Episode Overview

Podcast: Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis
Host: Geoff Allix
Guest: Professor George Jelinek
Episode: Bonus from the archives: Overcoming MS is possible with Professor George Jelinek (S7 Bonus)
Date: October 15, 2025
Main Theme:
This archival bonus episode revisits a seminal interview with Professor George Jelinek, founder of the Overcoming MS (OMS) program. The discussion dives into the scientific foundation, core principles, and real-life applications of a lifestyle-based approach to managing and potentially preventing multiple sclerosis (MS). Professor Jelinek shares personal insights as both a neurologist and someone living with MS, as well as reflections on research challenges and the growing mainstream acceptance of lifestyle interventions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Professor Jelinek’s Story and Motivation

• Personal Diagnosis and Academic Background:
  • Prof. Jelinek was diagnosed with MS in his 40s, after losing his mother to the disease. His medical and editorial experience enabled him to critically analyze scientific literature for answers ([02:36]).
  • Quote:

    “I really couldn't see any future for myself after that diagnosis, and certainly no way out of what looked to be an inevitable decline into progressive disability... within a matter of weeks convinced me that I could potentially stay well if I could change my lifestyle.” —Professor Jelinek [03:46]

2. The Swank Study and Diet’s Role

• Groundbreaking Research:

  • Prof. Roy Swank’s 35-year study showed dramatically better outcomes for people with MS who followed a low animal fat diet; published in The Lancet ([04:50]).
  • Quote:

    “What Swank had done was this extraordinary study over 35 years... those who could reduce their animal fat, their saturated fat intake to an absolute minimum...had dramatically better outcomes.” —Prof. Jelinek [06:01]

• Research Challenges:

  • Difficulty conducting double-blind trials on lifestyle interventions versus the simplicity of pill studies ([07:31]).
  • Quote:

    “How do you do that when you're asking people to make very significant lifestyle changes?... It's almost impossible to adequately blind that or mask that from either the participants or the researchers.” —Prof. Jelinek [07:44]

3. Shifting Research Roles

• Stepping Down for Renewal:
  • Prof. Jelinek transitioned from leading the Neuroepidemiology Unit to focus on personal endeavors and facilitating new leadership ([08:56]).
  • The unit’s research focus remains strongly anchored in MS progression and prevention ([10:07]).

4. The OMS Seven-Step Program

• Overview and Rationale:
  • The OMS program consists of seven lifestyle steps, prioritized by their perceived impact. The approach is rooted in mainstream, evidence-based medicine ([10:25–17:23], [24:28]).
• The Seven Steps Summarized:
  1. Diet: Predominantly plant-based whole food diet plus seafood; minimal saturated fat ([10:31]).
     • Quote:

       "Essentially, a plant based whole food diet plus seafood is the diet that comes out of the literature as being the most helpful..." —Prof. Jelinek [10:44]

  2. Sunlight/Vitamin D: Ensure sufficient vitamin D through sun or supplements ([11:12]).
  3. Exercise: Regular, tailored physical activity proven to improve quality of life, reduce depression/fatigue ([12:08]).
  4. Meditation/Stress Reduction: Endorses mindfulness-based practices with strong evidence for symptom improvement ([13:07]).
     • Notable trial: Grossman et al, Basel—150 people with MS, improved quality of life with meditation ([13:50]).
     • Quote:

       “I think we can safely say there is a strong evidence base now behind meditation and it's a growing evidence base.” —Prof. Jelinek [15:44]

  5. Medication: Use as needed; not anti-medication, but emphasizes fully informed choices ([15:55]).
     • OMS approach is mainstream, collaborating with academic institutions ([16:49]).
  6. Prevention for Family: Educate first-degree relatives about risk and preventative strategies (diet, vitamin D, exercise, omega-3; especially flaxseed oil) ([18:49]).
  7. Lifelong Change: Adopt changes for life, not as a temporary "diet" or trend ([22:58]).
     • Quote:

       “This is something exciting to do. It's not a burden... I feel I'm living a much better life, a much more authentic life, a much more enjoyable life.” —Prof. Jelinek [23:09]

5. Addressing Skepticism and Mainstream Medicine

• Neurologists’ Skepticism:

  • Main barriers: lack of double-blind RCTs, especially regarding diet; but precedent exists with vitamin D and smoking now discussed as standard ([24:20–26:51]).
  • Prof. Jelinek is optimistic about mainstream adoption as evidence accumulates.
  • Quote:

    "It's just a question now of building the appropriate research and evidence base that will enable it to be translated into clinical practice." —Prof. Jelinek [25:38]

• Patients’ Challenges:

  • Diet habits (e.g., cheese) are hard to change, but habits are adaptable ([27:21]).

6. The Evolving Nature of OMS

• Evidence-Based, Never Static:
  • OMS continues to evolve as new research emerges, refining but rarely needing major revision ([28:42–29:03]).
  • The largest anticipated breakthrough is in mainstream clinical acceptance of lifestyle approaches ([29:03–30:00]).
  • Quote:

    “The biggest breakthroughs aren't going to come in some new drug...but when we have enough evidence to convince clinicians that lifestyle is the key.” —Prof. Jelinek [29:15]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Making Information Free:

  “...one of the key things about it is that we make this information free to everyone wherever possible. It's a central core principle of OMS, that this information is free to all comers.” —Prof. Jelinek [17:35]

• On Habits and Taste:

  “Once you change the habit, the new habit's just as hard to break as the old one.” —Prof. Jelinek [28:26]

• OMS Isn't ‘Alternative’:

  “It's not an alternative medicine program or a complimentary medicine program. It's a mainstream secondary prevention approach to managing MS.” —Prof. Jelinek [16:27]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Prof. Jelinek’s Diagnosis and Discovery – [02:36]
• The Swank Study and Dietary Evidence – [04:50–07:10]
• Research and RCT Challenges – [07:31]
• OMS Seven Steps Explained – [10:31–17:23]
• Making the Information Public/Free – [17:35]
• Prevention for Family Members – [18:49]
• The Lifelong Mindset of OMS – [22:58]
• Skepticism & Mainstream Adoption – [24:20–26:51]
• OMS as an Evolving, Evidence-Based Approach – [28:42–30:00]

Tone and Language

The tone throughout is hopeful, pragmatic, and science-driven. Prof. Jelinek communicates with personal warmth, humility, and the conviction of both a medical professional and someone living well with MS. The discussion remains evidence-focused, candid about uncertainties, and encouraging of patient empowerment and agency.

This episode serves as a comprehensive primer for anyone new to the OMS approach, as well as a motivating update for seasoned followers looking for affirmation of the program’s scientific basis and real-world effectiveness.