CHICAGO — In summer 2019, a well-known Hollywood actor could be spotted on downtown Chicago sidewalks, her head shaved, her walk aided by a stylish three-wheeled, lemon-yellow scooter.
Selma Blair had come to Chicago for a little-known but often highly effective multiple sclerosis treatment, pioneered in the United States by Northwestern University’s Dr. Richard Burt. Blair’s malfunctioning immune system would be suppressed with chemotherapy, then allowed to reboot with the aid of a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, in the hope of restoring it to health.
The stakes were high, both for Blair, who was very ill, and for the treatment itself, which, despite some excellent published results, remains rare in the U.S.
Now, in the new documentary, “Introducing, Selma Blair,” Blair is offering the fullest picture yet of her treatment and recovery, in what supporters of HSCT for MS, including patients who have undergone the procedure, hope will be a turning point in public awareness.
“It absolutely is a huge moment,” said Julie Eberhardt, a Chicagoan who had the transplant for MS in 2018, and is active in the HSCT communities on Facebook and Instagram.
“Despite the fact that there are so many normal people willing to tell our stories, not a lot of people tend to pay attention,” said Eberhardt. “But if a celebrity’s talking about it, they’ll listen. And honestly, HSCT is a really interesting story; you just have to get their butts in the seats for five minutes and make them listen.”
“Introducing, Selma Blair” will open in select theaters Friday, and launch online Oct. 21 on Discovery+.
Sean Zanni/Getty Images North America/TNS
Selma Blair attends Discovery+'s "Introducing, Selma Blair Celebration At The 2021 Hampton Film Festival" at The Reform Club on Oct. 9, 2021, in Amagansett, New York. (Sean Zanni/Getty Images for discovery+/TNS)
The documentary shows Blair’s symptoms before HSCT: her legs stiff and unsteady, the effortlessly funny “Legally Blonde” actor hunched over, her back bending at a precarious angle, as she slowly and carefully navigates a staircase in her home with the aid of a cane.
She’ll be speaking clearly, and then it’s almost like a curtain comes down, and the words start coming out in slow motion, each syllable a monumental effort.
A single mom, Blair, now 49, rallies to play a hilarious game of dodgeball with her now 10-year-old son, Arthur Saint Bleick. But then, every bit of carefully conserved energy spent, she lets herself collapse on the floor.
She tries medication, which can slow the progress of the disease, but it doesn’t work for her. And then, out of options, she turns to HSCT, which is currently being tested in a national clinical trial called BEAT-MS with locations including the Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic. Burt, who treated Blair, is on sabbatical to publish his findings, teach other doctors about the procedure, and write a textbook, so Northwestern is not currently offering HSCT for MS.
In the documentary, we see Blair preparing for the small but real possibility of death during HSCT; about two in 1,000 patients have died from causes related to the procedure in recent years, according to a 2017 study.
But the potential upside is considerable, according to a 2019 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, co-authored by Burt. The study of 110 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, the most common kind of MS, found that 79% of patients who received HSCT showed no evidence of disease activity after five years, compared with just 3% of patients who took standard medications.
And for patients with severe or quickly advancing multiple sclerosis, the disease itself poses a serious risk. A 2013 study in the journal Neurology found that 10 years after diagnosis, 9% of MS patients needed a wheelchair or were bedridden.
The film shows Blair getting HSCT at Northwestern, her hospital room decorated with Arthur’s drawing of a plump purple rocket ship and festooned with unframed photos.
We see her face swollen with steroids, her fear when she experiences a bad reaction to an infusion, and her exhaustion and pain. But Blair is up and dancing before she leaves the hospital, performing a joyful loose-limbed jig with the help of her cane.
She learns the disease has stopped progressing in a triumphant post-transplant appointment with Burt, in which she comes close to walking a straight line, heel to toe, unassisted. In August she told reporters she is in remission.
Those who have seen her in public know she still uses a cane and struggles to force out words at times, but the documentary offers a fuller picture of her recovery, both its extent, which can be thrilling, and its limitations, which remain significant.
The primary goal of HSCT for MS is to stop the progression of the disease, avoiding new or worsening symptoms. But some patients report the procedure causes improvements as well.
That was the case with Eberhardt, 34, a lawyer who is back to work full time after HSCT and recently spent a month in Europe. She said she has stopped experiencing disabling MS symptoms such as vision loss and numbness throughout her left arm or leg.
