The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book
by Roy Laver Swank, Barbara Brewer Dugan
List Price:
Our Price: $21.72
You Save: $13.28 (38%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.25 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Barbara Brewer Dugan, Roy Laver SwankEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1987-04-24
ISBN: 0385232799
Number of pages: 391
Publisher: Doubleday
Accessories:
Book Reviews of The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book
Book Review: It works!!! It really works!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was diagnosed in 1994. At that time what is now known as the "CRAB" drugs were just beginning to be heard of and not a lot of relief was available besides steroids and other unpleasant prescriptions.
I wasn't satisfied with being sent home and told to learn to live with my disease so I began to do research on what was available to treat multiple sclerosis. I came across information on Dr. Roy Swank and his clinic in Oregon. Since I was not in a position to become a patient of his, I did the next best thing. I bought his book and went to medical libraries where I obtained copies of all articles he had published. After reading every piece of research he had written as well as his book I came to the conclusion I had nothing to lose by trying his diet.
After eleven years of following the diet I am pleased to report that I have had NO progression of my multiple sclerosis, no disability, and a slender healthy figure to show for my choice. I walk between 4 and 5 miles a day, am enrolled full-time in school (for a midlife career change) and still work part time as well as run my house and fulfill my role as a wife and mother. (I had my children after my diagnosis while on his diet. Healthy pregnancies and no trouble after!) My energy levels are good and my m.s. is and remains a thing of the past as long as I continue to follow Dr. Swank's recommendations of consuming less than 20 grams of saturated fats per day (I stay below 10 most days) and consuming an amount of between 40 to 50 grams of unsaturated fats per day as well as a relatively unprocessed whole foods diet - as he recommends. My family also thrives on the diet - which they eat to be supportive of me.
I also follow his recommendations of lying down for an hour every day (sometimes on the floor of the library at school) and making choices to promote less stress in my life. (I don't see the relatives that I can't stand at the holidays and things like that!)
Is it work to make this diet successful? Yes, although the habits you develop make the actual diet easier over time. Do I feel deprived at times? Not really - not when I think of what I have gotten in the way of benefits from the diet as a result, such as non-progression of my disease. No I cannot have a hot fudge sundae any more. But instead I can walk miles every day. No, I don't eat bacon and eggs for breakfast any more. But for that matter - there's a good question as to whether anyone who wants to have good cardiovascular health or avoid any number of diseases such as diabetes or stroke or such should be eating a high fat, highly processed, excess calorie diet anyway. I also love my slim athletic figure and the fact that I look terrific in whatever I put on as a nice little bonus for my self control. This is a lifetime commitment that I have been very happy to make. The diet works as long as you follow it!
One note - realize that this book was written in 1987 before much of the current batch of low and no fat foods were available and before there was such widespread good nutritional labeling on foods as there is today. Also know that the recipes in the back were written for a time when there were not so many low/no fat cookbooks available as there are now. The recipes are nice - especially the dessert ones for around the holidays - but are not what this book is all about. Instead what this book is about is explaning what the nuts and bolts are of how the diet works and what it takes.
Someone in an earlier review mentioned that there was no double blind study to prove whether or not the diet works. I have to ask how in heaven's name would one do a double blind study of diet. The only way that a study can be done of any diet and how it does or does not have an effect on health is exactly the way that Dr. Swank and Co. have done this - through reports and observation of the short and long term results (level of physical activity and stamina, MRI results, neurograde disability scale, etc.) of those that changed their diets as opposed to those who did not. This is the exact same methodology that has been used to track down the fact that a diet low in fats reduces the risks of cardiovascular disease. To dismiss the results of Dr. Swank's research because of his methods means that you must therefore dismiss all research on the effects of diet in cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, and most other areas of health where diet plays a part in the disease process.
As far as the accusation that the studies have not been long term I have trouble understanding how Dr. Swank's following of his patients since the 1950's is not long term. As of the time this book was written in 1987 he had been tracking his original group for 35+years. Since then he has written at least one (and I believe two) follow-up articles that track that original group for now more than 50 years. He is also currently working on a revision of this book hopefully to be published in the next year or so. (Yes - he is 96 and still very physically and mentally active and actively writing and researching. He also follows his own diet - that in itself being an excellent advertisement for the diet!)
As for the person who states that if a diet could cure or control M.S. there would be no sick people around may I point out that there are still people who have cardiovascular disease even though it is known that diet modification can prevent most of it and that there are still people who smoke even though it is known that smoking causes cancer and emphysema and other diseases.
