Article at a Glance
- Developed in the 1950s by neurologist Roy Swank, MD, PhD, the Swank diet helps to ease multiple sclerosis symptoms and progression.
- The Swank diet is a low-fat eating plan that restricts saturated and polyunsaturated fats, but encourages plenty of fish, vegetables, grains, and fruits.
- Research spanning 34 years showed positive results, with no further progression of MS in participants.
- Best herbal remedies for autoimmunity to help reduce fatigue, inflammation, and brain fog include cordyceps, reishi, turkey tail, and lion's mane medicinal mushrooms found in Nicole's Apothecary Mushroom FOURtress, available at NicolesApothecary.com.
Can the Swank diet ease multiple sclerosis symptoms?
Developed in the mid-1950s to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), the Swank diet is a low-fat eating plan that restricts saturated and polyunsaturated fats but encourages plenty of fish, vegetables, grains, and fruits. Proponents of the diet say that it has helped to control the progression and severity of the disease without the common side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. It was designed by neurologist Roy Swank, MD, PhD based on his observations of MS prevalence in countries with diets high in fat, particularly in saturated fat, such as the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia. Remarkably, those living in fishing communities in Norway tended to have lower rates of the disease in which a good portion of their diet was fish, compared to Norwegians who lived in mountainous regions with a high consumption of meat.[ 1 ] It's a fascinating area of study. But can the Swank diet truly help those with MS?
History of the Swank Diet
In 1948, Dr. Swank was given a five-year opportunity to investigate multiple sclerosis. He began at the Montreal Neurological Clinic and researched information at the McGill University library. He found that after a high-fat meal, blood cells clumped together, which impeded circulation in the capillaries. His theory was that this same mechanism blocked the tiny blood vessels in the blood-brain barrier, triggering inflammation and lesions in the brain.
At the conclusion of four months of intense study, he was led to three possible leads:
- Typically, the onset of severe attacks developed quickly.
- The onset of most MS attacks suggested vascular origins.
- While the disease was found worldwide, it was particularly common in industrial countries.[ 1 ]
He then traveled to Western Europe and established that multiple sclerosis along the coast of Norway was rare (1 per 10,000 people), but was more common in the mountains (around 9 per 10,000 people).[ 2 ] Those who lived in the mountains consumed a diet rich in meat, milk, eggs, and cheese, whereas the coastal communities ate a variety of seafood. Swank also noted that MS is more common in Switzerland where German is spoken, and rare where Italian is spoken — indicating cultural dietary patterns may play a role in the development of the disease. A traditional German diet is heavy in pork, sausages, and dairy, while a traditional Italian diet (known as a Mediterranean diet) is lighter in meat and lower in fat.
What is the Swank MS Diet?
Based on his research, Swank, along with dietician Aagot Grimsgaard, developed an MS diet in 1950: a maximum of 10 to 15 grams of animal saturated fat dairy (this also includes plant-based saturated fat such as coconut and palm oils), plus 20 to 40 grams of unsaturated fat. Protein sources include seafood and skim milk. In addition, vegetables, fruits, and grains were also consumed.
He then put 25 MS patients on the diet in the mid-1950s. Six participants dropped out and five died. The remaining 19 patients who stayed on the diet stabilized and did not experience further progression of the disease.[ 3 ] Encouraged by these findings, Swank continued the research over 34 years with 144 MS patients. The results were published in 1990 in The Lancet: 95 percent of those who adhered to the diet with 20 grams or less of daily saturated fat did not experience progression of their MS and remained physically active.[ 4 ] Interestingly, the diet also increased longevity, with a death rate of 31 percent for the participants, compared to an 80 percent death rate for those consuming a typical high-fat diet. It's important to keep in mind that the absence of a control group and lack of brain imaging are limitations to these findings.
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Is The Swank Diet Still Relevant Today?
Multiple sclerosis patients still use the Swank diet with good results. It's also straightforward without having to count calories or measure out food to specific amounts. A vegetarian version of the Swank diet (known as the McDougall diet) increases the amount of plant-based foods and eliminates animal products. It is far more restrictive on fat as well, eliminating all added oils and high-fat plant foods such as coconut, avocado, nuts, and seeds. Favorable reductions in weight, body mass index, and total cholesterol were seen, along with a lessening of MS fatigue. However, participants did not see improvements in their brain scans or the number of flares in comparison to the control group.[ 5 ]
Alternatively, many have found success with a modified Paleolithic-style diet, such as Dr. Terry Wahls’s protocol that excludes grains and gluten. A 2017 study found that the diet, when combined with exercise, muscle electrical stimulation, and stress management, improved mood, cognitive symptoms, and quality of life for those with multiple sclerosis.[ 6 ] I personally highly recommend Dr. Terry Wahls’ protocol.
