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MS Nutrition Program Yields Promising Results

Curtin University researchers have trialled an online nutrition education program designed to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) manage their symptoms through healthy eating. ‘Eating Well with MS’ was co-created with the MS community and provides a tailored approach to meet the specific needs of people living with the chronic condition, which affects the central nervous system. Lead researcher Dr Rebecca Russell, from the Curtin School of Population Health, said more than 33,000 Australians live with MS and diet can potentially impact their symptoms and disease progression. “Making dietary changes can give people with MS a sense of control over the disease, but there’s a lot of conflicting information online. This program was developed to fill the gap in accessible, evidence-based nutrition advice,” Dr Russell said.

Participants also reported feeling more confident in their ability to manage their MS and overall well-being. The program’s impact was further validated by a significant reduction in MS-related fatigue and pain, as well as improvements in mood and sleep quality. Participants reported feeling more energized and less fatigued, leading to a significant increase in their ability to engage in physical activity.

We need to be critical thinkers and learn to evaluate information sources. We need to be aware of our own biases and how they might influence our decisions. We need to be able to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources.

Published in the journal ‘Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders’, the research was supported by MSWA and an MS Australia Incubator Grant. This study, titled ‘Feasibility of a co-designed online nutrition education program for people with multiple sclerosis’, was part of the MS Nutrition Research Program, led by Professor Lucinda Black across Curtin and Deakin Universities.

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