The nice final punchline for me - I am healthy, slim, active, use none of the CRAB drugs - or any other drugs for my multiple sclerosis, or anything else for that matter - and have a terrific outlook on what my next fifty to sixty or so years will be like! Roy Swank's diet takes some choices, self-discipline and commitment but the rewards I am reciving are well worth the investment in myself.
For more info on Dr. Swank's book and additional citations of his research do a web search on - Roy Swank multiple sclerosis diet - to find more articles by other physicians and other researchers that are supportive of his work and to find his excellent website.
Update - November 29, 2008 A quick note to let readers know that Dr. Swank died on November 16, 2008 aged 99 years and 8 months. Clearly - following his own diet led to a very long and healthy life! Based on my results and his I am still a completely happy and healthy follower of Dr. Swank's diet. Thank you Dr. Swank for the gift of health that you have given us who chose to follow your teaching!
Summary of The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book
Hundreds of new recipes for dishes that taste terrific but stick to the diet rules so important for controlling M.S.--now completely revised to conform to the latest medical research.Low Fat Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Low Fat Books
Harriet Roth's Deliciously Healthy Jewish Cooking: 350 New Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol, Low-Sodium Recipes for Holidays and Everyby Harriet Roth
Plume; Published: 1998-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $50.00
Dr. Eden's Healthy Kids (Plume)by Alvin N. Eden, A. Boyar
Plume; Published: 1987-07-29; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
101 Low Fat Good Eating Recipes (The Corinne T. Netzer Good Eating Series)by Corinne T. Netzer
Dell; Published: 1993-01-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.98
Price in other shops:
101 Low Cholesterol Recipes (Corinne T. Netzer Good Eating)by Corinne T. Netzer
Dell; Published: 1993-02-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.62
Price in other shops:
100 Low Fat Soup and Stew Recipes: The Complete Book of Food Counts Cookbook Seriesby Corinne T. Netzer
Dell; Published: 1997-03-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.71
Anti-Cellulite Dietby C. Hartsough, Price
Putnam Adult; Published: 1991-04-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.42
Price in other shops:
Eater's Choice: A Food Lover's Guide to Lower Cholesterolby Ronald S. Goor Dr., Nancy Goor, Dr. Ron Goor
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Published: 1999-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Low-Fat Stir Fry Cookbook: Recipes for Healthy Eating (Low Fat Ways to Cook)by Sunset Books
Sunset Publishing Corporation; Published: 1995-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $36.99
Vegetarian Soups for All Seasonsby Nava Atlas
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 1996-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $29.97
Eat More Weigh Less: Dr. Dean Ornish's Life Choice Program for Losing Weight Safely While Eating Abundantlyby Dean Ornish, Dean, M.D. Ornish
Perennial; Published: 1994-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.70
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
MS and Your Feelings: Handling the Ups and Downs of Multiple Sclerosisby Allison Shadday LCSW
Hunter House; Published: 2006-12-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.10
Price in other shops:
Multiple Sclerosis For Dummiesby Rosalind Kalb Ph.D., Nancy Holland RN EdD MSCN, Barbara Giesser MD
For Dummies; Published: 2007-02-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Awkward Bitch: My Life with MSby Marlo Donato Parmelee
AuthorHouse; Published: 2009-07-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.45
Price in other shops:
The First Year: Multiple Sclerosis: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosedby Margaret Blackstone
Da Capo Press; Published: 2007-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
Healing Multiple Sclerosis: Diet, Detox & Nutritional Makeover for Total Recoveryby Ann Boroch
Quintessential Healing, Inc.; Published: 2007-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.18
Price in other shops:
Managing Multiple Sclerosis Naturally: A Self-help Guide to Living with MSby Judy Graham
Healing Arts Press; Published: 2010-06-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.68
Price in other shops:
Minding My Mitochondria 2nd Edition: How I overcame secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and got out of my wheelchair.by Terry L. Wahls
TZ Press; Published: 2010-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $39.99
Price in other shops:
Cooking Well: Multiple Sclerosis: Over 75 Easy and Delicious Recipes for Nutritional Healingby Marie Courtier
Hatherleigh Press; Published: 2009-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.29
Price in other shops:
Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis: An Evidence-Based Guide to Recoveryby Professor George Jelinek
Allen & Unwin; Published: 2010-07-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.44
Price in other shops:
The MS Recovery Dietby Ann Sawyer, Judith Bachrach
Avery Trade; Published: 2007-09-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.22
Price in other shops: