Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a chronic, debilitating disease that affects a person's motor neurons and their ability to move. According to the Nemours Foundation, people with ALS cannot send messages between the brain and spinal cord like healthy individuals can, and because of that, they often have trouble walking, eating, using their muscles and even breathing. Avoiding certain foods can make living easier for a person with ALS.
Corn
Since people with ALS have trouble controlling muscle movements, chewing and swallowing is often difficult. Even cutting foods up and eating can be exhausting. Corn is one food that should be avoided since the kernels are hard to chew. Corn kernels can even become a choking hazard if an ALS patient doesn't chew well enough to make the kernels soft and easy to swallow. Though corn on the cob and corn kernels aren't appropriate for people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, most foods can be processed in order to make them safe. People with ALS may be able to consume corn tortillas or pureed corn, for example.
Celery
The stringiness of celery can be challenging for many people to swallow. Unfortunately, people with ALS typically don't have the energy to pick out the stringy parts of f celery. According to the website Science Daily, high-calorie diets can actually help slow the progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. While low-calorie foods do not harm an ALS patient if he can manage to swallow them, they are not as beneficial as higher-calorie foods. Instead of celery, cooked vegetables like potatoes, eggplant and bell peppers marinated in high-calorie olive oil are a better choice for people with the disease.
Peanut Butter
Many people love peanut butter for its sticky consistency, but that stick consistency can cause an ALS patient to have difficulty breathing if they can't get enough air in while they try to swallow the peanut butter. Continually having to move the jaw muscles and esophagus until peanut butter becomes smoother can also cause an ALS sufferer to use up too much energy, making it harder to do other tasks like moving the arms or legs. One benefit of peanut butter is the high calorie and fat content, but ALS can also get those benefits by eating a soft, smooth avocado.
Berries
Berries such as strawberries and blueberries can also present a problem for people suffering from ALS. The ALS Association recommends that Lou Gehrig's patients avoid berries, since they can get stuck in the throat if not chewed well enough. Applesauce and pureed fruits are safer for ALS patients.
