Health: Good nutrition is vital

The most complex and extraordinary cells in our body are those making up our nervous system.

No computer on earth can come close to the complexity of our brain and the nerve cells that send and receive communication.

When working properly, the seamless operation of thought processes which are then relayed to muscles for bodily operation are nothing short of miraculous. However when these complex systems fail as a result of injury, or disease, the outcome can be catastrophic.

The most common chronic diseases that damage the nervous system are multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which destroys the myelin sheath that protects and insulates some nerve fibres. This changes functional myelin to useless lesions (scleroses) which cause several motor coordination and other problems.

Scientists debate the causes but generally accepted risk factors include low levels of vitamin D and some viruses, especially Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). The links were outlined in research published in 2008. A resulting paper concluded low vitamin D and immune system inflammation were important contributors to myelin destruction.

Any disease that involves the over-production of immune system generated inflammation could in theory respond to targeted nutritional therapy.

My nutritional strategy starts with vitamin D and then a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral/antioxidant complex.

We then add high doses of Omega 3 to get the EPA and DHA Omega 3 fatty acids known to influence inflammation.

To this, we include a potent mixture of anti-inflammatory compounds and also target energy producing nutrients such as CoQ10, B vitamins and many more.

With MS, as with any disease of the nervous system I would rather a bit more than a bit less.

John Arts is the founder of Abundant Health Ltd. To contact John, phone 0800 423559 or email john@johnarts.co.nz. You can join his weekly newsletter at www.johnarts.co.nz. Product information at www.abundant.co.nz.