Diet and Nutrition

The Swank Diet for Multiple Sclerosis

Key features of the Swank Diet

Key features of the Swank Diet

The key features of the diet include limiting fats and avoiding unsaturated fats which are found in food sources such as coconut oil, palm oil, butter, margarine, shortening, and hydrogenated oils. The goal is to not go above 50g of fat a day, with no more than 15g of saturated fat and no less than 20g of unsaturated fat. Fruits and vegetables are encouraged in any amount with a minimum of 2 servings of both per day. Participants can also eat non-fat dairy products without restriction. Whole grains are preferred, but 4 servings of grains in general are recommended every day. Overall the diet can be pretty limiting and difficult to stick to, which could be one more daily stress to worry about. People who are interested in trying the Swank diet are encouraged to take multivitamins, vitamins E and C, as well as cod liver supplements to avoid deficiencies. One study reports that people following the Swank Diet were not getting adequate amounts of vitamins C, A, E, and folate.