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Fibromyalgia and diet

fibromyalgia and diet

As a fibro sufferer, and someone who always looks to what we eat as being important, I thought it was time I talked a bit more about diet and fibromyalgia.

Many people have turned to diet to help reduce their symptoms when other methods do not work. I have discovered that Fibromyalgia Syndrome requires a multi pronged attack and food is just one of those prongs. 
 
Please keep in mind that what works for one person very frequently does not work for another. 

This holistic approach may include strategies such as meditation, exercise, massage, acupuncture, pain medications, time in nature, homeopathy, supplements and much more. 

So back to diet... Here is the basis of what I have done to help reduce my own symptoms:
  • Remove Aspartame (NutraSweet),  MSG (monosodium glutamate), Yeast and Nitrates from my diet.
  • Eat more vegetables
  • Eat one fruit at a time
  • Eat a more varied diet
  • Eat less foods out of packets
  • Eat less bread
  • Drink lactose free milk and not much of it
These are the things that have helped me and it has been a process of trial and error to work them out. Eating a more varied diet and eating more vegetables can help everyone. The other points may be more specific to me. 

There are a number of co-existing health conditions that have a tendency to occur in people with fibromyalgia. Many of these have overlapping symptoms. These include gluten intolerancegout (a form of arthritis), and restless leg syndrome. Some doctors believe food sensitivity itself could sometimes be responsible for some of the pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia. MedicineNet

I can go into more detail about these points, if there is any interest over the next few weeks, otherwise here are some other links about the importance of diet in reducing fibro symptoms.


Certain foods might trigger fibromyalgia symptoms. 
WebMD tells you how diet can help you avoid fatigue and boost your energy.

Fibromyalgia, a chronic disease that causes pain and swelling in more than a dozen points all over the body, affects as many as 5 million ...

Eating a healthy diet may ease your symptoms by helping you lose ...
While no magic food will prevent every patient's
fibromyalgia flare-ups, a few dietary improvements 
can make a world of difference and may ...

Although there is little clinical research on fibromyalgia and foodmany patients 
say that following a careful diet can help ease aches and discomfort.


Diet and exercise guidelines to help optimize function for fibromyalgia patients.

LINKED UP AT FIBRO FRIDAY N0. 26 and NO. 331 (in revised form)


8 comments:

  1. I am so pleased to have discovered your blog although a bit sad that it is "pain," that brought us together. I am going to research some of the books you list and also look forward to reading your insightful posts! Please check out my blog if you have time one day.
    http://chronicpainandstillsmiling.blogspot.com/

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    1. Hi Lauria, thanks so much for reaching out. Your blog is very honest. The post I read was riveting. Alas you seem to be not blogging anymore and I hope you are ok.

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  2. This is a great post! A lot of the foods we put into our bodies will either help our pain or make it get worse. Knowing those triggers can make HUGE changes in our pain, better or worse.

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    1. Oh yes Buba I so agree. I fight an ongoing and mysterious battle with food, trying to work out my triggers that just seem to be growing. Hope you are feeling better (not worse)

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  3. Audrey6:40 PM

    This is so true for, that diet is important and causes symptoms to be agravated

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    1. Yes Audrey, I so agree. Hopefully the right food can help us too.

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  4. Great post.....Fibromyalgia is frequently associated with psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety and stress-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder.

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  5. Anonymous6:29 PM

    The best thing I ever did was completely stop sugar and only have full dairy meaning heavy cream and cheese. No milk. It's full of sugar. I followed Dr Martin
    a nutritionist in my home town have lost 20 lbs and feel so much better. I did the meat cheese and egg reset which made so much sense and continued to eat this way .

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Thanks for your input