When most people think about sugar, they picture weight gain, diabetes, or maybe tooth decay. But for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), sugar does far more harm. Research shows that high sugar intake fuels inflammation, disrupts gut health, worsens fatigue, and even accelerates disability. And there’s another piece of the puzzle almost no one talks about: sugar feeds parasites, which are increasingly linked to MS.
In this post, we’ll uncover what the science shows about sugar, MS, gut health, and parasites — and why lowering sugar may be one of the most powerful steps toward recovery.
Sugar and MS: What the Research Shows
Studies consistently reveal that sugar worsens MS symptoms and may speed up disease progression:
- Inflammation: High sugar diets increase inflammatory cytokines, driving neuroinflammation in the brain and spinal cord.
- Metabolic dysfunction: People with MS often have insulin resistance and impaired glucose metabolism. Fluctuations in blood sugar worsen fatigue and disability risk.
- Disability risk: A study presented at the American Academy of Neurology found that MS patients who consumed around 290 calories of sugar-sweetened beverages per day had a fivefold higher risk of severe disability compared to those who rarely consumed them.
- Fatigue and mood: Higher sugar intake is directly linked to greater fatigue and worse depression — two of the most disabling symptoms of MS.
The Gut Connection
Sugar doesn’t just harm the nervous system directly — it also disrupts the gut microbiome, which plays a key role in MS progression.
- High sugar diets increase harmful bacteria, reduce protective microbes, and promote leaky gut, which triggers immune responses linked to MS lesion activity.
- Low sugar, low-carb diets rich in fiber, fermented foods, and healthy fats support a healthier microbiome, helping to reduce inflammation and stabilize the immune system.
Parasites in MS: The Root Cause
For decades, many researchers have identified specific parasitic infections in the brains and spinal cords of people with MS.
- Dr. Alan MacDonald’s work has revealed filarial worms, tapeworm larvae and Borrelia (Lyme bacteria) in the central nervous system of MS subjects.
- At least 75 peer reviewed studies have linked MS to a Malaria/Babesia type protist parasite.
- Since 1911, many studies have linked MS to a Borrelia type spirochete.
- These infections produce toxins, damage nerves, drive inflammation and mimic “autoimmune” activity.
- Sugar fuels parasites, allowing them to be more active, multiply and release toxins. By lowering sugar, we starve them and make treatment more effective.
This evidence challenges the mainstream view that MS is merely an immune disorder. Instead, it points to chronic infections — fueled by sugar — as a root cause.
The Benefits of Lowering Sugar
Reducing sugar intake, especially through low-carb or ketogenic diets, has been shown to:
- Reduce fatigue and depression — clinical trials show ~50% improvement after 6 months.
- Improve disability scores — Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) improved from 2.3 to 1.9.
- Support nerve health — neurofilament light chain (a marker of nerve damage) stayed low and stable.
- Boost quality of life — both physical and mental scores improved significantly.
- Improve function — better walking distance, hand coordination, and balance.
Animal studies confirm these benefits, showing that ketones reduce neuroinflammation, protect nerve tissue, and modulate immune function.
The Takeaway
High sugar diets fuel inflammation, disrupt the gut, and accelerate disability in MS. Even more importantly, sugar feeds parasites and infections that are increasingly recognized as the cause of MS and other diseases.
The good news is that lowering sugar, supporting gut health, and starving parasites can help reduce symptoms, improve function, and give the body a chance to heal.
But parasites must also be treated effectively in order to fully recover from disease.
At Live Disease Free, we’ve seen countless students transform their health by following this approach — proving that recovery from MS and other diseases is possible.
The Best Diet to Starve & Weaken Parasites
There are real solutions to recover from parasites today!
To restore health, we must focus on treating the cause of inflammation, which are parasites. First, identify the enemy (parasites), then support the body and treat the parasites while following a holistic approach. When parasitic infections are treated effectively, we can overcome inflammation or disease.
If you’re frustrated with the fact that our standard of care STILL doesn’t offer a real solution for treating MS and other diseases, then click on the link below to watch Pam Bartha’s free masterclass training and discover REAL solutions that have allowed Pam and many others to live free from MS and other diseases.
