Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a deadly neurological disease.  You may be familiar with this disease because of all the ice bucket challenges that circulated the Internet to raise awareness.  ALS, as it is commonly known, is a progressive disease that affects the nerves in your brain and spinal chord, which control your muscles.  The disease was named after famed New York Yankees slugger, Lou Gehrig, who died of the disease in 1941.  It's most often found in people between the ages of 40 to 70 years old, and men are more likely to contract the disease than women.

There are options to help alleviate symptoms associated with ALS including yoga, vibrational healing (including chakra balancing), colon hydrotherapy, acupressure/acupuncture, chiropractic, and hyperbaric oxygen chamber, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.  These symptoms typically deal with nerve damage, so people can experience the following:

• Muscle twitching
• Difficulty moving arms, hands and legs
• Slurred speech
• Difficulty swallowing

Experts are still unsure of the exact cause of Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS).  It can affect any race, gender, or ethnicity in any part of the world.  There are two types of ALS: sporadic and familial.  Sporadic ALS occurs out of the blue and familial ALS is inherited and accounts for about 10% of all cases.  The offspring of a person with ALS has a 50% chance of developing the condition.  Medical experts also believe that environmental factors may plat a role in the development of ALS.  For example, a study found that deployed military personnel in the Gulf region during the early 1990s were more prone to ALS than military personnel deployed anywhere else.  Possible causes are listed below.

• Chemical imbalance (ALS patients tend to have higher glutamate levels, which are chemical messengers in the brain near motor neuron, and they can be toxic to nerve cells)
• Disorganized immune response (when the immune system attacks cells in the body, possibly killing nerve cells)
• Genetics
• Accumulation of protein in muscle cells
• High levels of exercise
• Exposure to agricultural chemicals
• Military service
• Exposure to large amounts of heavy metals
• Electrical or mechanical trauma

• To help slow the progression of ALS, the diet must become alkaline in nature, which requires consumption of fresh, raw (and preferably organic) fruits and vegetables.  A switch to a mostly raw foods diet would be best, or 75% raw and 25% vegan.  All meats, dairy products, refined grains and starches should be left alone (not eaten).  Avoid processed foods, junk foods, and fast food.  
• Avoid unhealthy oils, especially when cooking.  These oils include Canola, Corn, Soy, Peanut, and Vegetable.  All hydrogenated oils should be avoided, which means avoiding processed foods at all costs.  Shortening or lard should also be avoided.  These insalubrious oils destroy the myelin sheath, the protective covering of the nerves, which cause impairment to nervous activity and thus impairs certain muscles that lead to twitching and shaking, in addition, to mild or full paralysis of certain parts of the body.  The best oils to consume and/or to cook with include Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, and Safflower Oil.
• The best water to drink on a daily basis is alkaline water.  This helps establish a neutral pH balance in the body, which can keep your immune system healthy.  If alkaline water is not available or affordable for you, just make sure the water is filtered (copper and/or carbon filtration). You can also add fresh lemon juice to filtered water to make it alkaline because lemons have an alkaline effect in the body.
• Herbs that counteract 'sclerosis' are ideal in the healing process.  Herbs that counteract 'sclerosis' include: Cayenne, Ginger, Cinnamon, Periwinkle, Butcher's Broom, Manjistha, Chaparral, Goldenseal Root, and Comfrey Root, to name a few.
• Similarly, it is important to consume herbs that repair the nerves.  These herbs include: Nerve Root (Lady's Slipper), Kava Kava, Valerian Root, Cinnamon, Chamomile, Blue Vervain, and Passionflower, to name a few.
• Seaweeds such as Spirulina, Chlorella, Blue Green Algae, Dulse, Kelp, Irish Moss, Iceland Moss, and Bladderwrac are very nutritious and help repair damaged cells, nerves, and muscle tissue.
• Mono-atomic Gold (white powder) is also helpful for people with ALS, due to its affect on the brain and the nervous system.
• People with ALS may benefit from receiving acupuncture.  This can help realign one's chi (bodily energy) and create healthy neurological pathways for proper circulation.  Chinese healing believes that having perfectly aligned chi can keep a person healthy, so ALS patients may benefit from acupuncture sessions. 

• Green Leafy Vegetables (spinach, kale, & chard)
• Carrots
• Avocados
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Yellow & Red Bell Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Lemons
• Oranges
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Pecans
• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Broccoli 
• Turmeric
• Brussels Sprouts
• Alfalfa Sprouts
• Beets
• Cilantro