| Fibromyalgia is a complex condition that includes | | | | avoided. |
| widespread symptoms of muscle and joint pain, | | | | 3. Sugar, fructose, and simple carbohydrates: |
| where everything seems to ache and is | | | | Though no study has clearly identified that these |
| associated with severe exhaustion and fatigue. | | | | foods directly worsen the symptoms in |
| It affects up to 4% of the population (woman > | | | | fibromyalgia patients, eliminating foods like cake, |
| men), with no known cause or known cure. With | | | | white bread and sugar in general, will decrease the |
| these facts, it's not surprising that many have | | | | risk of developing secondary conditions such as |
| turned to diet as a means of trying to improve | | | | yeast infections that can give rise to |
| their quality of life. Unfortunately, there are | | | | fibromyalgia. Eliminating foods with high levels of |
| many conflicting dietary recommendations for | | | | fructose corn syrup has been reported to help |
| fibromyalgia, some completely contradicting the | | | | some fibromyalgia patients. |
| other, leaving the patient and doctor confused as | | | | 4. Caffeine (coffee, tea, colas/soda, & |
| to who or what to believe. | | | | chocolate): After a brief stimulating effect |
| | | | | (energy boost), there is a longer lasting sedative |
| Fibromyalgia can be primary (of unknown cause) | | | | affect, which is amplified in fibromyalgia patients. |
| or secondary (caused by a different specific | | | | The good news is that most of the caffeine is |
| condition). Because many conditions can give rise | | | | out of the body within a week of discontinuing |
| to fibromyalgia, it's not surprising that there is no | | | | caffeine. |
| one diet that works universally for all fibromyalgia | | | | 5. Yeast and glutens: These two are not |
| patients. However, many fibromyalgia sufferers | | | | related but are frequently used together in foods |
| respond from eliminating one or more of several | | | | like cake, donuts and bread and both contribute to |
| types of foods according to experts interviewed | | | | fibromyalgia symptoms. Yeast gives rise to |
| by WebMD, and utilizing these recommendations | | | | yeast fungus where an overgrowth may cause |
| can prove highly effective. They specifically | | | | or exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms resulting in |
| identified 7 foods to avoid in the management of | | | | joint and muscle pain. Glutens can cause |
| fibromyalgia, which include the following: | | | | stomach and other GI problems, which in turn can |
| | | | | give rise to fatigue. |
| 1. Aspartame (NutraSweet): All of the experts | | | | 6: Dairy: Regardless if its low or high fat, some |
| interviewed by WebMD agreed that a large | | | | reports indicate that dairy products, particularly |
| majority of fibromyalgia patients could worsen by | | | | milk can increase the symptoms of fibromyalgia |
| eating or drinking foods sweetened by aspartame. | | | | and avoiding these can help. |
| 2. MSG (monosodium glutamine) and nitrates: | | | | 7. Nightshade plants: Tomatoes, chili and bell |
| MSG is a common additive to enhance flavor in | | | | peppers, potatoes and eggplant can trigger |
| many processed and frozen foods as well as in | | | | flare-ups of fibromyalgia and various forms of |
| some Asian (eg., Chinese) foods. Hence, | | | | arthritis. |
| lunchmeats like ham, bologna and bacon should be | | | | |