How to start the Wahls protocol and Alternative Treatments

For the past month we have been looking at conventional medical treatments for multiple sclerosis. Now we will start looking at alternative treatments and how they can complement conventional treatments and also in some cases do better than conventional treatments. First on the list of alternative treatments is the Wahls Protocol.

About Dr. Terry Wahls

Dr. Terry Wahls is a Clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa college of medicine. She teaches internal medicine residents and also does clinical research. She was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and 2000 and transitioned to secondary progressive MS in 2003. She tried chemotherapy as a treatment method and was forced to use a wheelchair because of weakness in her back muscles. Because of her medical training, she looked at the up and coming research for new medications to try and find something that would help, but everything was too far off from FDA approval. Then her thinking shifted. She began to research vitamins and minerals that would support brain health and started to supplement with these. She did notice her decline was slowing, but was still declining.

In 2007 she discovered functional medicine, the idea of treating the whole body and looking for root causes instead of treating only symptoms and diseases. This led her to the thought of changing her diet so included all of the vitamins and minerals that she had discovered in her research. The early iteration of the Wahls Protocol was born.

In only a years time, she went from being in a tilt recline wheelchair to walking without a cane and biking to work daily.

The protocol itself has three separate levels. Level one; the walls diet, level two walls Paleo or level III walls Paleo plus. Usually people start out in level one and then progress from there if needed.

Level one; The Wahls Diet

This Level is the most basic form of the walls protocol and involves three major elements:

1. 9 cups of fruit vegetables every day

The 9 cups of fruit vegetables are broken down in specific categories.

– 3 cups of raw or cooked leafy greens.These include things like collard greens, Swiss chard, kale and Asian greens.

– 3 cups of deeply colored vegetables and fruits.This would be things like tomatoes, beats, carrots, berries and winter squash.

– 3 cups of sulfur rich vegetables. These include asparagus, cabbage, turnips, radish, broccoli, onions and garlic.

2. Gluten-free and dairy-free.

According to Dr. walls, these are two of the most important things you can eliminate. This is due to the role that gluten and dairy play in leaky gut. Most (if not all) individuals who have an autoimmune condition have leaky gut, and gluten and dairy are incredibly damaging to the gut lining. When these particles pass through the damaged intestinal lining, they can create an exaggerated immune response. This can also lead to a hyperactive immune system that reacts to other foods that it didn’t react to before. This is also why healing your gut can lead to a decrease in food sensitivities as well!

3. Organic, Grass-fed, Wild Caught

Dr. Wahls states that organic, grass-fed and wild caught sources of protein are the highest quality of protein that are available for us and this should be eaten whenever possible.

Level Two: Wahls Paleo

Level Two increases healing that much more. This Level is for individuals who have an advanced autoimmune condition, have a neurological issue, psychological problems or chronic illnesses. Level Two includes everything in Level One as well as:

1. Reduce all grains, legumes and potatoes to two servings a week.

Eliminating grains entirely is preferred, but the two servings are to allow for social events/situations with friends and family. The two servings are certainly not required. The focus should be on consuming more non-starchy veggies than grains.

2. Include seaweed, algae and organ meats

Yes! Seaweed and organ meat! These are some of the most nutritious foods on the planet and they should be included in your diet.

3. Include fermented foods, soaked seeds/nuts, and raw foods.

These types of foods are rich in enzymes. Many of the foods consumed today have lost their enzyme content due how they are processed. Eating raw foods can help recoup some of these lost nutrients. Raw fruits and veggies, fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, soaked nuts and seeds and raw animal proteins like sushi and steak tartare are great options.

Level Three: Wahls Paleo Plus

This is the most intense level and is needed if an individual doesn’t find healing on the first two levels. Level Three is a low carb, high fat diet that is very similar to a ketogenic diet. This Level includes the guidelines of both previous Level’s as well as:

1. Eliminate all grains, legumes and potatoes

This includes the twice a week servings that were allowed in Level Two.

2. Eat at least 6 cups of veggies daily, divided evenly between greens. color and sulfur.

This is a modification from the previous levels. When eating on Level Three, and individual won’t be as hungry, so the amount of food is adjusted from 9 cups of veggies to 6 cups.

3. Limit cooked starchy veggies and fruit

Starchy veggies should be eaten only twice a week at most. If you have a cooked starchy veggie, you should consume a decent amount of fat along with it. If you consume a raw starchy veggie, you can count that toward part of your 6 cups.

