Swank Diet

Swank Diet is extremely popular to treat MS across US, Europe & Canada.
While they claim it to reduce blood cholesterol levels too preventing heart diseases.
The MS Diet Book: A Low Fat Diet for the Treatment of MS
Roy Laver Swank (MD, PhD) & Barbara Brewer Dugan

Comments:
Is recommended primarily for Westerners who have heavy saturated fat or animal fat intake; but a few points are note-worthy in general for vegetarians too who should increase the uptake of Good/Essential Fats.


Excerpts:

Goal of MS Patient:
"Reduce the MS attacks and "Promote State of Remission" that will add years of fruitful activity to his/her life"

Recommended change of Lifestyle

1. Switch from High Saturated fats to Low saturated fats (sunflower oil for Linoleic acid)
2. INCREASE uptake of PUFA (poly unsaturated fatty acids or Essential Fatty acids; Fish oil/olive oil, flaxseed oil or these products)
3. Adequate Rest
4. Reduction in Stress
5. Adoption of Mental Attitude that fosters optimism
6. Determination to live a satisfying life within the limitations of the disease


Notable Findings:

1. 35 yrs of clinical tests have shown that low fat MS diet is effective in reducing the frequency and severity of recurrences in MS patients.
2. They say NO Mostly to Meat and Dairy Products (animal fats/ whole milk/cheese/butter)
3. YES to Vegetable-Cereal Diet and Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)
4. Eliminating Canned, Frozen, Processed foods- junk foods


With technological advancement and improved economy the fat consumption has been higher especially in Western countries.

* USA records the most high fat intake with 141 gms /person/day (1948 data) 150 (current data)
* Canada- 132, Denmark-129, England-97 (1948)
* Italy-50gms, Cuba- 60, China- 38 (1948)
* India-27 grams/day/person (1948) 44gms/day (current data) and is higher in metros now
* Japan however is the lowest-fat consuming area 14 gms per person per day higher now esp in metros

Current date: More than 50% Americans are overweight
The highest rate of MS is in the North US and North Switzerland where Fat intake is high


MS: Geographical Distribution (1918-1922)
Northern German speaking part of Switzerland (1/1000th of population)
Southern Italian speaking area ( 0-0.1/1000)
Western French speaking area had a figure in the middle

This further confirms the low animal fat using people had it less.
People using cod liver oil (eskimos) and olive oil (Italians) have lower incidences.

COD LIVER OIL/Fish oil is easily available in India Use of Flaxseeds (alsi) as ground powder on salads etc. is what many people do for health benefits

Racial Consideration:
In NYC it is equal all over races (6/10,000)
Japanese Americans have higher incidences though there diet is same as of their ancestors
Blacks are said to have it less probably cereal rich diet
Caucaseans (light to fair-skinned people; Europe primarily, parts of North Africa, western Asia, and India)

Latiitudinal Influence
The fact about people living farther from Equator having higher incidence is proving to be misleading


MS: History's Latecomer
The Medical Term of MS (1835-1872)
Research & treatments started in 1930s
However, this is quite questionable that it went unnoticed by the intelligent minds is it that it is really a disease of Modern Age?
Also the increase is more in past 20 years...so is it the increase in number really or better diagnostics now available
In all probability some element or influence in the environment changed, or new elements emerged in 150-200 years

MS Patients

Personal:
Generally they come from well-to-do families (financially)
They are intelligent, active, energetic and highly productive people and usually attractive
They are Nervous (Tense) & Perceptive
As the disease progresses, the in-built nervous tension increases and they become irritable
They rarely lose their inclination to work and produce
They may be cold in warm room or may have spells of overheat/night sweats

Stress:
They may not take psychological and physical stress properly
Stress proves to be deleterious (continuing domestic or marital difficulties; loss of or threatened financial support
Physical Stress/ Fatigue

Intolerance to Heat:
Onset of warm, humid weather or a hot bath leaves patients fatigued (temporary)

Intolerance to Weather changes:
Temperature Fluctuations are probably the reason for the seasonal variation in the well-being
i.e twice a year Oct-Nov and then Apr-May...thus more exacerbation or fatigue spells

