Last night, under the dreary fluorescent lights of Ace Hardware, I found myself engaged in a conversation that would alter my understanding of the human spirit. I had come for a lawnmower, but little did I know that I would leave with something much more profound.
The man who assisted me, a lanky fellow with a mischievous grin, seemed eager to share his tales. He regaled me with a story of his childhood friend who had a harrowing encounter with a rattlesnake. The mere thought of it sent shivers down my spine. But then, he spoke of a battle more personal: his struggle with multiple sclerosis.
He told me, in a voice tinged with both despair and defiance, that the doctors had found 16 lesions. They claimed he should be incapacitated, unable to walk.
This was terrifying, I said.
He agreed. And yet, he seemed to scoff at their prognosis, as if to say, “Well, here I am!”
Because I’m in touch with the counseling field, he asked if I knew of any books on healthy eating that might be applicable to neurodegenerative diseases. And so, our conversation took an unexpected turn. It led me down a path I had not anticipated, as I rushed home to find him someone who might help, as I stumbled onto the work of Dr. Terry Wahls.
Dr. Terry Wahls, I discovered, is a physician who had once been confined to a wheelchair due to progressive MS. However, through a combination of diet, exercise, and a relentless determination, she had reclaimed her mobility and her life. Her story, just like the man who bravely stood in Ace Hardware, served as a reminder that within each of us lies an innate resilience, capable of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds when life presents us with the most daunting of challenges.
Dr. Terry Wahls and The Wahls Protocol
Imagine being in a wheelchair and unable to move properly, with multiple sclerosis (MS) that has progressed so badly that you can barely function. This was Dr. Terry Wahls’ reality when she was diagnosed with MS at the age of 33.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system. The disease attacks the myelin, the substance that surrounds and protects nerve fibers. Over time, MS disables people’s ability to walk, talk, eat, and eventually breathe.
Dr. Terry Wahls went from being a practicing physician with a full life ahead of her to someone who could barely move. However, she wouldn’t let her disease dictate her future. Dr. Wahls fought back, using food as medicine to regain her health and mobility.
The Wahls Protocol
Dr. Terry Wahls’ determined approach to healing herself from MS became known as the Wahls Protocol, which she later wrote about in her book, “The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles.” The protocol revolves around an anti-inflammatory, Paleo-based diet that is rich in nutrients and high in plant matter. The foundation of the diet is the consumption of nine cups of vegetables and fruits of different colors (“colorful foods!” and “variety!”) a day from three different categories: leafy greens, sulfur-rich, and brightly colored fruits and vegetables.
According to Dr. Wahls, eating this diet boosts brain function and prepares your cells for healing.
Dr. Wahls also emphasizes the importance of high-quality lean protein and healthy fats – this is because they provide the nutrients the body needs to repair itself. Her diet also recommends cutting out sugar, processed foods, and gluten. These foods are known to cause inflammation, and the body needs to be kept as free from inflammation as possible to help in the healing process.
The foods that Dr. Terry Wahls recommends in her Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life Book are wholesome, nutrient-dense foods that anyone can incorporate into their meal plan. She recommends eating nutrient-dense foods, including organ meats, leafy greens, sulfur-rich vegetables like kale, broccoli, and cabbage, and brightly colored fruits and vegetables like beets, berries, and carrots. She emphasizes eating grass-fed meats, wild-caught seafood, and healthy fats like olive oil, coconut oil, and avocados. Her book is filled with recipes that are healthy, easy to make, and delicious.
One thing that is interesting is that Dr. Wahls’ movement towards using food as medicine to help in the management of her autoimmune condition started long before the popularity of functional medicine and metabolic health began. Her approach demonstrates the need for a shift in mindset from a reliance on pills to the understanding of the power of healthy food in managing chronic conditions.
The Western Diet
The Wahls Protocol has the potential to save countless lives and change the course of chronic illness in America. Often, diets today are not centered around nourishing the body but rather around convenience and taste; this is evident in the western diet that most people follow, which is often loaded with processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats. I mean, when I grew up, our favorite place to go on our birthdays was – well, “McDonald’s”.
These kinds of foods are responsible for some of the chronic diseases we face today. This Western diet only emphasizes the macronutrient composition of food, ignoring the benefits of nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals available in fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Dr. Terry Wahls suggests that the western diet is a significant factor in the rising chronic disease epidemic and that we need to change our eating habits.
And we all know this, don’t we? And yet – Dr. Terry Wahls’ Wahls Protocol is a wake-up call to remind us to focus on the healing power of nutrient-dense foods. Because we need this because of the brainwashing of the propaganda machine which is all around us, hiding behind every harrowing corner.
Canary in the Coal Mine
Dr. Wahls called herself a “canary in the coal mine” because she believes that if a disease affects her, it can eventually affect everyone. She proves that by changing our eating habits, we can improve our health significantly. Dr. Wahls emphasizes that The Wahls Protocol is not just about the food we eat, but also about the lifestyle we practice. This holistic approach includes regular exercise and stress reduction techniques like meditation and focusing on building strong relationships.
Conclusion
As I left the store that night, my thoughts were consumed not by lawnmowers or the mundane tasks that awaited me at home, but the work of Dr. Wahls. I found myself inspired by her story and by the man in Ace Hardware who refused to let his disease define him. They were both living proof that, despite the cruel hand fate may deal, there is always hope, always the possibility of defying the odds, and always the chance to rewrite one’s story.
Make sure to check out Dr. Terry Wahls’s book:
John Michaels, a Missoula native and author, has been captivating readers with his writing for years. A graduate of Brown University’s esteemed creative writing program, Michaels has spent the majority of his career crafting stories that resonate with his readers and capture the essence of the human experience. Despite the demands of raising children, Michaels has continued to pursue his passions, finding solace in the bustling downtown Missoula scene. There, he spends his free time honing his craft, whether it be working on short stories, playing music, or dedicating himself to his work at Sunflower Counseling, MT.