Fibromyalgia and Your Diet

Copyright (c) 2008 Hailey Harris

Fibromyalgia is otherwise called Muscular Rheumatism, Tension Myalgia or Fibromyositis. This fibromyalgia is a syndrome where the patient suffers from chronic muscle pain. This is complicated syndrome wherein the pain can be all over the body or just in certain muscles around the joints. The majority who are affected by this are women over the age of 30, who suffer from pain in the neck, back and shoulders. They would generally complain of stiffness, tenderness, and pain in the joints. It may seem that the problem is with the joints, but in fact it is a muscular pain that causes the problem. This can appear in anyone including children and men of all races and is the second most common disorder as per rheumatologists.

Due to the steady pain, the person tends to show signs of stress, sleeplessness, extreme moodiness, and even depression. This may not be constant but can escalate with the pain and uneasiness. The cause of this may be due to certain pain stimulating chemicals in the body and the increase or reduction of serotonin in the body making it sensitive to pain. Fibromyalgia causes the pain to be centralized, wherein you feel the pain elsewhere in the brain or spinal cord. This can be triggered with just a slight touch or even external factors like light and sound. It may seem psychological due to this, but in reality the pain is genuine and caused due to these factors.

There is no specific recommended diet for fibromyalgia but a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals can certainly help in coping with the illness. Magnesium rich vegetables are recommended for patient's suffering from fibromyalgia. Cutting down on wheat and dairy products, having food rich in B12 and proteins, avoiding food with yeast and preservatives can also help. Caffeine, aerated drinks, chocolates and tea can be not only healthier but also reduce the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Turmeric is a powerful antiseptic and analgesic, 400-500 mg of turmeric everyday can help reduce inflammation and heal the tender skin. Ginger is also effective in relieving pain in the body. Ginger juice can be mixed with some honey or lemon juice and had as a refreshing drink.

You need to have food that reduces your anxiety levels. Cutting down on coffee can help you sleep better and open up ways to better health as well. Dairy products can be avoided, as they would trigger the irritable bowel syndrome that commonly affects fibromyalgia patients. Dairy products tend to increase anxiety in some patients and have a negative impact on the nervous system. Having whole grain diet affects some who complain of insomnia and muscle tensing. It is better to avoid it since the components are high in phytic acid and subsequently reduce zinc absorption in the system. Plenty of fruits, vegetables and nuts are recommended in the diet, as they are rich in magnesium.

Saturated fats in the diet can help reduce anxiety even though they tend to make you put on weight. Research has shown that the anxiety levels in the person decreased with the increase in cholesterol levels in the person. Spices tend to increase anxiety; hence, a less spicy diet can have calming effect, as it does not stimulate the body or the mind. Acidic food can reduce the absorption of magnesium, which helps relax the muscles. When there is a magnesium deficiency, the muscles tend to get cramped and tense. Plenty of vegetable juices and soups along with coconut water or any fresh juice can be very refreshing and healthy. Just the simple green salad with lemon juice dressing can be full of the necessary vitamins.

Patients with Fibromyalgia symptoms should avoid vegetables like broccoli, okra, potatoes, and cabbage. They should make it a routine to sleep early in order to avoid stress and fatigue. Some of the patients who suffer from this prolonged joint pain can be allergic to wheat. A gluten free diet is recommended for them, foods that can be avoided are high fat dairy products, fried foods, red meat etc. Research has shown that food rich in sodium and fried stuff can aggravate the pain and inflammation. As mentioned there no specific diet for fibromyalgia, you could try each one and decide which one suits you best as health food and as a way to nursing yourself back to health.