Fibromyalgia, a common but poorly understood condition that mostly affects women between the ages of 20 and 50, according to PubMed Health, and causes chronic pain and can cause depression, fatigue and sleep difficulties. Fibromyalgia has no cure, although treatments can help with symptoms. Although different practitioners have dietary recommendations, no one fibromyalgia diet exists. What helps one person may not help another.
Foods That May Help
Every expert who creates a fibromyalgia diet stresses one thing that really boils down to common sense: eat healthy foods, including lean meat, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Try to eat five servings per day of fruits and vegetables, fibromyalgia expert Richard Podell, M.D., states. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oils and flaxseed, may help decrease pain, according to Colorado State University. Foods high in fiber may help with sluggish digestion. In some cases, following a vegetarian diet or raw diet may help.
Foods That May Hurt
Avoiding alcohol, added sugars, saturated and trans fats and fried and fatty foods may help your symptoms. Some people may respond to cutting out gluten, dairy, artificial sweeteners, caffeine or processed foods. Not everyone will respond to the same dietary triggers. Keeping a food diary may help you pinpoint foods that worsen your symptoms.
Vegan and Raw Diets
Several studies have shown a benefit to following a vegan or raw vegan diet if you have fibromyalgia. A University of Kuopio, Finland study reported in the 2000 "Scandanavian Journal of Rheumatology" assessed the effects of a low-salt, raw vegan diet on fibromyalgia symptoms after three months. Subjects following the diet, most of whom were overweight, lost weight and reported an improvement in symptoms. However, a Bangladesh study reported in the August 2000 "Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin" reported that a vegetarian diet did improve pain, but not as well as tricyclic antidepressants. Other symptoms, such as sleep disturbances and fatigue did not improve.
Considerations
Although a diet may not cure your symptoms, it may help reduce them, especially if you take the time to compare your diet to your symptoms to see if certain foods affect you. Eliminate foods one at a time rather than cutting out whole food groups and avoid them for two weeks to see if symptoms improve, eMedTV recommends.
References
- The Podell Medical Practice; How We Approach Fibromyalgia Treatments; Richard Podell, M.D.
- eMedTV; Is There a Special Diet for Fibromyalgia?; Arthur Schoenstadt, M.D.
- Colorado State University; Nutrition Column - Healthy Diet and Regular Exercise May Help Alleviate Fibromyalgia Symptoms; November 2002
- "Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin"; Vegetarian Diet in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia; K. Azad, et al.; August 2000
- "Scandanavian Journal of Rheumatology"; Vegan Diet Alleviates Fibromyalgia Symptoms; K.Kaartinen, et al.; 2000
- PubMed Health: Fibromyalgia