4. Include coconut oil and full fat coconut milk

Eating healthy fats has a wonderful effect on your health. They are incredibly important for brain and heart health and will give you incredible energy as well.

5. Eat twice per day and fast 12-16 hours every night

The high amount of fat consumed on this Level along with the adequate protein consumption will lead you to be not as hungry on this Level. Also, during the times of fasting, your body will be able to focus on other tasks it needs to be doing. Healing, eliminating toxins and creating hormones will be able to be done best while not eating.

Other aspects of the Wahls Protocol

Along with the diet, there are other things to consider while on the Wahls Protocol. Eliminating toxins, exercise and stress management are all parts of the protocol too.

Individuals who have an autoimmune disease often test high for heavy metals or impaired detox pathways. Focusing on supporting your bodies natural ability to detox will be important, even if you don’t test positive for heavy metals. This can be accomplished mostly through diet, but also through using saunas, algae/kelp, clay, dry brushing, among other methods. Minimizing your toxic exposure will be important as well. Reducing your usage of chemicals either in cleaning products, skin care or beauty products. Drinking filtered water is important and using glass instead of plastic food storage containers.

“If you aren’t mobile now and you change nothing about what you are doing, you’re not going to become mobile in the future” – Dr. Terry Wahls. Exercise is an important part of healing, on any healing journey. Neither Dr. Wahls nor myself are saying go start weightlifting or run a 10k right away. But starting where you are, then increasing from there, is important. Basically the idea of, use it or lose it.

Our bodies need stress. That is how we adapt, change and grow. The problem arises when we have too much of it, all the time, called chronic stress. Think a stressful job, the stress of home life or the stress of having a chronic illness. When this happens it creates an overproduction of stress hormones, which can wreak havoc upon our bodies. Stress management and stress prevention techniques are vital.

Making changes to any way of eating can be very difficult. Especially when we feel like it is going to be a terrible thing or a challenge. Going into something with an open mind and hope can make the difference between success or failure. When making a large change like this, it is important to have a realistic idea of how you would do best. Either gradually or cold turkey. Everyone is different, so do what is right for you! Message me and let me know what works for you!

I’M ALISSA!

I help women who have also been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis make specific and personalized diet, lifestyle & subconscious changes so that they can begin to heal their body, reduce disease symptoms, and return to a life they love.hey there,

Categories

Treatment Options: Medications in the Pipeline

Back to Blog Home

Alternative Treatments: Low Dose Naltrexone

follow along on Instagram:

👉🏼Feeling stuck with your MS symptoms?
👉🏼Feeling like your body betrayed you and is working against you?
👉🏼Are you worried you’re stuck like this and will never get better?

I get it. At one point I did too.

Years ago I was experiencing “Aggressive MS” and I thought I’d never function the same.

I thought my days of moving how I wanted, or doing anything on a whim were over.

I couldn’t walk well, couldn’t feel my body correctly and I was SCARED.

But now?
I’m confident in the ways I’m helping myself.
I no longer have aggressive MS.
I can move how I want, when I want.

Because of the changes I’ve made over the years.

No, it’s not easy, but that’s where I come in!!

I’ve dedicated my life to helping those with MS realize that feeling better is possible and helping them get there.

My 2 courses and my membership are on sale this weekend for Black Friday,

want to start your own success story??

Comment SUCCESS below and I’ll send you the link!!

14 0

Open

👉🏼Feeling stuck with your MS symptoms?
👉🏼Feeling like your body betrayed you and is working against you?
👉🏼Are you worried you’re stuck like this and will never get better?

I get it. At one point I did too.

Years ago I was experiencing “Aggressive MS” and I thought I’d never function the same.

I thought my days of moving how I wanted, or doing anything on a whim were over.

I couldn’t walk well, couldn’t feel my body correctly and I was SCARED.

But now?
I’m confident in the ways I’m helping myself.
I no longer have aggressive MS.
I can move how I want, when I want.

Because of the changes I’ve made over the years.

No, it’s not easy, but that’s where I come in!!

I’ve dedicated my life to helping those with MS realize that feeling better is possible and helping them get there.

My 2 courses and my membership are on sale this weekend for Black Friday,

want to start your own success story??

Comment SUCCESS below and I’ll send you the link!!

14 0

Grab your path to healing!!

