YOU CAN HELP EASE FATIGUE BY ADJUSTING THE DIET

constipation. Good fluid intake can help regulate bowel function, as can a diet with plenty of insoluble fibre. This fibre cannot be digested and passes straight through the gut, helping digestion of other foods and removal of waste. A wellbalanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables can provide this fibre. Prunes (or prune juice), figs, wholewheat bread, fibre-fortified white bread, brown rice and high-fibre breakfast cereals are particularly good sources of insoluble fibre. the bladder.

You can help ease fatigue by adjusting the diet. Try opting for smaller meals or frequent snacks rather than a large, hot meal to help maintain energy levels. You can incorporate protein with all meals or snacks. Protein or complex carbohydrates such as whole-grain bread can also help keep energy levels up. Eating too many sugary foods for energy can make fatigue worse, as they cause energy

Tremor can affect your nutritional needs or your approach to eating. Moderate to severe tremor uses up calories, so high-energy foods and drinks between meals might be necessary to avoid weight loss or worsening fatigue.

If tremor affects holding or reaching for things, certain foods may be easier to eat than others. A sandwich, for example, is easier to manage than spaghetti or soup. Specially designed cutlery, dinnerware and kitchen utensils can make the preparation and eating of food more manageable.

Dietary modifications for this symptom require a balance between improving/ maintaining nutrition and ensuring that swallowing is safe. Modifying food textures may help, since some foods are swallowed more easily than others. For example, sometimes a thickening agent or a gelatin must be added to meals. Nuts should be limited because they can stick in the throat and may be irritating. Semi-solid food is the easiest to swallow. In more difficult cases, food may need to be puréed.

If none of these techniques is effective, a feeding tube can be inserted into the stomach through the nose or directly into the stomach, surgically, to maintain adequate nutrition.

Immobility and fatigue can lead to unintentional weight gain. To manage your weight, strive to achieve a balance between calories, exercise and rest. This may mean eating smaller meals more frequently, or reducing your overall caloric intake.

Please note that special diets should be discussed with a health-care professional who can advise on the safety and effects of the diet on MS.