“I’m going to get a little emotional,” Eberhardt said, her voice breaking when she talked about what the procedure has done for her. “It’s allowed me to live like a completely healthy human being, with the mindset of a person who has a chronic illness, and has been severely disabled by it, and had everything taken away. And then this thing called HSCT just gave every single thing back.”
Now, she said, she wants to help other people with autoimmune diseases like MS to get HSCT. She helps MS patients she meets on Facebook and Instagram with advice on how to research the procedure and raise money to pay for it.
The documentary hasn’t been released yet, but Eberhardt said she cried when she saw the trailer and has already scheduled a watch party.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
alicja neumiler // Shutterstock
Nutrient deficiencies are relatively common. They occur when people don’t get enough of a certain vitamin or mineral through the foods they eat, and the consequences of some deficiencies can be more than feeling generally lackluster. Some deficiencies, like vitamin E, can lead to serious health problems, including nerve damage. Others may cause people to experience symptoms such as anxiety, weakness, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping, which are difficult to trace back to a specific source, but may well come from not getting enough of a certain nutrient.
While this all can sound like bad news, there are fortunately many ways to get enough vitamins and minerals. Some of the best sources of all the nutrients your body needs are superfoods, which offer delicious ways to make sure you’re taking care of your diet and your health.
To find the most common nutrient deficiencies, Revive Superfoods analyzed data from a 2017 paper published by the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. The institute used data collected during the Center for Disease Control's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nutrient deficiencies were measured by Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), defined as “a nutrient intake value that is estimated to meet the requirement of half the healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group.”
alicja neumiler // Shutterstock
Nutrient deficiencies are relatively common. They occur when people don’t get enough of a certain vitamin or mineral through the foods they eat, and the consequences of some deficiencies can be more than feeling generally lackluster. Some deficiencies, like vitamin E, can lead to serious health problems, including nerve damage. Others may cause people to experience symptoms such as anxiety, weakness, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping, which are difficult to trace back to a specific source, but may well come from not getting enough of a certain nutrient.
While this all can sound like bad news, there are fortunately many ways to get enough vitamins and minerals. Some of the best sources of all the nutrients your body needs are superfoods, which offer delicious ways to make sure you’re taking care of your diet and your health.
To find the most common nutrient deficiencies, Revive Superfoods analyzed data from a 2017 paper published by the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. The institute used data collected during the Center for Disease Control's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nutrient deficiencies were measured by Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), defined as “a nutrient intake value that is estimated to meet the requirement of half the healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group.”
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
N K // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 5.7%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 377 μg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 604 μg
Vitamin A is a vital nutrient for good vision, a well-functioning immune system, and good skin health. While deficiency is rare in the developed world, pregnant people and those who breastfeed may be at higher risk for deficiency. A vitamin A deficiency can make a common cold more likely, skin act unruly, and impair vision over the long term. Symptoms include dry skin and eyes, along with throat and chest infections. To get the full recommended amount of vitamin A, load up on superfoods like carrots, pumpkins, and squash.
N K // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 5.7%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 377 μg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 604 μg
Vitamin A is a vital nutrient for good vision, a well-functioning immune system, and good skin health. While deficiency is rare in the developed world, pregnant people and those who breastfeed may be at higher risk for deficiency. A vitamin A deficiency can make a common cold more likely, skin act unruly, and impair vision over the long term. Symptoms include dry skin and eyes, along with throat and chest infections. To get the full recommended amount of vitamin A, load up on superfoods like carrots, pumpkins, and squash.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
Anna Shepulova // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 6.5%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 9.8 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 11.5 mg
Zinc is an important mineral that fights off infections and produces cells. Telltale signs of a zinc deficiency include hair loss, mental fogginess, and the reduced ability to taste and smell. How can you get more of this mineral in your diet? Consider loading up on foods high in zinc. These include meat and dairy—but vegetarians and vegans do have good options. Chickpeas are high in zinc, and are excellent on their own, or pureed into hummus.