These are the lowest prices for my courses like ever, and they won’t be back. (And they’ll prob be going up in the new year- planning some updates!!)

Comment HEALING below and I’ll send you a link, or check out my stories!!

3 2

Open

Grab your path to healing!!

These are the lowest prices for my courses like ever, and they won’t be back. (And they’ll prob be going up in the new year- planning some updates!!)

Comment HEALING below and I’ll send you a link, or check out my stories!!

3 2

The first step to being successful with managing stress (& being successful with anything really) is:

Awareness of where you currently are.

You can’t change or manage what you’re not aware of.

You can only know yourself as deep as you’re awareness of yourself goes.

Try this:
Right now as you read this, pause for a sec.
Take a deep breath, and ask yourself:

Where were my thoughts?
Where is my breathing?
What am I saying to myself?

Get really honest here too (warning- it might be uncomfy)

What did you discover while checking in? Let me know in the comments!

-
-
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!

14 1

Open

The first step to being successful with managing stress (& being successful with anything really) is:

Awareness of where you currently are.

You can’t change or manage what you’re not aware of.

You can only know yourself as deep as you’re awareness of yourself goes.

Try this:
Right now as you read this, pause for a sec.
Take a deep breath, and ask yourself:

Where were my thoughts?
Where is my breathing?
What am I saying to myself?

Get really honest here too (warning- it might be uncomfy)

What did you discover while checking in? Let me know in the comments!

-
-
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!

14 1

Progress is absolutely not linear.

But, it’s still progress nonetheless.

I see you if you’re in a “dip” or feel like you’re going “backwards”

You’re really not, you’re right where you should be.

Keep going!!
🧡❤️🧡

21 1

Open

Progress is absolutely not linear.

But, it’s still progress nonetheless.

I see you if you’re in a “dip” or feel like you’re going “backwards”

You’re really not, you’re right where you should be.

Keep going!!
🧡❤️🧡

21 1

Lol, all this got me was an MS diagnosis.

This was me basically my whole life up until a few years ago.

My clients have all talked about situations like this too.

It’s no wonder why a lot of us have an autoimmune disease now.

Please, speak your truth. Your body will thank you.

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.

I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.

Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!

90 4

Open

Lol, all this got me was an MS diagnosis.

This was me basically my whole life up until a few years ago.

My clients have all talked about situations like this too.

It’s no wonder why a lot of us have an autoimmune disease now.

Please, speak your truth. Your body will thank you.

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.

I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.

Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!

90 4

This has been a TOUGH week friends.

Don’t lose yourself.

What else would you add to this list?
What helps you when life is super hard?

❤️❤️

20 2

Open

This has been a TOUGH week friends.

Don’t lose yourself.

What else would you add to this list?
What helps you when life is super hard?

❤️❤️ ...

20 2

I’ve been actively working on my nervous system for the past year or two.

That hasn’t meant that all my anxiety or depression magically vanished.

It just means that when I do find myself feeling like an anxious mess or a depressed puddle, I know how to attend to and care for myself.

Not in the goal of “fixing” per se, more honoring and accepting.

This is one of the ways I help my clients improve their MS symptoms, but attending to their nervous systems and improving their stress response and resilience.

I have so many ways to work with me.. from 1:1 support to my free community.. comment below “interested” and we’ll chat about what would be right for you!

18 2

Open

I’ve been actively working on my nervous system for the past year or two.

That hasn’t meant that all my anxiety or depression magically vanished.

It just means that when I do find myself feeling like an anxious mess or a depressed puddle, I know how to attend to and care for myself.

Not in the goal of “fixing” per se, more honoring and accepting.

This is one of the ways I help my clients improve their MS symptoms, but attending to their nervous systems and improving their stress response and resilience.

I have so many ways to work with me.. from 1:1 support to my free community.. comment below “interested” and we’ll chat about what would be right for you!

18 2

This is exactly why I do what I do.

Because when I was suffering and going through it, I had no one.

No one in my corner who fully understood.

Sure I had some people around me who cared.. but that’s different than understanding and being supportive.

I don’t want that for you.

I want you to feel confident,
in control of your life,
like you have someone in your corner who understands on a completely different level than those around you.

This is why I do what I do.

Because I don’t want you to feel alone.

PS- My second book is available for pre-order!!
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey.
I teamed up with 6 other authors to detail how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
(Also, 5 of the 7 authors also have MS!!)

