Minding My Mitochondria 2nd Edition: How I overcame secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and got out of my wheelchair.

After seeing Dr. Wahls Ted Talk I ordered her book. I am in my early 60's and had brain fog. My creative self could not be accessed and I missed me. I enlisted the help of a friend because eating is a social thing and we both moved in the direction of The Wahls Diet. We greatly increased our intake of highly nutritious foods, the large helping of vegetables and removed from our food habits any processed foods and wheat. Once replacement food choices for wheat products were discovered giving up wheat was so easy and so rewarding I could hardly believe it. Sugars went as well. My afternoon Mocha treat was the hardest change for me but again so well worth it. Like a bad friend, it had to go.My friend and I were immediately rewarded with better sleep, loss of anxiety, no brain fog, and weight loss. Without trying or ever feeling hungry pounds just left on their own. I started at 140 and loss 15 pounds. We wished we had taken our measurements when we started because we lost inches, lots of inches. We continue to explore the road to our wellness with hood habits and to increase our knowledge of the nutrition to be found in different foods.So many of the tiny losses of wellbeing that I had, like slowness in waking up the stairs, small but constant aches and pains, brain fog and lack of energy, things I thought were because of my age have all become replaced by increased wellness. They are, for the most part, gone. Before I was fearing growing old now I am embracing it. What comes will come but I do not have to be a brain dead zombie. I am back to thinking 60 is the new 40, maybe even 30. ok, 30 is pushing it. :)With my own success I offered the wisdom of the diet to another friend of mine who has had MS for 20 years. She is in a wheel chair with low mobility and poor use of her hands. Her thinking abilities are also affected. Moving towards the Wahls Diet has rewarded her greatly. Her hands have stopped the nerve tingly business, her depression has lifted, her legs are cooperating more and are often less stiff and solid. When you have been sick for a long time and sliding down into more sickness Hope can be an emotionally expensive stance but we have grown some Hope within her. Also a sense of personal empowerment. Her choices are affecting her health in positive ways. Being in a wheel chair losing weight was not easy until she gladly and with ease gave up wheat. She has lost ten pounds in two months. We will continue in our efforts for wellness and are very excited to have the useful and result offering information in Dr. Wahls book and talk.Another result of this diet has been for me what I might describe as spiritual. Eating the proper nutritious foods I feel so well met by the plants that offer their nutrition and the planet that grows them. Everyday I celebrate and give thanks for the miracle, the perfection of nature and how perfectly me and my bodies needs fit into it. I have joyfully replaced the false promises on brightly colored boxes from the store with bunches of greens from local gardens. I am fed by my time in my small garden. There is a poetry of appreciation available to me now by my new habits and hobbies. Yes, joy. I sometimes wonder what on earth was I thinking before. I had always been told to eat my greens. I just never knew what it meant or what I was missing. Thank you Dr. Wahls.

I have had MS for at least 15 years. Our son, now 22, has recovered from autism using a similar diet plan. So, all was not new to me. This book isexcellent and fully researched. In addition it is full of information and advice on recommended supplements.In the span of 4 months I came back to life. It is though my life is starting all over again. I have not fallen since May, and I can now exercise--with intensity--for over thirty minutes. Prior to the diet I fell often and could not exercise more than 5 minutes. My quality of life was getting worse, not improving. My greatest concern is for my vision and I am grateful that my optic neuritis has also greatly improved.This diet is not for sissies--it is tough. A simple common sense plan that requires great commitment to implement.I studied Minding My Mitochondria and the Better Brain Book (Dr. David Perlmutter--neurologist) side by side. I wish they would join together and write a new book. :)Both brilliant doctors who practice compassion, common sense and the belief that your brain can be healed if it is nourished.If you want to be healed--this I have not yet attained--or improve your situation--there is no risk here in working towards that goal. I know I know, MS can't be healed. Well--says who? I have lived long enough (50) to now know that there are massive errors in the current medical system.We only live once and we should try.As I tell everyone--the most difficult day on this diet is better than the best day off of it.So what if I am high maintenance? I am in the game.This is a long journey of healing the body--and I have more steps to go. But this diet restored my life.Thank you Terry Wahls and David Permutter!

I bought this book after watching a video on Dr. Wahls' website. Her presentation on the video was so straightforward, interesting, and credible that both my husband and I wanted to read the book as well.Due to problems with concentration, I haven't read a book, cover to cover since July 2009.....until now. I credit having adopted some of her suggestions with an improvement in concentration, allowing me to read, but also the content of the book itself and the manner in which it is written.This book answers the question of why? in eating certain foods, in a manner that was easy for me to understand and then implement.The recipes are wonderful and I have been able to serve many to my family (which includes two young children).I particularly like the section where Dr. Wahls discusses various vitamins and micronutrients and then links to the food source. This book is well researched and provides many footnotes and references for further reading.The most impressive, to me, aspect of this work is that it is clearly from her heart. She openly discusses what she tried and why, encourages people to adopt a way of eating that supports our brain and fuels our body, while also encouraging common sense and customizing the plan based on individual needs/conditions (and discussing with one's nutritionist and/or GP). In summary, this way of eating/living is a guide, one that I am thankful has been presented in a manner that I can understand AND follow.