Preventing The Paralysis Of ALS

Carl Lowe | Jan 30, 2013 | Comments 0

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a gruesome disease, attacking nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain, paralyzing its victims and killing them slowly over a period of years. No effective treatment exists, but researchers have found that eating certain foods can reduce your risk of this awful condition.

The foods that fight ALS, according to research, are colorful fruits and vegetables.

“ALS is a devastating degenerative disease that generally develops between the ages of 40 and 70, and affects more men than women,” says researcher Dr. Alberto Ascherio, of Harvard. “Understanding the impact of food consumption on ALS development is important. Our study is one of the largest to date to examine the role of dietary antioxidants in preventing ALS.”

The Harvard study found that a greater total carotenoid intake was linked to reduced risk of ALS. (Carotenoids are the pigments that give fruits and vegetables their hue.)

In this study, individuals who consumed more carotenoids in their diet, particularly beta carotene and lutein found in dark green vegetables, enjoyed a significantly lower riskof ALS. Researchers did not find that lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C reduced the risk of ALS. Long-term vitamin C supplement intake was also not associated with lower ALS risk.

Ascherio concludes, “Our findings suggest that consuming carotenoid-rich foods may help prevent or delay the onset of ALS. Further food-based analyses are needed to examine the impact of dietary nutrients on ALS.”