Anna Shepulova // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 6.5%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 9.8 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 11.5 mg
Zinc is an important mineral that fights off infections and produces cells. Telltale signs of a zinc deficiency include hair loss, mental fogginess, and the reduced ability to taste and smell. How can you get more of this mineral in your diet? Consider loading up on foods high in zinc. These include meat and dairy—but vegetarians and vegans do have good options. Chickpeas are high in zinc, and are excellent on their own, or pureed into hummus.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
RusAKphoto // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 16.8%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 1,257 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 1,280 mg
Other than calcium, phosphorus is the most common mineral in the body. Without consuming adequate phosphorus, people may experience bone pain, loss of appetite, anxiety, fatigue, irregular breathing, and weight change. Children may have the healthy growth of their bones and teeth impacted. To get enough phosphorus, load up on a few key foods. These can include fish, nuts, grains and dried fruit. One pleasant way to get your phosphorus in is to opt for oysters before your meal, as they are high in phosphorus.
RusAKphoto // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 16.8%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 1,257 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 1,280 mg
Other than calcium, phosphorus is the most common mineral in the body. Without consuming adequate phosphorus, people may experience bone pain, loss of appetite, anxiety, fatigue, irregular breathing, and weight change. Children may have the healthy growth of their bones and teeth impacted. To get enough phosphorus, load up on a few key foods. These can include fish, nuts, grains and dried fruit. One pleasant way to get your phosphorus in is to opt for oysters before your meal, as they are high in phosphorus.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
lucio pepi // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 19.2%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 66.2 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 84.8 mg
Those who don’t consume enough fruits and vegetables are typically most at risk for a lack of vitamin C in their diets. Symptoms of a deficiency include fatigue, bruising, and general weakness. Symptoms may not appear until after several months of deficiency. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to get enough vitamin C. Eat a rainbow of superfoods and vegetables full of the vitamin, such as oranges, peppers, broccoli, and strawberries.
lucio pepi // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 19.2%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 66.2 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 84.8 mg
Those who don’t consume enough fruits and vegetables are typically most at risk for a lack of vitamin C in their diets. Symptoms of a deficiency include fatigue, bruising, and general weakness. Symptoms may not appear until after several months of deficiency. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to get enough vitamin C. Eat a rainbow of superfoods and vegetables full of the vitamin, such as oranges, peppers, broccoli, and strawberries.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
Odua Images // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 35.5%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 229 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 236 mg
Magnesium helps regulate the nervous system, from sleep to energy levels to mood. If you’re not getting enough, you may experience depression, dips in energy, and difficulty falling asleep. Fortunately, there are many ways to get a natural boost of magnesium through your diet. Eating lots of leafy greens is the best plant-based way to incorporate magnesium into your daily food plan. Leafy greens include spinach, kale, and lettuce.
Odua Images // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 35.5%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 229 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 236 mg
Magnesium helps regulate the nervous system, from sleep to energy levels to mood. If you’re not getting enough, you may experience depression, dips in energy, and difficulty falling asleep. Fortunately, there are many ways to get a natural boost of magnesium through your diet. Eating lots of leafy greens is the best plant-based way to incorporate magnesium into your daily food plan. Leafy greens include spinach, kale, and lettuce.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
Tatjana Baibakova // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 47.2%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 963 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 1,025 mg
Calcium is vital for bone health. When not enough calcium is consumed, bones may become brittle and weak. One of the best ways to counteract calcium deficiency is to make sure you’re eating enough food with high calcium content. Even vegans and vegetarians have options for increasing daily calcium intake, far beyond milk. Beans, lentils and edamame are calcium-rich foods, as well as seaweed and fruits like oranges and raspberries.
Tatjana Baibakova // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 47.2%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 963 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 1,025 mg
Calcium is vital for bone health. When not enough calcium is consumed, bones may become brittle and weak. One of the best ways to counteract calcium deficiency is to make sure you’re eating enough food with high calcium content. Even vegans and vegetarians have options for increasing daily calcium intake, far beyond milk. Beans, lentils and edamame are calcium-rich foods, as well as seaweed and fruits like oranges and raspberries.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
Shulevskyy Volodymyr // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 62.4%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 55.8 μg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 56.2 μg
Vitamin K is vital for its ability to form blood clots in the body. This means when people get a cut on their skin, the body has natural ways to prevent a small cut from gushing blood. When not enough vitamin K is present in the body, the ability to form these healthy clots is compromised, which can present a health risk. However, this risk can be managed by making sure enough vitamin K is present in the diet. Vegetables such as brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are high in vitamin K.