Headaches/Migraines
Focal impaired vision with or without migraine headaches, nausea, vomiting is common
Headaches from tension start usually in the back of the head & neck radiating to the back of one or both eyes and are usually relieved by mild sedation
The Diet claims to help here a great deal

Blood Pressure/Hypertension/Diabetes/Hypo-Hyperthyroidism
Most patients have low blood pressure. Diabetes is rare. Both hypo & hyperthyroidism are rare

Fatigue
Is the most frequent & persistent symptom
Periodically a deeper fatigue called as lassitude may develop
Excessive Work or exercise to exhaustion may also cause an increase and prolongation of fatigue

The Most Practical Advice to patients is:

1. Pace yourself
2. Don't rush
3. Spend time relaxing; even meditating
4. Avoid confrontations
5. Avoid unimportant tiring tasks, even if desirable
6. In other words: listen to your body and very carefully monitor and control your desires
7. If plan a major event then take it easy for several days to weeks before & after the event
8. Prolonged exertion will only precipitate an exacerbation and remissions from this are only partial
9. So Rest by lying down
10. Take daily naps increasing them to twice a day
11. Mild sedation is advisable if fatigue is due to anxiety
12. Patients have frequently been observed to do very well when away from home on vacation


Anxiety
A certain amount of anxiety is stimulating and zestful. It encourages alertness, promotes striving for perfection & increased productivity
Anxieties tend to self-perpetuating once they have set in motion, & they are apt to lead a growing or increasing anxiety reaction, often increasing fatigue, weakness and neurological deterioration


Depression
Is more during the early stage of the disease



Sunflower Oil has the Essential Linoleic acid
An Emulsion of Sunflower Oil (30 ml of oil x twice a day) reduced the Exacerbations to 0.54/year
Olive Oil (same qty) led to reduction 0.76 relapses/year



Outside the Book:


Indian Scenario- http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80478e/80478E0q.htm
States like Karnataka and Tamilnadu consume low quantities of fat (9 and 10 grams per day per head), Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are medium consumers (11 and 14 grams), and Gujarat and Kerala are high consumers (18 and 21 grams). Urban dwellers consume more per head than do rural, and metropolitan cities have the highest intake of all: Calcutta city dwellers, for example, average 26 grams daily. Such calculations for average diets in the north, south, east, and west of India show that some 16 to 24 grams of fat are present invisibly in the food items (other than fat per se) that are consumed. Nearly half of this comes from the staple foods, usually cereals and tubers (such as tapioca in Kerala) since these are eaten in amounts of over 400 grams per day. If the visible fat consumption is taken into account, the total fat intake in some regions varies from 36 to 44 grams per day.
In the last two decades, the importance of dietary linoleic and even linolenic acid has been dramatically highlighted following a realization of their role as precursors of the prostaglandins. These compounds are synthesized from the two essential fatty acids (EFA), and there are twenty or more prostaglandins, all closely related in structure. Prostaglandins perform a variety of vital functions such as muscle contraction, blood platelet aggregation, relief of pain, fertility in the male, conception and reproduction in the female, and many others.

Ayurvedic texts describe many diverse mind/body benefits of Ghee

* Absorption: Ghee is an integral part of the science of ayurvedic herbal formulation. Since ghee is an oil, it can bond with lipid-soluble nutrients and herbs to penetrate the lipid-based cell membranes of the body. It is stated to increase the potency of certain herbs by carrying the active components to the interior of the cells where they impart the most benefit.
* Digestion: The ayurvedic texts say that ghee helps balance excess stomach acid, and helps maintain/repair the mucus lining of the stomach.
* Mild Burns: Like aloe, ghee is said to prevent blisters and scarring if applied quickly to affected skin.
* Mind: Ghee is said to promote all three aspects of mental functioning -- learning, memory and recall.
* Ayurvedic Balance: Ghee balances both Vata (the dosha that controls movement in mind and body) and Pitta (the dosha that controls heat and metabolism).
* But GHEE is advised for People who have fast metabolic rates (people doing physical exercises and young ones should have it)

http://www.mapi.com/en/newsletters/ghee_clarified_butter.html