Diet for Myasthenia

According to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA), myasthenia gravis is a chronic neuromuscular, autoimmune disorder that can cause weakness to voluntary muscles of the body. Muscles affected could include those commonly used for eye movements, chewing, swallowing, coughing and other facial expressions. It could also affect muscles throughout the body including your arms, legs and muscles that control breathing. If you have myasthenia gravis, you may need a special diet that helps you work around these limitations.

Chewing and Swallowing

Unfortunately, being diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, individuals may develop swallowing disorders that can prevent them from eating and drinking. According to Alison Worwood (Senior Dietician) and Kate Beamont (Senior Speech & Language Therapist), patients with swallowing problems may start off fine at the beginning of a meal, however as time goes on their muscles for swallowing and chewing may weaken, making eating and drink too difficult and possibly even dangerous. When the muscles fatigue, there is an increase chance of food traveling down the wrong tube (windpipe) which can cause choking or coughing.

It is important when having trouble swallowing to switch to more of a liquid or soft food diet. Liquids and soft foods will lessen the amount of chewing and help save energy for your muscles. If swallowing and chewing is a significant problem, you may need to be equipped with a feeding tube to make sure you do not suffer from malnutrition by not eating. The feeding tube will be put in by a trained medical professional.

Specialized Diet

Individuals suffering from myasthenia gravis should eat healthfully and can follow the normal diet of any individual their age, with some modifications.

According to the MGFA, some medications for myasthenia gravis may cause diarrhea, and if this is the case, you may want to avoid foods that can aggravate your bowels. Avoid foods with high fat content, greasy foods and foods with insoluble fiber such as raw vegetables, bran and unpeeled fruit. Diarrhea may cause fluid and mineral loss, so it is important to eat foods that are easily digestible and are rich in minerals.

Foods in this specialized diet could include white rice, applesauce, ripe bananas, baked chicken, baked fish, light soups or cooked vegetables.

If using steroids, you should attempt to consume adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D to help maintain your bone density. Milk products are rich in calcium and vitamin D. Recommended daily intakes are 1500 mg of calcium and 400-600 I.U. of vitamin D.