CLICK Here to watch Pam’s masterclass training
References:
- Riccio P, Saresella M, et al. Diet and disease-related outcomes in multiple sclerosis. Iran J Neurol. 2022;21(1):11-22. PMCID: PMC9527864. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9527864/
Lower sugar intake correlates with reduced MS relapse rates and disability progression over one year. - Bagur MJ, Moller A, et al. Influence of diet in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review. Neurol Clin Pract. 2017;7(2):133-143. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322006779
Nutrition, including reduced sugar intake, is recognized as a key factor influencing MS outcomes. - Bromley L, Horvath PJ, Bennett SE, Weinstock-Guttman B, Ray AD. Impact of Nutritional Intake on Function in People with Mild-to-Moderate Multiple Sclerosis. Int J MS Care. 2019 Jan-Feb;21(1):1–9. doi:10.7224/1537-2073.2017-039. PMCID: PMC6390820. PMID: 30833865. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6390820/Increased fat and decreased carbohydrate intake were associated with better ambulation, physical activity, and quality of life among patients with mild-to-moderate MS
- Martin K, et al.
Functional outcomes of diets in multiple sclerosis (FOOD for MS). Complement Ther Med. 2024;83:102896. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1551714424001678
Restricting sugar in low glycemic load diets appears feasible and may improve MS symptoms and cardiovascular health. - Ma X, Nan F, Liang H, Shu P, Fan X, Song X, Hou Y, Zhang D.
Excessive intake of sugar: An accomplice of inflammation. Front Immunol. 2022 Aug 31;13:988481. PMCID: PMC9471313. PMID: 36119103. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.988481
Review demonstrates that high sugar intake aggravates neuroinflammation and MS progression in preclinical and mechanistic studies. - Meier-Gerdingh E, et al.
Soda, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Linked to More Severe Symptoms for People with MS. Presented at American Academy of Neurology 71st Annual Meeting, 2019. Available at:
https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/2701
Preliminary study: MS patients consuming ~290 kcal/day of sweetened beverages were five times more likely to have severe disability than those who seldom drank them. - Healthline Contributors.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Diet: Foods to Limit, Eat, and More. Healthline. Available at:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/multiple-sclerosis-foods-to-avoid
Evidence summary: High sugar and sweetened drinks increase MS inflammation and symptoms; low-sugar diets stabilize energy and function. - News Staff, UVA Health.
Ketogenic Diet Shows Major Benefits for Multiple Sclerosis. UVA Health. Available at:
https://news.virginia.edu/content/ketogenic-diet-shows-major-benefits-multiple-sclerosis
Clinical trial results show that ketogenic diets with low sugar/carbs improve fatigue, mood, physical function, and biomarkers in MS. - Brenton JN, et al.
Phase II study of ketogenic diets in relapsing multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022;93(6):637-644. Available at: https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/93/6/637
Six months of a ketogenic diet reduces fatigue, depression, boosts quality of life, and improves metabolic markers in MS. - MS Trust (UK).
Is a ketogenic diet good for people with multiple sclerosis? MS Trust. 2022. Available at:
https://mstrust.org.uk/news/research/220518-ketogenic-diet-suitable-ms
Summary of trials: Low-carb, ketogenic diets may benefit neurological function and immune modulation in MS. - Canada MS Society.
Nutrition and MS: What to Eat. MS Canada. Available at:
https://mscanada.ca/find-support/blog/nutrition-and-ms
Reducing sugar and adopting low-carb (including keto) diets decreases inflammation and improves quality of life in MS. - Multiple Sclerosis News Today Staff.
MS and diet: Foods to eat and avoid. Multiple Sclerosis News Today. Available at:
https://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/living-with-ms/ms-diet-nutrition/healthy-eating-ms/
Higher sugar intake via sweetened beverages is associated with more severe MS; restricting sugar may lower disease severity. - National MS Society.
Study Shows Benefits of Diets in RRMS. National MS Society. 2021. Available at:
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/news-and-magazine/news/two-diets-reduce-fatigue-improve-qol
Randomized trial: Restricting sugar and processed foods reduces fatigue and improves quality of life in relapsing-remitting MS.
Clinically diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 28, Pam chose an alternative approach to recovery. Now decades later and still symptom free, she coaches others on how to treat the root cause of chronic disease, using a holistic approach. She can teach you how, too.
Pam is the author of Become a Wellness Champion and founder of Live Disease Free. She is a wellness expert, coach and speaker.
The Live Disease Free Academy has helped hundreds of Wellness Champions in over 15 countries take charge of their health and experience profound improvements in their life.
