Welcome to the Nourish and Heal MS Naturally series! This is the first step in your healing journey.

When living with multiple sclerosis (MS) you may be wondering if there’s a better way to feel stronger. You’re in the right place. Here on this blog, I follow a simple approach I call Nourish and Heal. It’s about giving your body the nutrition, care, and kindness it needs. One step at a time, you begin to rebuild, restore, and strengthen.

You don’t have to do everything at once. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to start.

Why Nourishment Starts Your “Nourish and Heal MS Naturally” Journey

When I first started my own healing journey 20+ years ago, I changed what I ate. But what really made a difference was how I nourished my body and my mind. I learned that healing isn’t about strict rules or punishment. It’s about flooding your body with what it needs to repair itself:

• Nutrients from real foods
• Calmness from a peaceful mind
• Love and patience for yourself, even on the hard days

Our bodies are always trying to heal. When we give them the right support, they can do incredible things, even after years of living with MS. I discovered this for myself when my heat intolerance finally reversed. I had suffered with it for about 20 years. This Nourish and Heal MS Naturally approach helped me reverse symptoms like heat intolerance and improve my energy.

This article from the National MS Society explains how nutrition plays a role in MS management.

Your Week 1 Healing Focus: Start Gentle

This first week, your goal is simple: Add more of the good stuff.

Here’s what to start focusing on:

• 3 cups leafy greens (like spinach, mixed greens, kale)
• 1 cup cruciferous veggies (like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage)
• 1–2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
• At least 8 glasses of water

You don’t have to be perfect, but some things do need to go. Foods like dairy, processed snacks, refined sugar, gluten, and artificial ingredients can all feed inflammation. For many people with MS, that means more symptoms and more flares. I know it’s hard (I’ve been there), but removing these from your diet is a powerful first step toward healing.

Don’t worry about doing it all at once. Just start where you are. One simple way to add more healing foods is by blending them into a smoothie. It helps crowd out the junk without feeling overwhelmed by big salads or extra cooking.

If you’re looking for simple snack ideas, here are a few that helped me when I was getting started:

• Broccoli or cauliflower florets dipped in a homemade salsa or guacamole
• Sliced cucumbers or carrots with a simple avocado dip
• A handful of cherry tomatoes or grapes
• A small smoothie as an afternoon pick-me-up

Finding a few go-to snacks you enjoy can make a big difference. There’s not much there now. But, I’ll be adding more recipes where I’ll share simple ideas like my mango salsa dip for dipping veggies. There’ll be quick and easy ways to stay nourished and excited about eating healthy!

A quick note about water:

You might feel nervous about drinking more because of bladder issues. But staying hydrated is extremely important for healing. Water helps your cells repair and flush out toxins. It also supports better brain function. Dehydration can actually make MS symptoms worse, not better.

If you’re worried about drinking too much too fast, start slow. Sip throughout the day instead of gulping all at once. But make sure you are drinking enough water. If you need help, get an app to track how much you’re drinking in one day. You might be surprised at how little you’re drinking. – I was. 

The app I use is Water Reminder – Daily Tracker. It’s a free app that also has a friendly alarm to remind you to drink.
Need help drinking more water? Click here for easy hydration tips with MS.

The Other Half of Healing: Managing Stress

Now, here’s something really important, something I wish someone had told me earlier:

Stress can stop your body from healing.

I learned this the hard way. When my MS symptoms were starting to reverse, I went through a period of extreme stress.

• My job became overwhelming, with crushing deadlines that made me feel trapped.
• At home, my son, newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was struggling. He landed in the hospital multiple times within one year.
• I felt like everything was riding on me, and I couldn’t control any of it.

The constant stress wasn’t just exhausting. It stopped my healing in its tracks. And it wasn’t just the big stresses. It was also the small daily stresses and the way I talked to myself. The fear, the pressure, the negativity.

Over time, I realized:

• A negative mind creates stress.
• Stress creates more negativity.
• Both keep the body stuck in survival mode instead of healing mode.

If you’re serious about healing, your mindset has to be part of the protocol too.

How to Gently Start a Healing Mindset

You don’t have to be perfectly positive. You don’t have to fake happiness when you don’t feel it. You just need to start noticing your thoughts and gently shifting them when you can.

This week, here’s a simple mindset goal:

Pick one small healing thought to repeat to yourself every day.

Some ideas:

• “I am healing one step at a time.”
• “Every healthy choice is helping me.”
• “My body wants to heal, and I am helping it.”

Say it in the morning. Say it when you eat. Say it before bed. Let it sink in little by little. Healing isn’t just about what you eat. It’s about what you feed your mind, too.

This Week’s Simple Plan

Nutrition Goal:

• 3 cups leafy greens
• 1 cup cruciferous veggies
• 1–2 tablespoons flaxseeds
• 8 glasses of water

Mindset Goal:

• Choose one healing thought and repeat it daily.

Self-Kindness Goal:

• Celebrate every small win. Even if it’s just drinking one more glass of water than yesterday. Even if it’s just choosing one handful of spinach. You’re moving forward, and that matters.

Final Thoughts

This is the beginning of something beautiful. You’ve started the Nourish and Heal MS Naturally protocol—and that’s something to celebrate. You are not broken. You are not hopeless. Your body is still fighting for you. Right now, you are giving it the love and support it needs. And I’ll be here walking with you, one small step at a time. Next week, we’ll gently build on this, adding even more healing foods and small victories.

Until then, be proud of yourself. You’re doing something amazing. You are nourishing and healing. 🧡

💌 Nourish and Heal MS Naturally — Start by Tracking Your Progress

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Track small changes, stay consistent, and take simple steps toward feeling better.