Study finds in Lou Gehrig's disease that hope is associated with willingness to follow nutrient-dense diet

Friday, November 30, 2012 by: Dr Craig Oster
Tags: Lou Gehrig''s disease, nutrition, diet

(NaturalNews) A new research study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology sheds light on the relationships between hate, resentment and hope in persons afflicted with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or "Lou Gehrig's disease"). The relationship of these factors to willingness to extend longevity through nutritional self-care was also examined. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. People with ALS experience muscle weakness, immobility, impaired speech and respiration problems. Most die within three to five years. 10 percent live 10 years or more. The medical establishment considers ALS to always be terminal.

The research analyzed responses to an online questionnaire that was created as part of a larger study. People with ALS were invited via online ALS forums, Facebook, a newsletter, as well as with an announcement on a website. Together with demographic data, subjects were asked to provide answers about hate, resentment and hope, related to their disease. A total of 83 subjects with ALS completed the survey.

The researchers found that hope is widely prevalent amongst the subjects. About 70 percent of subjects have hope that they could live 10 years or longer, regardless of whether an effective pharmaceutical treatment were to be discovered.

The medical establishment doesn't promote that a sugar-free nutrient-dense diet may contribute to increased wellness in people with ALS but if scientific research were to one day show that such a diet could extend life by a year, 18 percent of the subjects reported they would not follow the diet. About five percent said they would not follow the diet even if it were shown to increase longevity by two or more years.

Hope and willingness to make dietary changes

The study found those with hope of living 10 years or more were more likely to report a willingness to make dietary changes if such changes were demonstrated to increase longevity. The Frontiers in Psychology scientific study is the first research to show that some people with ALS would be willing sacrifice a year or more of their lives, rather than eat healthier. A previous Natural News article has reported on research that suggests that the high sugar diet recommended by the ALS and Muscular Dystrophy associations may prove to be detrimental to people with ALS (https://www.naturalnews.com/032380_Lou_Gehrigs_disease_sugar.html), although a scientific study has yet to be conducted to test this hypothesis. Further research is required to demonstrate scientifically whether or not a sugar-free, nutrient-dense diet, compared to the high sugar diet recommended by ALS and Muscular Dystrophy associations, produces greater wellness and even longevity in people with ALS.

Higher levels of hope, as well as lower levels of both hate and resentment, were reported by people having ALS for a longer time. Hopeful subjects were also less likely to hate ALS, and reported less resentment about living with ALS. Women reported more resentment about living with ALS than did men. Regarding the study's finding that people in marriages are more hopeful and have less hate against ALS, the researchers suggest, "Marriage may be protective against the suffering involved in the hating of living with ALS, and foster the strengthening of hope for the future..."

The research was conducted by Craig Oster, Ph.D. and Francesco Pagnini, Ph.D.; Dr. Oster, afflicted with ALS, has beaten the odds by surviving with the disease for the past 18 years, utilizing a holistic approach like is advocated by Natural News.

The full text of the study, including researchers' interpretations, may be found at: http://www.frontiersin.org

Sources for this article include:

http://www.frontiersin.org

http://www.alsa.org

https://www.naturalnews.com/032380_Lou_Gehrigs_disease_sugar.html

About the author:
Craig Oster, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) nearly 17 years ago. Discharged from hospice in May 2009, he is demonstrating improvements in wellness utilizing holistic health principles, including a raw/living foods diet. Dr Craig, utilizing these principles and his psychoanalytic understanding, is committed to helping individuals in their quest for greater wellness. Dr Craig is the founder of the "Healthier People (with ALS) Project."

Follow Dr Craig's Historic Holistic Healing Journey: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Craig/37394...

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