Shulevskyy Volodymyr // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 62.4%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 55.8 μg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 56.2 μg
Vitamin K is vital for its ability to form blood clots in the body. This means when people get a cut on their skin, the body has natural ways to prevent a small cut from gushing blood. When not enough vitamin K is present in the body, the ability to form these healthy clots is compromised, which can present a health risk. However, this risk can be managed by making sure enough vitamin K is present in the diet. Vegetables such as brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are high in vitamin K.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
thewet nonthachai // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 81.4%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 5.7 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 5.9 mg
Vitamin E deficiency can cause serious health problems. These include nerve and muscle damage, loss of body movement control, and muscle weakness. Another symptom—particularly relevant in the era of the coronavirus—is a weakened immune system. However, there is plenty that people can do to make sure they’re getting enough vitamin E. Some of the superfoods that have particularly high vitamin E counts include avocados, chard, and spinach. If you’re on the go, consider packing sunflower seeds for a snack, which are also high in vitamin E.
thewet nonthachai // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 81.4%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 5.7 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 5.9 mg
Vitamin E deficiency can cause serious health problems. These include nerve and muscle damage, loss of body movement control, and muscle weakness. Another symptom—particularly relevant in the era of the coronavirus—is a weakened immune system. However, there is plenty that people can do to make sure they’re getting enough vitamin E. Some of the superfoods that have particularly high vitamin E counts include avocados, chard, and spinach. If you’re on the go, consider packing sunflower seeds for a snack, which are also high in vitamin E.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
zi3000 // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 86.8%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 1.7 μg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 6.1 μg
Vitamin D is important for bone health. In cases of severe deficiency, this can lead to brittle bones over time. The two main sources of vitamin D are the sun and foods, which means that those who live in less sunny climates can struggle with getting adequate vitamin D. There are fortunately many foods that can be incorporated into one’s diet for vitamin D. These include mushrooms for plant-based diets, and herring and sardines for the bold.
zi3000 // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 86.8%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 1.7 μg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 6.1 μg
Vitamin D is important for bone health. In cases of severe deficiency, this can lead to brittle bones over time. The two main sources of vitamin D are the sun and foods, which means that those who live in less sunny climates can struggle with getting adequate vitamin D. There are fortunately many foods that can be incorporated into one’s diet for vitamin D. These include mushrooms for plant-based diets, and herring and sardines for the bold.
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Are plant-based burgers better for you?
hurricanehank // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 97.6%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 2,288 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 2,301 mg
Potassium is a mineral and an electrolyte. It can deplete in the body when it is chronically dehydrated, whether from overconsumption of alcohol, or excessive sweating or vomiting. A deficiency can impact everything from nerve function to blood pressure. Consuming enough potassium—but not too much—is vital to managing levels. Potassium can be found in superfoods like bananas, leafy greens, and carrots.
Balanced diets contribute to a healthy well-being overall, laregely because they contain a variety of these essential nutrients. Remaining vigilant about what vitamins or minerals may be lacking in the body and knowing where to get them can prevent long-term consequences on someone's well-being. Each nutrient contributes to overall health in a specific way, and finding what's missing from a diet can lead to fun experimentation with new recipes and even trying new foods.
This story originally appeared on Revive Superfoods and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
hurricanehank // Shutterstock
- Percent less than EAR: 97.6%
- Average daily intake from food:
--- Naturally occurring: 2,288 mg
--- Naturally occurring and enriched/fortified: 2,301 mg
Potassium is a mineral and an electrolyte. It can deplete in the body when it is chronically dehydrated, whether from overconsumption of alcohol, or excessive sweating or vomiting. A deficiency can impact everything from nerve function to blood pressure. Consuming enough potassium—but not too much—is vital to managing levels. Potassium can be found in superfoods like bananas, leafy greens, and carrots.
Balanced diets contribute to a healthy well-being overall, laregely because they contain a variety of these essential nutrients. Remaining vigilant about what vitamins or minerals may be lacking in the body and knowing where to get them can prevent long-term consequences on someone's well-being. Each nutrient contributes to overall health in a specific way, and finding what's missing from a diet can lead to fun experimentation with new recipes and even trying new foods.
This story originally appeared on Revive Superfoods and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
