I ran across a well written article on Web-MD this morning addressing the topic of fibromyalgia and diet. It echoed exactly what I have been telling my medical intuitive clients for years! I really liked the fact that the author mentioned that fibro sufferers often have related illnesses such as Restless Leg Syndrome, Gluten Intolerance, and Gout (a form of arthritis.) The entire article is listed here (http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/guide/fibromyalgia-the-diet-connection) if you would like to read the entire piece. The quick summary is below:
Avoid these Seven Foods if you suffer from fibromyalgia:
1) Artificial sweeteners of all kinds - I honestly don't recommend any of them!
2) MSG, (all glutamates!) and nitrates - these jazz up your nervous system response and can lead to a bit of nervous system overload. Remember, there are now about 24+ different ways glutamates are listed as food additives in the ingredients list of things you purchase at the grocery store.
3) Refined sugars (white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, corn syrup) and simple carbohydrates (things made with refined wheat flour) - sugar and foods that break down into sugar quickly don't by themselves cause pain, but they can increase your pain perception by a lot AND feed any yeast over abundance in your body.
4) Caffeine and chocolate - caffeine is a vaso - constrictor and while it might wake us up a bit more by causing more of an adrenaline push, it also causes less blood flow and steals away the calcium molecules so we don't get the benefit of better sleep and muscle relaxation. Remember, caffeine has a LONG half life and the coffee you drink today can still be detected in your body 8 plus days later!
5) Yeast, products raised or fermented with yeast, and gluten (wheat, rye, oats, barley) - make your grains of choice those that don't feet yeast easily (corn, rice) and shy away from those grains that contain gluten.
6) Bovine dairy products (with the exception of plain homemade yogurt.)
7) Nightshade family foods (potatoes, tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, tobacco) - these contain solanine, a glycoalkaloid poison. It's highest concentration is found in potatoes, especially those that are older and whose eyes are beginning to show signs of sprouting as well as potatoes that have a greenish tinge under the skin.
I have personally found that fibromyalgia and vegetarian diets are a very tough mix. Fibro folks seem to do better with more B vitamin rich foods as well as a good regular iron source to help them make better hemoglobin and thus carry more oxygen in the body.
