 With the current debate on Britain's unhealthy eating habits Catesha Scarlett discusses whether the types of food can either lead to or are beneficial in fighting conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Once these conditions have developed, sufferers usually have to learn how to live with and control them which (in most cases) is through the use of conventional medicine.
For people with MS, the nutritional deficiencies and toxic residues that become built up in the body from conventional drugs, poor food choices, food additives and contaminants along with other compounding stresses, can trigger the auto-immune process, which is MS. For people with IBS, according to medical research, the most likely culprit to cause their symptoms seems to be the wrong diet and emotional stress.
With a proliferation of cheap fast food outlets, it is easy to take the not to look after your health, but not many people know what harm this can do until too late. The film features Ruth and Aleatha, (MS and IBS suffers respectively) who have one thing in common: symptoms that can be controlled, to some extent, by restricting their diet.
Catesha interviews Professor Nick Read, Chair of Trustees for the IBS Network; he explains exactly what IBS is. Sue Filby is Vice Chairperson of the Hertfordshire MS Therapy Centre, outlines the effect that MS causes its sufferers.
Ruth contracted MS after the death of her mother. After initial diagnosis, she was put on steroids to elevate her condition. In 1999 Aletha was diagnosed with IBS her symptoms where she had a loss of appetite on one day and then became ravenous the next. Both Aleatha and Ruth have found that changing their diets was beneficial.
The film does NOT promote a cure, but will hopefully create awareness to the fact of how food can affect MS and IBS in the absence of an allergic reaction. Even though there is no clear evidence that diet alone can affect these illnesses, nevertheless it does make sense for people with MS to support their immune and central nervous systems by following a healthy diet. Also, for many people with IBS, they often suffer for years before their condition is properly diagnosed.
As well as the organisations listed below, for further information regarding diet and MS you can contact the MS National Therapy Centre at Bradbury House, 155 Barker’s Lane, Bedford MK41 9RX (Tel: 01234 325 781).
'You Are What You Eat’ was produced by ShaCataK Creative Media, an independent production company which specialises in documentary, entertainment and video productions. You can contact the film maker by e-mailing: cateshascarlett@yahoo.com
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Last Updated ( Monday, 06 March 2006 )
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