| Nutritional therapy for Fibromyalgia can help reduce | | | | Acidophilus and associated "good" bacteria can help |
| stress, free the body of toxins, and restore nutrients | | | | balance the flora in your intestine. Some plain yogurts |
| which have been stripped away. Supplements can | | | | have active cultures that can help. You can also find |
| be helpful, but right now, I want to focus on diet. | | | | other sources of "good" bacteria at health food |
| FM patients need to watch what we eat because | | | | stores like Kefir. |
| there are many foods that exacerbate our | | | | Fibromyalgia patients are more sensitive to food, |
| symptoms. I know how hard it is - especially in the | | | | drugs, chemicals and pollutants. With the myriad of |
| carbohydrate category, because I LOVE pasta, | | | | common issues such as allergies, gastrointestinal |
| potatoes and chocolate. Unfortunately, one of the | | | | issues and migraines we tend to have, there are |
| first things recommended in a nutrition program for | | | | foods that can trigger these symptoms or make |
| FM sufferers is reduction of carbohydrates and | | | | them worse. It might require a little detective work |
| adding more protein. I can handle adding protein, but | | | | to figure out what foods are a problem for you. |
| take away my carbs? UGH! Maybe you can | | | | Use the process of elimination when you suspect |
| identify. The fact is, if we want to feel better and | | | | that a certain food might be a triggering factor for |
| restore our mental and physical function, it is a | | | | you. Remove it from your diet for a couple of |
| necessity. | | | | weeks and see if you start to feel better or the |
| Since we (FM sufferers) already have a compromised | | | | frequency of your negative responses decrease. |
| immune system, a diet that includes the list of | | | | Known foods that aggravate FM symptoms are the |
| “no-no’s” can cause your body even | | | | same as listed above but we need to also consider |
| more suffering. Also, certain foods have been | | | | processed foods, fried foods, artificial sweeteners, |
| found to cause fatigue. So, to avoid further | | | | bottled juices and diet soda. Processed foods are |
| destruction we need to follow the “fibro nutrition | | | | full of additives, preservatives, colorings, salt and |
| rules”. | | | | sugar. These foods are what I like to call a |
| Some Fibromyalgia sufferers have a low | | | | “death trap”. I know, it sounds |
| carbohydrate tolerance or reactive hypoglycemia (low | | | | over-dramatic, but if we can think of them this way, |
| blood sugar) that strikes after eating carbs. This can | | | | we might be able to train our brains to reject them. |
| cause problems with carbohydrate metabolism, which | | | | We know our bodies already do because of the pain, |
| in turn creates the inability to lose weight, fatigue, | | | | fatigue and unhappiness that comes with a bad diet. |
| worsening symptoms and carbohydrate cravings. | | | | If your detective work doesn’t provide results, |
| Carbohydrates stimulate insulin production. Excess | | | | you might want to try a hypoallergenic or gluten-free |
| insulin can cause an increased absorption of sugar into | | | | diet. With a hypoallergenic diet, you eliminate one |
| our muscles and liver, which can be stored as fatty | | | | food group at a time. You can start with removing |
| acids in fat cells, and prevent carbs from being | | | | a single item each week and see how you feel. If |
| metabolized. | | | | nothing happens, remove another food the next |
| We need to lessen our consumption of unsaturated | | | | week. |
| fats. It is recommended that we increase our | | | | A gluten-free diet isn’t easy because it requires |
| intake of vegetables, whole grains, fruits and | | | | you to completely eliminate all wheat products. |
| essential fatty acids found in cold-water fish, nuts | | | | Since wheat is so common in a variety of foods, you |
| and seeds. | | | | will have to plan your diet it and follow it carefully. |
| Saturated fats should be reduced. You can do this by | | | | You can find wheat replacement products at health |
| choosing fat-free dairy products, increasing | | | | food stores. It is suggested that you don’t drink |
| vegetables or trying soy products. Also, red meat, | | | | any liquids with your meals, avoid smoking, and avoid |
| in particular, is hard to digest and increases | | | | long periods of direct sun. You need to drink eight |
| cholesterol. So, we should exercise caution when it | | | | glasses of water each day between meals. |
| comes to the amount of red meat we consume. | | | | Just like medications and therapies, each FM sufferer |
| It is important to avoid alcohol, caffeine, and limit our | | | | will respond differently to specific foods than |
| sugar, salt, fat and the intake of specific additives | | | | another. Some have certain food allergies that |
| like monosodium glutamate (MSG). | | | | others do not. Food allergies can interfere with your |
| Eating foods rich in antioxidants like vitamins A, C, E | | | | nutrient intake. It is recommended that we keep a |
| may be used to combat stress and support the | | | | food diary to help identify our triggers. Write down |
| immune system. Foods rich in magnesium help | | | | everything you eat and at the same time track your |
| support your muscles and vitamin B-rich foods can | | | | FM pain. Comparing the two might help you |
| help with stress, energy/metabolism and mental | | | | determine what foods may trigger allergies or pain. |
| clarity. The best food sources of magnesium are | | | | There is another diet method that has proved helpful |
| legumes, tofu, seeds, nuts, whole grains, and green | | | | for FM patients called Food Combining. The theory |
| leafy vegetables. | | | | is that certain foods should not be combined because |
| Some “fibromytes” find that foods high in | | | | they work against each other. This diet is definitely |
| acids like citric acid, trigger more muscle pain. | | | | worth looking into! |
| Some examples are tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, | | | | It is my hope that by changing our nutritional |
| eggplant, red meat, cow milk products, brown and | | | | life-style, we can begin to feel better and regain as |
| white wheat flour products, sugary foods, coffee, | | | | much of our mental, emotional and physical function |
| and yes, chocolate. | | | | as possible. |