| We have now reached a level of obesity in the | | | | particularly if undertaken outdoors in daylight. |
| US, South America, Canada, and throughout | | | | Not only does graded exercise improve stamina |
| Europe which is unprecedented in recorded | | | | via increased RBC production and oxygen uptake, |
| history. | | | | it provides a lux (unit of light) boost in SAD |
| It is also accepted that the lifestyles we lead are | | | | sufferers, and provides a new purpose and |
| often very high stress. | | | | routine to depressed patients. |
| It is no coincidence that these new peaks of | | | | Exercise also produces endorphins which help to |
| obesity and stress correlate directly with an | | | | boost and modulate brain chemistry with respect |
| increase in the occurrence of "modern" or "new" | | | | to serotonin and dopamine balance. |
| diseases of Western society, including heart | | | | Naturally, it stands to reason that all these factors |
| disease, the cancers, and others including the | | | | will benefit patients with fatigue of DEPRESSIVE |
| rheumatic and fatigue spectrum, specifically in our | | | | origin. |
| case Fibromyalgia and CFS. | | | | However, damage to the Autonomic Nervous |
| At least we have moved past the era when | | | | System in patients with "true" Fibromyalgia and |
| debate was so Neolithic as to suggest that these | | | | CFS mean that energy production via the |
| conditions don't really exist or are a subdivision of | | | | Sympathetic Nervous System in response to |
| psychology and now we can concentrate on the | | | | exercise is impaired. |
| science and biology of these diseases and the | | | | More importantly, removal of toxins and lactic acid |
| reality of life and recovery for Fibromyalgia and | | | | produced by the muscles in response to exercise |
| CFS patients. | | | | via the lymphatic and venous systems is seriously |
| Carrying extra weight will exacerbate small | | | | compromised and as a result causes toxic |
| anomalies in musculoskeletal balance. | | | | overload and rapid symptomatic decline after |
| These anomalies in conjunction with a certain | | | | exercise. |
| genetic predisposition appear to underlie the onset | | | | This results in the "post-exertional malaise" that |
| of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in | | | | Fibromyalgia and CFS sufferers who have |
| certain individuals, while other individuals who | | | | attempted an exercise regime WILL have |
| suffer the same initial "trigger" infection, trauma or | | | | experienced. |
| exposure recover relatively unscathed. | | | | A cruel twist in the tale which has lead the |
| Post-onset, carrying extra weight may cause | | | | establishment down the psychological path so |
| your condition to be maintained longer and | | | | many times is that often the most obvious |
| exacerbated more than in patients of normal | | | | physical sign of illness in Fibromyalgia and CFS |
| weight. | | | | patients is that they are suffering depression. |
| The Autonomic Nervous System, damaged by | | | | It is only now being acknowledged by the |
| the initial trauma of your condition controls | | | | establishment that patients with these syndromes |
| homeostasis, digestion, and the organs of | | | | display depression as an environmental |
| elimination to name but a few of its functions. | | | | CONSEQUENCE of living with their illness. |
| The ANS will be under additional stress in | | | | It is NOT THE CAUSE as is so often dictated by |
| individuals who are overweight or clinically obese. | | | | well-meaning healthcare providers. |
| I do appreciate that the last thing you need to | | | | I am putting together a manual of dietary advice |
| hear when you are struck with the early stages | | | | which I will be posting soon, but in the meantime I |
| of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is | | | | recommend a diet that is balanced and safe, rich |
| that you need to lose weight. | | | | in nutrients and will produce sustainable results |
| In the early stages of the illness weight loss is | | | | with regards to maintaining or reducing your |
| NOT advised. I advise sufferers to eat a well | | | | weight while you are still in the recuperative phase |
| balanced diet. | | | | of a chronic disease. |
| At a later stage as overall toxicity reduces, | | | | I do admit reservations about recommending |
| lymphatic flow improves, immunological modulation | | | | calorific restrictions but our illness is not caused by |
