| You may disagree with me, but hear me out... | | | | aspirin and some fruits), and following a |
| While there is no commonly agreed upon | | | | low-carbohydrate fibromyalgia diet, when low |
| fibromyalgia diet, there is a great deal of advice | | | | blood sugar is also an issue. This fibromyalgia diet |
| out there concerning what constitutes a good diet | | | | was proposed by a medical doctor (R. Paul St. |
| for people afflicted with fibromyalgia. | | | | Amand) in the 1990's, when he observed that |
| This advice can come from both the people who | | | | 40% of his fibromyalgia patients also had low |
| suffer from the fibromyalgia and from doctors. | | | | blood sugar. |
| Although dietary guidelines are a good start, the | | | | Dr. Amand believes that fibromyalgia is an |
| truth of the matter is that you shouldn't expect | | | | inherited disorder that is caused by the |
| to find a "miracle cure" for fibromyalgia relief, | | | | accumulation of phosphate in the cells which |
| because people with the syndrome suffer from | | | | impedes the production of ATP. ATM provides |
| so many different symptoms. | | | | energy to the cells of the human body. This is all |
| A proper fibromyalgia diet is also subject to | | | | purely theoretically and is only mentioned because |
| debate because no one knows what causes the | | | | of the popularity of this alternative treatment for |
| disease, although theories abound. | | | | fibromyalgia relief. Guaifenesin has not been |
| One theory is that oversensitive nerve cells in the | | | | approved by the Food and Drug Administration |
| spinal cord and brain, possibly due to changes in | | | | for fibromyalgia. |
| chemicals that regulate pain, may cause | | | | In addition to creating a fibromyalgia diet, some |
| widespread muscle pain and hypersensitivity to | | | | people have obtained fibromyalgia relief by using a |
| pain. Many doctors, therefore, prescribe Cox-2 | | | | product called Xango(TM) made from the |
| inhibitors or other anti-inflammatory drugs for | | | | mangosteen. The mangosteen is a fruit that |
| fibromyalgia relief since they may help alleviate | | | | grows in the rainforests of Southeast and Central |
| the pain. | | | | Asia, is sometimes called "Queen of Fruits," and is |
| However, prescription Cox-2 inhibitors can have | | | | revered in that region of the world for its health |
| serious side effects, which is why Merck the | | | | promoting properties. |
| pharmaceutical company is now mired in the | | | | Do not confuse the mangosteen with the mango, |
| midst of thousands of lawsuits over the deaths | | | | as they are not related. Xango(TM) made from |
| caused by Vioxx(TM), which is a Cox-2 inhibitor. | | | | mangosteen is now available in the United States |
| Food allergies have been reported to play a role in | | | | and is a puree juice blend of both the rind and the |
| a number of inflammatory conditions, so a | | | | mangosteen fruit. The mangosteen rind was used |
| fibromyalgia diet might exclude certain common | | | | historically throughout India and Asia to treat a |
| allergens. In a study of rheumatoid arthritis | | | | wide variety of pain, which is one reason that it |
| patients, 91% experienced an improvement in | | | | now sought after and recommended by some |
| symptoms by eliminating grains, dairy, nuts, beef, | | | | doctors for fibromyalgia relief. |
| egg and other foods. | | | | For example, Dr. J Frederic Templeman, M.D., |
| This is similar to the vegan fibromyalgia diet that | | | | states that: "Although no other intervention has |
| provided fibromyalgia relief in some studies. | | | | ever helped even 45% of my patients, in my |
| On the other hand, some people have reported | | | | experience, mangosteen can brief relief, either |
| alleviation of symptoms after using a diet that | | | | partial or complete, to over 60% of sufferers." |
| increased red meat while reducing wheat and | | | | By sufferers, Dr. Templeman is referring to those |
| dairy. While this may seem contradictory, it still | | | | afflicted with fibromyalgia and its symptoms. |
| appears that food allergies are the culprits. People | | | | Scientific research has shown that the |
| have different allergies and different sensitivities, | | | | mangosteen rind or fruit contains components |
| so the fact that one person's fibromyalgia diet is | | | | which are Cox-2 inhibiting, anti-inflammatory and |
| different from another's makes sense. | | | | anti-allergy. Since its introduction into the health |
| In order to determine what food allergies may be | | | | supplements market, it has been used |
| causing you problems, you could start by | | | | successfully by numerous people who claim it has |
| eliminating the most common allergens (grains, | | | | treated a variety of their conditions, including |
| dairy, nuts, meats and eggs) following a vegan | | | | fibromyalgia relief. |
| fibromyalgia diet for ten days. Ten days was the | | | | If food allergies are problems, scientific research |
| mean time that rheumatoid arthritis patients | | | | has shown that mangosteen extracts inhibit |
| reported a reduction in symptoms in the study | | | | histamine release more effectively than some |
| previously mentioned. Then by adding grains, | | | | anti-allergy drugs, so it could be incorporated as |
| dairy, nuts, meats and eggs back into the diet, | | | | part of a special fibromyalgia diet. |
| one at a time, you might be able to identify the | | | | If oversensitive nerve cells are the problem, |
| problem foods. | | | | scientific research has shown that mangosteen |
| In the rheumatoid arthritis study, 86% of the | | | | extracts protect nerves from damage and |
| patients reported that certain foods repeatedly | | | | prevent or counteract the effects of age and |
| aggravated their symptoms, but not all foods had | | | | oxidation. If low blood sugar is a problem, the |
| to be eliminated from their final diet. Most people | | | | mangosteen has been shown to help stabilize |
| only had to eliminate two or three. | | | | blood sugar levels. |
| In the book Foods that Fight Pain, Dr. Neal | | | | For fibromyalgia relief from pain, the Cox-2 |
| Barnard adds to the above list of most common | | | | inhibitor in mangosteen is more powerful than |
| allergens. If you are trying to design your own | | | | some of the prescription drugs, but seemingly |
| fibromyalgia diet, you may want to exclude these | | | | without any of the side effects. |
| foods as well, at least initially. They are chocolate, | | | | In conclusion, different people have different |
| caffeine, citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions, corn, | | | | theories on how to obtain fibromyalgia relief. The |
| apples and bananas. With the exception of corn, | | | | ones mentioned here are only a few. There are a |
| apples and bananas, these are all highly acidic | | | | number of fibromyalgia diet books on the market, |
| foods and he may have included them in an | | | | including recipes and cookbooks. |
| effort to help people with digestive complaints, | | | | Until the scientific community reaches a consensus |
| such as acid reflux. | | | | on the causes of fibromyalgia, relief may require |
| Another theory is that fibromyalgia relief can be | | | | some trial and error, but according to those who |
| obtained through the use of guaifenesin, an | | | | suffer from the condition, alleviation or elimination |
| expectorant drug, avoiding salicylic acid (found in | | | | of symptoms is possible. |