If you pre order your copy through me before October 24th you’ll also get:
• Signed copy of Resilience Redefined
• The MS Handbook E-book
• Resilience Bookmark
• LissMS Sticker Pack

Comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!

11 0

Open

This is exactly why I do what I do.

Because when I was suffering and going through it, I had no one.

No one in my corner who fully understood.

Sure I had some people around me who cared.. but that’s different than understanding and being supportive.

I don’t want that for you.

I want you to feel confident,
in control of your life,
like you have someone in your corner who understands on a completely different level than those around you.

This is why I do what I do.

Because I don’t want you to feel alone.

PS- My second book is available for pre-order!!
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey.
I teamed up with 6 other authors to detail how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
(Also, 5 of the 7 authors also have MS!!)

If you pre order your copy through me before October 24th you’ll also get:
• Signed copy of Resilience Redefined
• The MS Handbook E-book
• Resilience Bookmark
• LissMS Sticker Pack

Comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!

11 0

When this is a new habit.. it’s HARD!!

We encounter so many messages that say DONT take time for you, prioritize others, you must.

So.. what stands in your way of prioritizing you?

What is your hesitation when you go take a minute for yourself?

What is the guilt you feel after you actually do?

I’m planning something in a few weeks to help you with just these things.. stay tuned…

53 0

Open

When this is a new habit.. it’s HARD!!

We encounter so many messages that say DONT take time for you, prioritize others, you must.

So.. what stands in your way of prioritizing you?

What is your hesitation when you go take a minute for yourself?

What is the guilt you feel after you actually do?

I’m planning something in a few weeks to help you with just these things.. stay tuned…

53 0

I’ve found that most all of my clients (and my past self too) would say NOPE, at least at first.

There are so many reasons we don’t value our own needs as much as others, but this is something that def has to be addressed if we want to continue to make progress with improving our health.

You matter.
Remember that.
🧡❤️

17 2

Open

I’ve found that most all of my clients (and my past self too) would say NOPE, at least at first.

There are so many reasons we don’t value our own needs as much as others, but this is something that def has to be addressed if we want to continue to make progress with improving our health.

You matter.
Remember that.
🧡❤️

17 2

This is what came through during my meditation this morning.

I’ve been feeling so BEHIND lately..
That I’m not doing enough..
That progress isn’t happening fast enough..

But that’s a lie.
I’m right where I should be.

I needed this message today… maybe you do too?

15 4

Open

This is what came through during my meditation this morning.

I’ve been feeling so BEHIND lately..
That I’m not doing enough..
That progress isn’t happening fast enough..

But that’s a lie.
I’m right where I should be.

I needed this message today… maybe you do too?

15 4

This is how I slowly helped myself the most:
Making small changes to my life,
* Intentional awareness to my morning
* Noticing when I’m being mean to myself
* Noticing when I’m reactive or in a state of fight or flight..

Some “small” ideas for you too:
* don’t grab your phone first thing in the morning, take some deep breaths, think about how you want your day to go
* drink an extra glass of water (bonus if it’s in the morning too)
* get up and move every hour
* say something nice to yourself when you catch yourself being mean
* step outside for a few minutes a few times a day

Small changes add up to big steps forward,
don’t get fooled by these not being “enough”,
they absolutely are.

Wanna hear more about how Ive helped myself and my clients to lessen our MS symptoms so we feel better in our bodies?

I detail it in my chapter in Resilience Redefined.. comment “Book” and I’ll send you the link!!

23 5

Open

This is how I slowly helped myself the most:
Making small changes to my life,
* Intentional awareness to my morning
* Noticing when I’m being mean to myself
* Noticing when I’m reactive or in a state of fight or flight..

Some “small” ideas for you too:
* don’t grab your phone first thing in the morning, take some deep breaths, think about how you want your day to go
* drink an extra glass of water (bonus if it’s in the morning too)
* get up and move every hour
* say something nice to yourself when you catch yourself being mean
* step outside for a few minutes a few times a day

Small changes add up to big steps forward,
don’t get fooled by these not being “enough”,
they absolutely are.

Wanna hear more about how Ive helped myself and my clients to lessen our MS symptoms so we feel better in our bodies?

I detail it in my chapter in Resilience Redefined.. comment “Book” and I’ll send you the link!!

23 5

As Featured In:

Alternative Treatments: Wahls Protocol

About Dr. Terry Wahls

Level one; The Wahls Diet

Level Two: Wahls Paleo