Columns Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor Lo, on the Very First Vegan Christmas Lo, on the Very First Vegan Christmas by John Connor | January 10, 2020 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Only 347 shopping days to go! So don’t dismiss this as a column about last Christmas (though that’s what it is!) but as possibly the first on the planet about the next one. Luckily, I quite like nut roast. But it is very much “quite” like. I don’t like it enough to want seconds. Going for thirds used to also be a distinct possibility! It’s the first Christmas ever that I didn’t overeat! OK, my sprout intake was probably up, but that’s always been my favorite part of the traditional British Christmas lunch. In the last few years, as MS took more and more of my capabilities away, part of me just gave up. I like Cheese Footballs ā a very British nibble snack that was big in the 60s. The taste memory of that decade when I was a kid has stayed with me. I presume you can buy them somewhere, but they only turn up in our shops during the festive season. Full of E numbers and undoubtedly terribly calorific, I’d begun eating vast quantities. Not this year. I’m also pretty sure for the first time since my MS stopped me from walking that I might be losing weight. I can’t check, as there’s no way (certainly no safe way) for me to get on a pair of domestic scales. But I can now lean out of my powered wheelchair and pick up stuff off the floor with my hands rather than utilizing my varied array of grabbers. I’m pretty sure it must be. I can maneuver my usually unmovable body much better. I even managed to actually lift my dead right leg in the shower the other day. I haven’t been able to wash the sole of my foot on my own for years. Either I’ve suddenly gotten stronger or my leg is lighter. I have no idea if veganism is doing anything else to help my MS. I went for it, as it seems to reduce inflammation.Ā Anything that even does a hint of that is worth trying. I’ve also been working away at my microbiome for a number of years now. I obviously can no longer consume kefir ā a cultured, fermented milk drink originally from the mountainous region that divides Asia and Europe ā but the vegan diet changes the microbiome anyway. Also, anything fermented will aid in this. I’m half Austrian, so I actually like sauerkraut! And for four miraculous days in a row, I delivered (without mechanical or pill help) my own enormous Yuletide logs. *** Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author John Connor In the ā80s, John Connor created the first regular column about the burgeoning London stand-up scene. In 1990 he wrote a book about its effect on the Edinburgh Festival: āComics: A Decade of Comedy at the Assembly Rooms.ā That year he also devised and ran a live topical stand-up team show at The London Comedy Store, The Edge (It was destroyed in 2020!). In 2009 John was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, which cut short his main job as a TV casting director for āBlack Books,ā āMy Family,ā et al. Now, John writes āFall Down Get Up Again,ā an irreverent journey with MS. Tags diet, inflammation Comments John McCann Happy new year John and delighted to hear a noticable improvement in your various movements. Let us know if the weight loss or other improvement s continue. But most importantly keep writing and letting us into your world Reply Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
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