Dr. George Jelinek is the creator of the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis (OMS) program and founder of the Neuroepidemiology Unit, at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.
You can read more about his research and the OMS program in his book or on his website.
The OMS Program and Its History
Jelinek’s mother passed away as a consequence of MS in 1981. Towards the end of her life, she was incapacitated; she was unable to take care of herself. When Jelinek was himself diagnosed with MS in 1999, he was resolved to do everything in his power to avoid a similar fate.
Thanks to his career as a professor of Emergency Medicine, and as editor-in-chief of a major medical journal, Jelinek had found information that deeply startled him.
He realized based on the evidence in the literature that living a healthy and full life after being diagnosed with MS was not only a possibility.
It became clear to him that by making certain lifestyle changes, there was real likelihood for people with MS to live a long and healthy life, relatively free of the problems associated with the illness.
Since 1999, George has adhered to the lifestyle recommendations he made based on the literature, and he is now living an active, symptom-free life. Over time, he collected these recommendations and made it into a book, Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis, and into the OMS program that many people follow now.
What Constitutes the OMS Program?
A plant-based whole food diet supplemented with seafood
The OMS program recommends a plant-based, whole food diet that can optionally be supplemented with seafood. This diet is about minimizing the intake of saturated fats and increasing the consumption of foods that are rich in omega-3.
According to the diet developed by George Jelinek, it is advisable to avoid all kinds of processed food, dairy products, eggs and meat. As opposed to other, stricter autoimmune diets, however, it allows the consumption of grains and legumes. Although he admits that gluten might in certain cases cause problems, he does not completely eliminate it. He recommends cutting it out based on individual experience or a lab test.
A 15-minute Daily Sunbath and Vitamin D
As the UV rays of the Sun touch the skin, vitamin D is produced. This vitamin is commonly known to be vital for our health and particularly for MS patients, who have lower vitamin D levels compared to the average populace – and these levels can further decrease during relapses.
Vitamin D alleviates an overactive immune response, and protects brain cells. Therefore, it is vital to maintain adequate vitamin D levels either by exposure to sunlight or by supplementation. With his vitamin D protocol, Dr. Cicero Galli Coimbra came to a similar conclusion, bringing back hope and the possibility of healing for thousands of people.
Jelinek recommends that you spend, if possible, 10-15 minutes in the sun at least three times a week, ideally with the sunrays hitting the whole surface of the body. This amount of time in the sun does not carry the risk of skin disease, but it is an effective and natural way to meet our vitamin D needs. On winter days or in regions with less natural sunlight, he recommends taking a daily vitamin-D supplement of 5000-10 000 IU.
Other Recommended Supplements: Linseed Oil, Fish Oil and B12
Although experts have different opinions on this, Jelinek considers flaxseed oil to be the best source of omega-3 and recommends consuming 20-40 ml of it per day. Consuming good quality fish oil is also allowed, on top of that, three times a week.
As other vegan diets, he puts special emphasis on the supplementation of vitamin B12. This critical nutrient is found primarily in meat, especially in liver, as well as in eggs and dairy products. With an exclusively plant-based diet, however, you can go deficient, so it is worth supplementing it.
Besides, Jelinek does not recommend taking multivitamins; in fact, he considers them harmful.
Exercise Is Crucial
Every protocol, without exception, recommends exercise in some shape or form.
Surprising? Not at all.
At least, it should not be.
It has become widely accepted by now that sports and exercise benefit both the physical body and mental wellbeing. Several studies have already shown its many benefits and many new and exciting discoveries are being made every day.
In his program, Jelinek mentions primarily cardio and strength, or resistance trainings, but everyone is encouraged to find the type that fits their own needs and abilities.
Meditation
One of the key elements of the program is meditation as it can positively influence mental wellbeing as well as daily life. Meditation, among other benefits, reduces stress, enhances sleep quality and concentration. It is especially useful for MS patients as stress activates the release of hormones in the body that contribute to inflammation.
Different types of mediation help calm the mind and quiet down the thoughts. It allows one to experience a sense of inner peace, calm and relaxation.
People struggling with chronic illness often look to the future with fear because of the high level of uncertainty. Meditation brings your attention to the present moment, so negative emotions may dissipate, soften and with time, they may disappear. There is now a wealth of research showing that the body’s self-healing processes can function optimally when the parasympathetic effect is in effect, i.e. when the body and mind are relaxed. This state can be achieved and maintained with the practice of meditation.
I write more on mediation and the inspirational research on it in a separate post.
Medication
Jelinek writes in meticulous detail about different medications. He is not against them but he does not think continuing treatment is necessary once the body’s natural balance is restored.
For more information, check out his book or his website.
Prevention in the Family
Jelinek also highlights the importance of prevention. He thinks that MS may have a genetic element to it, which means that people who have a sibling, parent or a close family member with MS are more at risk.
Therefore, he recommends that they also take these steps in the OMS program:
- Quit smoking
- Maintain adequate levels of Vitamin D
- Eat a healthy, plant-based diet rich in omega 3
- Exercise regularly and keep your stress level down
Committing to the New Lifestyle For Life
Like any other protocol on this website, the OMS program is not a 30-day magic diet. It requires long-term commitment and motivation. Making these lifestyle changes is certainly not easy; it may be a good idea to implement the suggestions one step at a time. If you want to dive in at the deep end, of course, you may do it all at once. The point is to be patient and persevere. There are already “too many” examples out there not to!