Fibromyalgia & Diet

:flowerforyou: I am a Fibromyalgia sufferer and thought I would share this article as I have attempted to work these concepts into my diet with some positive results and wanted to share.:flowerforyou:

Fibromyalgia and Diet
by nibbledish

"Fibromyalgia is a debilitating disease that causes extreme joint and muscle pain, as well as chronic fatigue. There is no cure for fibromyalgia, and often regular treatment only reduces the amount of pain temporarily. Scientists have been researching the effects of diet on patients with fibromyalgia, but to date no definitive results have been discovered.

Some patients have experimented with their diet, and through trial and error discovered that incorporating healthy foods into their diet has improved the quality of their life, and in some cases even reduced their fibromyalgia symptoms. Some medical experts believe the reason different diet alterations work for different patients is because of the variety of secondary conditions that often occur in patients with fibromyalgia. For example, many fibromyalgia sufferers also suffer from arthritis, restless leg syndrome and even gluten intolerance.

Taking your diet into consideration when seeking relief from the many symptoms that accompany fibromyalgia could improve the quality of your life. There are several different types of food that may agitate symptoms, and avoiding them could improve and even prevent some symptoms.

Aspartame, an artificial sweetener often found in diet soft drinks, is at the top of the list because it opens the pain receptors in the nervous system. Because fibromyalgia patients already have a high pain sensitivity, aspartame could agitate pre-existing symptoms. Foods containing MSG (monosodium glutamine) affects the same pain receptors, and should also be avoided. This would include cutting out fried, fatty foods containing salt, as salt may result in water retention and painful swelling.

Since many patients with fibromyalgia suffer from chronic fatigue, they often turn to caffeine to help them stay alert and awake. Unfortunately, caffeine tends to have the adverse affect. You may experience a quick boost of energy, but the crash after the stimulant wears off is often more severe. It is also recommended that you cut out carbonated soft drinks, which interfere with your metabolism and can often contribute to unwanted weight gain.

Patients who experience a gluten intolerance can benefit from cutting gluten-based foods from their diet. Not only do fibromyalgia patients with gluten intolerance tend to suffer severe digestive problems, eating gluten-based food may result in fatigue. Gluten is often found in baked goods like cookies, cakes, pies and breads. That doesn’t mean you have to give up all your favorite baked goods, thought cutting down on your sugar intake will lower your daily carbohydrate consumption. You can buy gluten-free flour and substitute it when baking to continue enjoying the baked goods you love.

When you take a look at your diet, and compare it to the list of “don’t eats” above, you may be asking, “What can I eat?”

Along with drinking at least eight glasses of water daily, your should incorporate a variety of raw, unprocessed foods into your diet. Regular servings of fresh fruit and vegetables help your body produce necessary enzymes to aid in proper digestion. They also boost the immune system, and since many fibromyalgia patients tend to suffer from low immunity, raw foods may contribute to a healthier you. Lean meats and poultry are more likely to contribute to heart health, and a healthy heart means a healthier body overall.

Omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in fish like salmon, herring and sardines, eggs from range-fed chickens and flax or linseed oil, are known to reduce inflammation, which is important for patients suffering from muscle and joint pain.

Combined with regular exercise and stretching, the aforementioned diet changes could have a positive impact on your fibromyalgia symptoms. Though there is no definitive proof that altering your diet will improve your fibromyalgia, a healthier body will withstand the ravages of disease better."

Nibbledish Originals:
http://blog.nibbledish.com/2009/05/18/fibromyalgia-and-diet/?keywords=fibromyalgia+diet&referrer=adwords-content&adnum=3&camp=Google-Content-Nibbledish2-6&group=fibromyalgia+diet&keyword=diet+for+fibromyalgia&creativeid=4332863732&traffictype=content