TSH levels are low it means the thyroid is generally producing enough thyroid hormone. When TSH levels are high, this usually means the body requires more thyroid hormone.

T3 & T4 are actually hormones that the thyroid gland produces. It also produces T1 and T2 but these are not generally addressed. The number in the name actually refers to the number of iodine molecules present in the hormone.

T4 is what the synthetic hormones like Synthroid have. It is a pre-hormone and the body actually converts it to the active hormone T3 which performs most of the activity of the thyroid function.

To know the state of your thyroid, see Mercola's webpage How To Know If Your Thyroid Is Working Properly. Take a special attention to the easy and seemingly efficient basal temperature test.

(From Mercola's website) Signs Of An Underactive Thyroid (Hypothyroidism) Include:

• Fatigue is the most common. You feel tired and exhausted like you can't enough sleep, or want to take daytime naps
• You've gained weight inappropriately or you are finding it difficult to lose weight despite proper diet and exercise
• You feel depressed down or sad
• Impaired memory
• Sensitivity to cold with feelings of being chilly in rooms of normal temperature when others do not
• Constipation
• Difficulty in losing weight despite rigid adherence to a low grain diet seems to be a common finding especially in women
• Difficult for a person to sweat and their perspiration may be decreased or even absent even during heavy exercise and hot weather
• Your skin can become dry, cold, rough and scaly
• You are losing hair, particularly from the outer part of your eyebrows
• Hair is getting dry or tangly
• Nails are breaking or splitting and are brittle

Symptoms of Excessive Thyroid Hormone

• Feeling like your heart is pounding out of your chest-by far the most common problem
• Nervousness
• Feeling hot and sweaty
• Rapid weight loss
• Fine tremor
• Clammy skin

• Temperature Dysregulation in Stress: to learn how stress can lead to hypothyoridism.

Lectins are glycoproteins and glycolipids, mainly found in grains. They are known to promote gut permeability.

• The Lectin Story: Krispin's article explaining a lot about lectins and their effect on the body. A must read.
• Your Health: Grains: it resume the link between grains, lectins, gut permeability and auto-immune diseases.

The BBD does not advise against carbs. However, problems can stem from the fact that your body turns carbohydrates into sugar once it hits your bloodstream. For those following an anti-candida diet, carbs are to be avoided. Some people are sensitive to sugar/grains in any form or are avoiding carbs as a personal choice.

Some people worry about the lectin content in grains and its effect on gut permeability. They prefer to restrict their consumption of grains, which are mainly carbs.

These tests are more of an individual decision based on what you feel you need. You should investigate each of these fields and then evaluate if it would be a good idea for you to be tested. All of these subjects are "Extended" topics. You should not worry about these tests until you feel at ease with the diet and understand it perfectly, probably after many months.

• Leaky gut (see Great Smokies Laboratories - Intestinal Permeability Assessment)
• Mercury
• TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) to detect hypothyroidism
• Anticardiolipin antibodies and Lupus anticoagulant to rule out Hughes Syndrome
• Hormones: DHEA, Cortisol, Progesterone, Testosterone and Estrogen.

• By starting the diet!
• Join the main BBD Group.
• Join the pro-active Recipe Group by sending an email to BBD-Recipes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. To be a member of this group, you have to be ready to try and test new recipes and share your results with others. No passive members are tolerated! :o)
• Join the UK Publicity Group by sending an email to BBD-PubUK-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. This group is finding ways to publicise the BBD diet in the United Kingdom. If you want to help them, join the list!

We now fall under the umbrella organisation of the MS Resource Centre. Click here to contact the MSRC with an enquiry (eg- "How can I get the New Pathway magazine ?").

Click here to donate online to the Best Bet part of the MSRC. Look for the big green "Donate Online" button on the right.

Or send cheque marked "Best Bet Biet" on the reverse, to this address:

MS Resource Centre
7 Peartree Business Centre, Peartree Road,
Stanway, Colchester, Essex
United Kingdom
CO3 5JN

You can donate online to Direct-MS through their website or send a tax deductible (in Canada and the USA) contribution to:

DIRECT-MS
5119 Brockington Rd. NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2L 1R7