Autoimmune diseases are incredibly common affecting over 23 million Americans and there are quite a few of them, currently, 80 identified autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which your “immune system mistakenly attacks your body” identifying certain body parts — such as organs, joints, and skin — as foreign. Your immune system is a powerful weapon when it comes to legitimate foreign invaders — such as bacteria and viruses — but when the immune system deploys fighter cells to damage healthy cells the effects can be fatal.
Myasthenia gravis happens to be one of the more common autoimmune diseases and is characterized by “weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles under your voluntary control,” such as facial and throat muscles.
Myasthenia gravis shares one thing in common with other autoimmune disease and that’s inflammation and one of the best ways to naturally reduce bodily inflammation is with a plant-based diet. Plants are rich in anti-inflammatory agents, as well as filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. All of these factors help fight inflammation caused by Myasthenia gravis.
What is Myasthenia Gravis?
While Myasthenia gravis is a common autoimmune disease, in general, it is a relatively rare disease overall, affecting 14 to 20 people — mostly women — out of every 100,000. Each autoimmune disease targets specific parts of the body — some affecting general bodily functions — and this specific version affects nerve impulses that help the brain control the muscles. With Myasthenia gravis, when your autoimmune system “attacks the neuromuscular junction” it causes permanent damage disrupting and impairing normal communication from “nerves to muscles”, and therefore the “signals can’t direct the muscles to contract.” Due to this muscle-nerve impairment, Myasthenia gravis comes with a host of unpleasant symptoms including “weakness of arm or leg muscles, double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulties with speech, chewing, swallowing and breathing.”
As rings true with all other autoimmune diseases, there is no cure for Myasthenia gravis, yet current medical treatments, therapies, and diet changes have shown to help relieve symptoms.
Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms
One of the most common symptoms of Myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness, which can generally be mistaken for simple muscle tension or normal fatigue, in the onset, but grow worse as nerve impulses are continually blocked by the immune system antibodies. As muscle weakness grows worse, more symptoms begin to evolve including ptosis, — drooping eyelids (of one or both) — diplopia, — blurred or double vision — change in facial expression, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, dysarthria, — impaired speech — and weakness body extremities including arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck.
Managing Myasthenia Gravis with Plant-Based Food
While treatment for Myasthenia gravis depends on the severity, it generally involves a few different options. There is the surgical option — removing the thymus gland, which can help rebalance the immune system — medicinal options — including anticholinesterase medications or immunosuppressive drugs — or therapies for more severe cases — including plasmapheresis, the removal and replacement of harmful antibodies from plasma, and intravenous immunoglobulin, a concentrated injection of antibodies from healthy donors.
Even though more intervention-oriented treatment may be necessary, dietary choices have also been found to be a promising method of symptom management for autoimmune diseases. In particular, plant-based foods that are high in anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants have been shown to help reduce and manage inflammation that leads to autoimmune disease-related issues.
Overall, a healthy, well-balanced diet that is rich in a variety of vegetables, fruits, and grains, as well as one that is low in fat and cholesterol, is recommended. On top of that, it’s recommended to reduce sugar and salt consumption, as well as alcoholic beverages.
With that said, when it comes to Myasthenia gravis there are few other concerns that a plant-based diet can also naturally address.
First off, due to muscle fatigue, it’s difficult for Myasthenia gravis sufferers to maintain a healthy weight due to lack of activity. Plant-based foods are either low or have no cholesterol at all, are generally low in caloric value, and are rich in vitamins and minerals, making them great for weight management. Secondly, medications and treatments for Myasthenia gravis can lead to stomach upset — in particular, diarrhea and vomiting — which may lead to low potassium levels. Once again, plant-based foods save the day! Most have either a small dose or are brimming with potassium, depending on the food item.
Foods to Avoid
When it comes to avoiding foods, steer clear of processed and packaged food items. These foods are generally packed full of sugar, sodium, and polyunsaturated vegetable oils (margarine, vegetable shortening, and hydrogenated oils); the basic foods that should be avoided or consumed in smaller amounts with an autoimmune disorder. It’s also recommended to “reduce protein intake to 10 percent of total calories [and] replace animal protein as much as possible with plant protein,” as well as eliminate dairy. It’s also recommended to completely eliminate trans-fatty acids, most of which are found in processed foods.