The Takeaway
The Swank diet is still used today and helps to improve MS symptoms. Its focus is very low saturated fat — including those from meats, dairy, and coconut/palm oils. A plant-based version is the McDougall diet that takes it further by eliminating all added oils, nuts, and seeds — along with animal products. Both have been found to improve longevity and quality of life in those with multiple sclerosis, with the McDougall diet also reducing MS-related fatigue. Observational findings with the Swank diet found that it also slowed the progression of the disease, but it's important to keep in mind the limitations of these findings as they were not based on actual brain scans nor did the study have a control group. A modified Paleolithic-style diet like the Wahls Protocol is a modern alternative that has shown promising results. In addition to diet, Nicole's Apothecary Mushroom FOURtress Bundle is an outstanding ally to address inflammation, brain fog, fatigue, and more. I personally use this bundle every day to manage my MS. Stop by the apothecary today to learn how our gold standard medicinal extracts can help you to thrive!
Nicole Apelian
Actions Steps & FAQs
Action Steps
- Consult with your healthcare practitioner before beginning a new dietary program to address any contraindications.
- Establish whether the Swank, McDougall, or Wahls Protocol is best for your personal health goals and lifestyle.
- Begin slowly by gradually introducing more of the allowed foods, while decreasing those that are off-limits.
- Work with a certified dietitian to make sure your diet is balanced and not deficient in nutrients.
- Integrate herbal remedies to lower inflammation, fight fatigue, and improve cognitive function. See Nicole's Apothecary Mushroom FOURtress Bundle, available at NicolesApothecary.com.
FAQ
What foods are allowed on the Swank MS diet?
Whole grains, eggs (accounting for 5 grams of saturated fat per egg), whole grain pasta and rice, white meat poultry without skin, fruit, vegetables, white fish and shellfish (fatty fish count toward daily fat intake), coffee, nuts, and seeds.
Is there anything that should be restricted on the Swank diet?
Maximum 15 grams of saturated fat/day, limit unsaturated fat to 20-50 grams per day, red meat (including pork and wild game), dairy with more than one percent butterfat, margarine, shortening, processed foods.
How is the McDougall diet different from the Swank diet?
The McDougall diet is an entirely plant-based, low-fat diet that also eliminates all added oils and high-fat plant foods such as coconut, avocado, nuts, and seeds. It focuses on potatoes, rice, corn, beans, and whole grains along with vegetables and fruits.
What are the best herbal remedies for autoimmunity?
Cordyceps, reishi, turkey tail, and lion's mane medicinal mushrooms are outstanding for MS and other autoimmune diseases to help fight fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and more. Nicole's Apothecary offers dual-extracted, fruiting body tinctures of these mushrooms in our Mushroom FOURtress Bundle, available at NicolesApothecary.com
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Mushroom FOURtress Bundle
References
- About the Swank MS Foundation, https://www.swankmsdiet.org/about-the-swank-ms-foundation
- Swank RL, Dugan BB, Swank RL. The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Book: a Low-Fat Diet for the Treatment of M.S. Garden City, NY: Doubleday; 1987. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/175625/the-multiple-sclerosis-diet-book-by-roy-laver-swank/
- Wahls T, Scott MO, Alshare Z. Dietary approaches to treat MS-related fatigue: comparing the modified Paleolithic (Wahls Elimination) and low saturated fat (Swank) diets on perceived fatigue in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2018;19(1). doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2680-x. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-018-2680-x
- Swank R, Dugan B. Effect of low saturated fat diet in early and late cases of multiple sclerosis. The Lancet. 1990;336(8706):37-39. doi:10.1016/0140-6736(90)91533-g
- Yadav, Vijayshree et al. “Low-fat, plant-based diet in multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial.” Multiple sclerosis and related disorders vol. 9 (2016): 80-90. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2016.07.001. https://www.msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(16)30100-6/fulltext
- Lee, Jennifer E et al. “A Multimodal, Nonpharmacologic Intervention Improves Mood and Cognitive Function in People with Multiple Sclerosis.” Journal of the American College of Nutrition vol. 36,3 (2017): 150-168. doi:10.1080/07315724.2016.1255160. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28394724/
