The Wahls Protocal-How I Beat Progressive MS.Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine by Dr. Terry Wahls with Eve Adamson-A Review

The Wahls Protocal-How I Beat Progressive MS.Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine by Dr. Terry Wahls with Eve Adamson

This book details her diet and health protocols to return her from her tilt/recline wheel chair to biking and working as an MD in Iowa City. Her lectures detail information from the European Medical Journals citing the role of the right blood levels of vitamin D3 in boosting the anti-depression neurotransmitter serotonin. Dr. Wahls Lazarus like return to life is detailed in this book.

She is a fan of the right blood levels of Vitamin D3 and Vitamin complex in reversing the MS. Instead of Death and Disability she chooses to read the European Medical Journals in the evening. These journals pointed to more optimum blood levels of 50-80ng/ml for disease prevention. Disease prevention includes autoimmune disease, cancer and depression.  Dr. Wahls states in her presentations that we either invest in ourselves and our family’ health now with the right nutrition and health habits or we pay for our poor choices with disability and premature death.

Vitamins and Nutrition:

On Page 36 she cites The Oregon Brain Aging Study. The results of this study that high levels of of vitamins and fatty acids, “ were the most powerful predictors of brain health”.

The 9 cup Rule:  3 cups of greens; 3  cups of color; 3 cups Sulfur rich vegetables.

Dr. Wahls mantra is 9 cups a day fruits and vegetables every day. She breaks this down into 3 cups of greens of raw or cooked vegetables “the darker the better”; 3 cups of colored  vegetables and fruits ( tomatoes, berries); 3 cups sulfur rich vegetables (onions and garlic) every day.

Gluten and Dairy sensitivities:

“Twenty to  30 percent of those with European ancestry have….greater risk of gluten sensitivity”. The leaky gut related to gluten and dairy/casein sensitivity can cause an autoimmune reaction.

Color:

Dr. Wahls cites on page 136. Colored fruits and vegetables have; “ anti-inflammatory properties; anti-cancer; healthier brain and overall cells; improved prostate health; DNA protection; anti-bacterial properties; immune system health; skin health; reproductive health; eye health and stronger more elastic blood vessels”.

Resources:

Dr. Wahls lists some very helpful resources and some excellent food and recipes tips at the back of this book. She mentions a quick dinner stir fry but says to make enough that breakfast or lunch the next day.

 The Resources also cites sources of organic meat and vegetables. This book is a must read for anyone dealing with potentially long term disability like Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, MS etc. Dr. Wahls is proof that we can regain our life and health by following a few simple principals.

You might find of interest:

1-      Dr. Terry Wahls 17 minute You Tube TEDx Iowa City how she Beat MS.

2-      Minding Your Mitochorndria- How I over came Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis ( MS) and got out of my wheel chair. ( Paperback 4/1/2010)