Multiple Sclerosis & the Wahls Protocol
Terry Wahls, M.D., is a physician with multiple sclerosis who developed the Wahls Protocol after experiencing severe disability from the disease. Her approach combines a nutrient-dense modified Paleo diet with exercise, electrical muscle stimulation, stress management, and other lifestyle measures.
Wahls reports that her own function improved dramatically, including progressing from using a wheelchair to riding a bicycle. Her experience led her to study dietary and lifestyle approaches in people with multiple sclerosis.
Importantly, the Wahls approach has now been studied in randomized clinical trials, with improvements reported in outcomes such as fatigue and quality of life. The findings are encouraging, although they do not establish that the protocol prevents long-term progression of MS.
Terry Wahls' Story
Wahls was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in 2000. Her disease later progressed, and by 2007 she was using a tilt-recline wheelchair despite conventional medical treatment.
She began studying nutrition, mitochondrial function, and the nutritional needs of the brain and nervous system. She developed a diet emphasizing vegetables, berries, meat, fish, and other nutrient-dense foods while eliminating or greatly reducing grains, dairy, and processed foods.
After combining dietary changes with exercise, electrical muscle stimulation, and other lifestyle measures, Wahls reports that her function improved dramatically. Within about a year, she was able to ride a bicycle again.
Her experience cannot establish whether the approach works for others. What makes her story particularly interesting is that she subsequently began testing her approach in clinical studies.
The Wahls Protocol
The Wahls Protocol is much more than a low-carbohydrate diet. It emphasizes foods intended to provide nutrients supporting mitochondria, cellular energy production, and nervous-system function.
A commonly described goal is about nine cups of vegetables and fruit daily: three cups of leafy greens, three cups of sulfur-rich vegetables, and three cups of deeply colored vegetables and berries.
The protocol generally eliminates gluten-containing grains and dairy and emphasizes foods such as fish, fermented foods, seaweed, and organ meats. Different versions range from a modified Paleo approach to a more ketogenic version.
Exercise, sleep, stress management, and sometimes electrical muscle stimulation are also part of the program.
What Have the Clinical Trials Found?
The WAVES randomized clinical trial compared the Wahls diet with the Swank low-saturated-fat diet in 87 people with relapsing-remitting MS.
Both groups experienced reductions in fatigue and improvements in quality of life, with several outcomes favoring the Wahls diet. At 24 weeks, the Wahls group also improved its six-minute walking distance.
These findings provide clinical evidence that dietary changes may improve important symptoms and quality of life in people with MS.
However, the study was relatively small and lasted only six months. It did not establish that the Wahls diet prevents MS relapses, new or enlarging MRI lesions, or long-term disability.
What We Know—and Don't Know
The Wahls Protocol emphasizes whole, nutrient-dense foods, abundant vegetables, exercise, sleep, and stress management. Clinical research suggests it may reduce fatigue and improve quality of life for some people with MS.
The diet is restrictive, however, and requires considerable planning. Eliminating grains and dairy may also require attention to obtaining adequate nutrients.
The larger question—whether the Wahls Protocol can change the long-term course of multiple sclerosis—remains unanswered.
Key Takeaways
Terry Wahls' personal improvement from severe MS disability led her to investigate her approach scientifically.
The Wahls Protocol combines a nutrient-dense modified Paleo diet with exercise and other lifestyle measures.
The diet has been tested in a randomized clinical trial.
The WAVES trial found improvements in fatigue and quality of life, with several outcomes favoring the Wahls diet.
It remains unknown whether the protocol can prevent MS relapses, MRI changes, or long-term disability.
Learn More
Wahls describes her experience with multiple sclerosis and her nutrient-dense Paleo-based diet and lifestyle program.
A randomized clinical trial comparing the Wahls and Swank diets in people with relapsing-remitting MS.
Videos
Autoimmune Disease, MS & Metabolic Health - 1 Hour 4 Minutes
Dr. Wahls discusses multiple sclerosis, mitochondrial health, metabolism, and her diet and lifestyle approach.
Wahls discusses practical steps she recommends for people with autoimmune disease, including nutrient-dense foods, movement, and other lifestyle changes.