There is no one-size-fits-all diet for fibromyalgia, but a balanced diet approved by a dietitian and physician can help manage symptoms. Maintaining a healthy weight is important, and avoiding certain foods like nightshade plants and sugar is recommended. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame may also worsen symptoms for some.
The best fibromyalgia diet for you may be very different than it is for someone else with the condition. Because fibromyalgia is such a complex musculoskeletal disease, there’s no solid evidence that any diet will reduce its symptoms. However, experts in the disorder say there are foods that are best avoided for many fibromyalgia sufferers. It is usually best to follow a well-balanced diet approved by a dietitian and physician who understand the specific needs of the individual fibromyalgia patient.
It’s important to reach and maintain a healthy weight, as fibromyalgia affects your muscles and joints. Excess weight on the joints and muscles can make the pain even worse. A fibromyalgia diet that is balanced in nutrition and designed to get and keep you at the weight that’s best for you is often the most recommended. Fibromyalgia patients often experience fatigue and digestive disturbances that turn out to be caused by nutritional deficiencies or food sensitivities rather than the musculoskeletal disease itself.
It is possible for patients to attribute pain to figromyalgia when something else is causing the problem. Your doctor can test you for any problems like lack of a certain mineral in your body or order food allergy testing. A dietician can then prepare the best fibromyalgia diet plan for your individual needs. Most importantly, your diet should be healthy and well balanced to provide you with enough energy to fight fatigue and be able to engage in regular exercise.
Some fibromyalgia experts think that night shade plant species such as potatoes, eggplants and peppers may worsen the painful arthritic symptoms of the disease in some sufferers. Sugar is also thought to have a negative influence on a fibromyalgia diet. It can encourage yeast infections that are symptomatic of the disease and can make other symptoms worse. Because 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 feeling even more fatigued later in the day.
Sugar substitutes are often said to be avoided on a fibromyalgia diet. Some artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, found in many sugar-free sodas, are thought to make fibromyalgia symptoms worse. For some fibromyalgia sufferers, avoiding aspartame and other additives such as the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) may result in a reduction in the painful symptoms of the disease.
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