Foods that are Beneficial
When it comes to incorporating foods into a Myasthenia gravis-friendly diet, it’s recommended to focus on foods that support a healthy body and counteract the medications and therapies that are generally necessary to keep the condition under control.
Make sure you’re working with your doctor or a dietician to confirm you’re getting all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients for an energized and healthy body. On top of that, make sure that you have eliminated or reduced the foods mentioned above in the “Foods to Avoid” section.
With that said, after you’ve spoken with your doctor, consider adding the below foods to your Myasthenia gravis diet to naturally fight inflammation, boost antioxidants, and reduce the negative side-effects of medications and therapies.
Ginger
Golden Milk Ice Cream/One Green Planet
Ginger is a well known natural remedy for nausea and digestive discomfort. Incorporating this aromatic and flavor-enriching root into a Myasthenia gravis-specific diet can help counteract the effects of medications and therapies that cause stomach upset. While ginger comes in potent capsule forms — such as this Pure Mountain Botanicals Vegan Ginger Capsules — cooking with ginger is a pleasure you just can’t refuse! Your mind might immediately turn to traditional Asian dishes, yet try your hand at some more creative non-traditional uses for ginger to shake up the norm such as this Golden Milk Ice Cream, this Real Vitality Tonic, or this super creative and filling Detox Breakfast Stew.
Turmeric
Liquid Gold Turmeric Latte/One Green Planet
Turmeric is one of the natural remedies that is recommended across the board for all autoimmune diseases. Why is this? Turmeric has a particularly potent anti-inflammatory compound called curcumin and when it comes to reducing autoimmune disease symptoms, you want all the anti-inflammatory aid available in the plant-based kingdom! Much like ginger, you can consume turmeric via potent capsules — such as this NativOrganics USDA Organic Vegan Turmeric Curcumin Supplement — with that said there’s not a whole lot of pleasure that comes from downing a supplement.
One of the most popular uses of turmeric these days is in a drink called golden milk. Golden milk is hailed as the best alternative to coffee, which also happens to be hugely anti-inflammatory. Plus, you can personalize golden milk however you like. Here are a few creative golden milk ideas to percolate those creative juices: Golden Latte (for those coffee lovers!), Green Goddess Golden Milk Smoothie, Liquid Gold Turmeric Latte, or this Goji Berry Golden Milk.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Cherry Hemp Oat Bars/One Green Planet
When it comes to reducing the pain related to bodily inflammation, you can’t do much better than omega-3 fatty acids. Various studies have been conducted looking at the relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and inflammation and the findings show that this specific form of fatty acid can actually reduce inflammation-related pain as effectively as ibuprofen, in some cases. Increasing omega-3 fatty acid intake on a Myasthenia gravis-friendly diet is a great way to reduce inflammation and naturally treat inflammation-related pain.
Along the same lines of ginger and turmeric, you can find vegan-friendly, algae-sourced omega-3 fatty acid supplements — such as this Nested Naturals Vegan Omega 3 — yet you can also incorporate natural plant-based sources into your diet such as chia seed, — Chia Pudding with Blueberries (which also provides a dose of antioxidant-rich blueberries) — hemp seed, — Cherry Hemp Oat Bars (which also include natural pain-reducing cherries) — walnuts, — Raw Taco Salad (great for substituting out meat-products) and Brussels sprouts — Brussels Sprouts with Turmeric (which are infused with anti-inflammatory turmeric).
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Chili Olive Oil/One Green Planet
While it’s important to steer clear of trans fats, saturated fat, and cholesterol, healthy fats are actually beneficial for a balanced diet. Healthy fats — monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and omega-3 fatty acids in particular — have actually been shown to reduce inflammation and help moderate cholesterol. Plus, they are filled with other vitamins and minerals that are essential for a balanced diet. When it comes to good sources of healthy fats, you can’t get much better than extra-virgin olive oil, which is rich in monounsaturated fat and has a healthy dose of polyunsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, this oil is a wonderful aid in your kitchen.
Sprinkle it atop your favorite salad or substitute it in baking. Yet, extra-virgin olive oil thrives best when used to make toppings and dips such as this Le Pain Quotidien’s Basil Oil Hemp Pesto, this Chili Olive Oil, or this Roasted Beetroot Hummus with Pita Chips.
We also highly recommend downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for iPhone, and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!
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