Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in the muscles, joints and can be accompanied by fatigue and depression. There are a few treatments that can be administered by your physician, but eating foods for fibromyalgia can help you take control of this illness and lead to significant improvement in your symptoms. A fibromyalgia diet should vary from person to person because some foods that are usually a part of a balanced diet could cause allergic and other harmful reactions.
What causes fibromyalgia?
The research jury is still out on what really causes this condition but some studies suggest trauma, stress, abnormalities in nerve function and genes might be behind it. Symptoms that could indicate you are a candidate includes muscle strain and pain, joint pain, abdominal pain, swelling, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, depression, headaches, digestive problems, stiffness and numbness. These symptoms often appear together and the pain is usually general rather than being focused on a single part of the body like arthritis.
What are the best foods for fibromyalgia?
For fibromyalgia patients, any food with gluten should be avoided at all costs. Gluten can be found in many foods, from white bread to pastry. The reason why gluten is harmful is because it leads to digestive problems like indigestion, diarrhea and abdominal pain in most cases. Next time you visit the grocery store, make sure you ask for and stock up on gluten-free products like bread and oatmeal to avoid aggravating your symptoms.
Fruits and vegetables should be among your top foods for fibromyalgia because they contain properties that keep blood sugar balanced, boost energy and lessen mood swings. The best fruits and veggies to include in your daily diet are tomatoes, green peppers, spinach, kale, broccoli, sweet potatoes, berries, citrus fruits and tropical fruits like mangoes and papayas.
Fish such as sardines, salmon, mackerel, herring, trout and mackerel are also great foods for fibromyalgia. They provide plenty of protein and fatty acids to restore damaged muscles and can ease muscle and joint pain. Instead of frying them, bake or grill them to obtain as many nutrients as possible. Eggs, chicken, pork and turkey also give you the amount of protein you need to manage muscle-related symptoms.
You should also opt for healthy fats in olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocadoes and butter instead of trans or saturated fat from packaged foods and fast food.
What are the worst foods for fibromyalgia?
The foods you should avoid depend on your body’s reaction to them. Many claim to experience digestive problems and inflammation when they consume cheese, milk, sour cream and other dairy products. The best way to find out is to keep a food diary, where you can have a clear record of the meals you eat so you can determine which foods you should stay away from.
In general, eat as many plants (fruits and vegetables), cold water fish and healthy fats as you can. Swap your carbonated drinks and sweet juices with fruits instead. Establish a diet with a good calorie count to manage your weight, drink lots of water and you should notice a difference sooner than you think.
Philip Skalla says
Until recently, most physicians have dismissed fibromyalgia patients as head cases or prescribed wholly-inappropriate medication such as anticonvulsants.
If you meet a physician who actually understands something about this disease and is up-to-date with the research -- an unlikely event in my opinion -- you may be prescribed an ant-viral medicine.
Many fibromyalgia patients suffer from gastro -esophageal symptoms.
Recommending acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits and mangoes, does not seem a good idea in such cases.