The best fibromyalgia diet for you may be much different than one for someone else with the condition. Since fibromyalgia is such a complex muscular skeletal disease, there is no firm evidence that any diet will lessen its symptoms. Yet, experts in the disorder assert that there are foods that are best avoided for many fibromyalgia sufferers. Eating a well balanced diet that is approved by a dietitian and doctor who understand the individual fibromyalgia patient’s specific needs is usually best.
It’s important to reach and maintain a healthy weight, as fibromyalgia affects the muscles and joints. Excess weight placed on the joints and muscles may make the pain even worse. A fibromyalgia diet that is balanced in nutrition and designed to get and keep you at the best weight for you is often the most recommended. Fibromyalgia patients often experience fatigue and digestive disorders that turn out to be caused by nutritional deficiencies or food sensitivities rather than the muscular skeletal disease itself.
It’s possible for patients to attribute pain to figromyalgia when it is something else causing the problem. Your doctor can test you for any problems such as a lack of a certain mineral in your body or order food allergy tests. A dietitian can then prepare the best fibromyalgia diet plan for your individual requirements. Above all, your diet should be healthy and well balanced to provide you enough energy to fight fatigue and be able to engage in regular exercise.
Some fibromyalgia experts think that night shade species vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant and peppers may worsen painful arthritic symptoms of the disease in some sufferers. Sugar is also thought to be a negative influence in a fibromyalgia diet. It may encourage the yeast infections that are symptomatic of the disease and may make other symptoms worse. As fatigue is usually such a strong symptom of fibromyalgia, many patients reach for sugar-laden foods to boost energy levels, but the effect is only temporary and is likely to leave them even more fatigued later in the day.
Sugar substitutes are often said to be avoided in a fibromyalgia diet. Some artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, found in many sugar-free sodas, are thought to worsen the symptoms of fibromyalgia. For some fibromyalgia sufferers, avoiding aspartame, as well other additives such as the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) may result in a reduction in the painful symptoms of the disease.