Did Ivy ever take any of the FDA approved disease-modifying medications used to treat MS?
No. Ivy did initially take medications for symptoms (such as ditropan, amantadine, effexor, valium, etc.) but she no longer takes any medication. We are not opposed to the medication if Ivy’s symptoms ever become severe, but for now she has been able to maintain excellent health by following an anti-inflammatory and nutrient-rich whole foods diet, exercising regularly, taking nutritional supplements, getting adequate rest and controlling stress. However, if you do take one of the disease-modifying medications for MS you should still modify your diet and follow an otherwise healthy lifestyle; it’s not an either-or decision—you can do both.
Does Ivy have any MS symptoms today?
The short answer is no. However, she will occasionally experience mild bladder problems (such as urgency and frequency) and muscle spasms in her right leg. If Ivy allows herself to get overexerted, overstressed, overheated or doesn’t get enough sleep she will get extremely fatigued.
Do you have any additional books or resources you recommend for MS patients?
We highly recommend The Better Brain Book by David Perlmutter, M.D. Dr. Perlmutter’s Health Center is located in Naples, FL. His website is www.perlhealth.com and he is available for phone consultations if you do not live in the area. Dr. John McDougall (www.drmcdougall.com) is currently conducting research on diet and MS. For more information visit his website.
What nutritional supplements does Ivy take today?
Since publishing the Gold Coast Cure we have learned even more about nutritional supplements than we did back in 2005. Although we still stand by the recommendations we made in our book, Ivy has made a few tweaks to her basic supplement regimen. We also strongly encourage you to get your vitamin D levels tested (a simple blood test) and to work with your neurologist to optimize your level. Today Ivy takes the following supplements for MS (she also takes a few additional supplements for other purposes):
Morning:
- Probiotic Formula (Dr. Ohhira’s broad-spectrum premium probiotic)
- Multi-vitamin (we like Country Life “RealFood Organics” and New Chapter “Perfect Energy”—both brands include 1,000 IU vitamin D, and a full spectrum of B-vitamins) Ivy takes one serving.
- Calcium with Magnesium and Vitamin D (Garden of Life “Living Calcium Advanced”) Ivy takes 6 tablets a day—half in morning and half in the evening
- Alpha Lipoic Acid. Ivy takes 200 mg a day
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). Ivy takes 400 mg a day
Afternoon:
- Phytonutrients from Juice Plus+. Ivy takes double the dosage (4 Orchard Blend and 4 Garden Blend) —Note: Juice Plus contains vitamin C and bioflavonoids so Ivy no longer takes a vitamin C supplement
- Fresh green and fruit smoothie (smoothies varies from day to day, notes above) plus a heaping spoonful of phytonutrient-rich Green Vibrance (www.vibranthealth.us/)
Evening:
- Ivy takes the other half of her calcium/ magnesium/ vitamin D supplement
- High Concentration, Pharmaceutical-grade fish oil with EPA & DHA (Nordic Naturals brand Ultimate Omega) Ivy takes 2,000 mg each day.
- Evening Primrose oil (Barleans brand) Ivy takes 1,300 mg each day.
What to Know more about the MS Diet?
See Our Additional Resources: