Fibromyalgia Diet – What to Eat and What to Avoid

With the warmer weather approaching as we look towards summer, many of us are spending more time outdoors and trying to live a healthier lifestyle. This naturally goes hand in hand with healthier eating. Now that we are coming out of lockdown, the pressure to ‘diet’ has never been greater, however yo-yo dieting is incredibly dangerous and detrimental to your health, especially if you are suffering from a condition linked to fatigue, such as fibromyalgia or CRPS.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet however is an important part of maintaining good health, and many people with fibromyalgia find that a ‘fibromyalgia diet’ – eating certain foods and avoiding others – can help them feel better.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a pain syndrome of chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. The pain is thought to be caused by abnormalities in the pain pathways in the central nervous system and other symptoms are believed to be caused by sleep abnormalities.

Fibromyalgia specifically means pain in the muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons, generally all the softer, more fibrous, tissues in the body. There is a sense, according to most patients, of ‘aching all over’, with the related symptoms of a chronic case of flu. Muscles often feel as if they have been pulled or worked too hard and there are instances where muscles may twitch or feel like they’re burning. Cognitive abilities can also be affected with many patients reporting having ‘brain-fog’, where they find functions such as concentration and memory to be impaired.

Fibromyalgia diet – foods to eat

Fibromyalgia causes ongoing pain and fatigue. There is currently no cure, but some medications and lifestyle remedies can help relieve the symptoms.

Eating a balanced diet is a good idea for anyone, and getting the right mix of nutrients is particularly important to people with fibromyalgia. If you are looking for a fibromyalgia diet, then the following may help, although different people can have different experiences:

·      Diets that are rich in antioxidants and provide adequate amounts of nutrients such as vitamin B12 can help lead to reduced symptoms,

·      A balanced diet should include:

o   fresh fruits and vegetables

o   whole grains

o   healthy fats

o   low fat dairy

o   lean protein, such as chicken or fish,

·      Fibromyalgia can cause extreme fatigue, and although this cannot necessarily be overcome, certain foods can give you more energy to get through your day, such as nuts and seeds, broccoli, beans, tofu, oatmeal, dark leafy greens and avocado

Fibromyalgia diet – trigger symptoms

Food plays a huge role in our behaviour and lifestyle and detoxing or limiting certain foods can help. People with fibromyalgia sometimes find that their symptoms worsen when they eat certain foods, in particular:

·      dairy,

·      additives such as MSG,

·      caffeine, or

·      artificial sweeteners

·      foods containing gluten

As with all detox plans, to identify triggers, it is suggested that those looking for a ‘fibromyalgia detox diet’ should keep a food diary for a couple of weeks and record how they feel after each meal and snack, noting specific foods and ingredients.

Fibromyalgia diet and hydration

It’s not a case of ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to water intake, however as part of a balanced diet and health lifestyle fibromyalgia sufferers should monitor their water intake and ensure they stay hydrated, especially as the warmer weather approaches. We typically lose between 2 and 2½ litres of fluid a day through sweating, breathing, urine and faeces. So on regular days we should be drinking about 6-8 glasses of water or other hydrating liquid. Higher temperatures mean we sweat more therefore we need to replenish our fluid levels more frequently.

If you are suffering from fibromyalgia as a result of an injury or accident that was not your fault, and even if you have an existing claim, get in touch with Brian Barr Solicitors to see if we can assist. It is simple and hassle free to move your claim to Brian Barr solicitors who are experts in dealing with chronic pain litigation. Call us today on 0161 737 9248 or visit our website (www.brianbarr.co.uk) to find out more.

We do not endorse any research, studies or sources mentioned within our blogs and comments. The blog is for information purposes only as we are not medical professionals. We do not endorse any medical advice provided, and would strongly recommend anyone seeking medical advice to contact their local healthcare provider before any changes to treatment and/or management of your condition is undertaken.