| begins and digestive stress is reduced weight loss | | | | a lack of calories, and excessive consumption due |
| strategies can be considered and undertaken. | | | | to depression or comfort eating will only serve to |
| However due to the causal factors involved in | | | | overload organs which are already disturbed and |
| Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome it is | | | | congested. |
| essential to avoid programs which require | | | | From a dietary perspective, I advise a pretty |
| strenuous exercise regimes, due to the onset of | | | | standard protocol:o Eat 5 or more portions of |
| post-exertional malaise which is a defining feature | | | | fresh, raw fruit and lightly boiled or streamed |
| of Fibromyalgia and CFS pathology. | | | | vegetables per day, with a good balance of |
| Any program involving sustained aerobic activity | | | | protein and carbohydrates.o Avoid red meat |
| that induces cardiovascular debt or strenuous | | | | more than once a week. Eat chicken and fish |
| muscular exertion such as weightlifting, can | | | | instead.o Avoid too much sugar. Fruit will contain all |
| seriously damage sufferers of Fibromyalgia and | | | | the sugars you need in a more useable form.o |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. | | | | Avoid dairy products due to the almost universal |
| Patients suffering "true" CFS should never | | | | immune over-reaction to cow's milk.o Avoid |
| attempt to waste what little energy they have on | | | | alcohol consumption. This should be a given if you |
| strenuous exercise, whether it be weight bearing, | | | | are reading this anyway. The immune response is |
| graded, aerobic or anaerobic. | | | | excessive and the toxic load on the eliminatory |
| The only energy you should be expending is on | | | | organs such as the liver, kidneys and stomach are |
| your essential daily activities, and relaxing walks or | | | | also excessive.o Take a daily high quality |
| pastimes which will reduce your susceptibility to | | | | multivitamin/multimineral supplement. |
| depression. | | | | With this balanced diet you will not be deficient in |
| What I am about to say I am sure will open a | | | | any nutrients which could possibly be causing your |
| veritable Pandora's Box, well so be it. | | | | fatigue, or that could hinder your recovery from |
| My research has lead me firmly to the conclusion | | | | your condition. |
| that the evidence supporting "graded exercise" as | | | | Also, you will not be putting undue strain on your |
| a strategy for CFS and Fibromyalgia treatment is | | | | digestive system, which is currently disturbed and |
| wholly unfounded. | | | | malfunctioning. |
| Clinical trials I have investigated which were used | | | | I DO advocate taking a high quality multivitamin |
| as supporting evidence for the use of graded | | | | multimineral supplement to top up any slight |
| exercise as an establishment response to CFS | | | | deficiencies you may have on a daily basis. They |
| and Fibromyalgia were deeply flawed as | | | | will certainly do you no harm and for a small price |
| inadequate distinction was made with regards to | | | | will eliminate any worries you might have over |
| the actual medical cause of fatigue in these | | | | dietary deficiencies. |
| sufferers. | | | | There have been notable cases where sufferers |
| The definition of Chronic Fatigue was basically that | | | | who have been misdiagnosed have responded |
| a subject should have suffered pronounced | | | | remarkably to high doses of the B-Complex |
| fatigue for 6 months or more. | | | | family. It seems malnutrition is still far from being |
| From our own research we all know that there | | | | confined to history in the US and with the rise of |
| are a thousand and one different causes of long | | | | fast food is making quite a confident and |
| term fatigue. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome being just | | | | remarkable comeback in our own backyard. |
| one of these. | | | | The quality of foods you consume should hugely |
| Similarly it is a recognized fact that patients | | | | outweigh the quantity. |
| diagnosed with mild, post-natal, or clinical | | | | All foods consumed should be natural, |
| depression and/or Seasonal Affective Disorder | | | | unprocessed, and highly rich in vitamins, minerals |
| often respond well to graded exercise regimes, | | | | and micronutrients. |