A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes is recommended for fibromyalgia. Some people find relief with a vegetarian or vegan diet, while others benefit from eliminating certain additives and processed foods. Keeping a food diary can help identify irritating foods.
The best foods for fibromyalgia are believed to be the same as the best for most people and include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. Other food products include milk proteins and fermented milk products such as yogurt. Some doctors and people with the disease recommend a vegetarian or vegan diet. It appears that limiting meat consumption may improve symptoms for some people with fibromyalgia. Some other foods and food additives seem to make fibromyalgia symptoms worse in some people; Identifying and eliminating these products from the diet can improve symptoms.
One line of research into the food-fibromyalgia connection has been to study the effect of vegan or vegetarian diets on people with the disease. Some subjects in these studies have reported decreases in pain, tender areas, and a decreased need for pain relievers. Vegans do not eat animal products, while vegetarians do not eat meat, but do eat dairy and eggs. Although the reasons for the beneficial effect are not clear, it is possible that increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables and reducing the intake of red meat may reduce symptoms in some people with fibromyalgia.
It is possible but unlikely that people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet are not receiving adequate nutrition. Of particular concern is getting a sufficient amount of fat and protein. Eating a wide variety of foods, such as nuts, seeds, and healthy oils, should ensure adequate fat and protein intake.
People with fibromyalgia are often advised to eat foods close to their original state. One example is whole foods, which are generally less processed than white bread and pasta. Less heavily processed fermented foods include yogurt, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables.
Some additives or components of processed foods can worsen fibromyalgia symptoms in some people. Removing monosodium glutamate (MSG) from the diet led to disappearance of fibromyalgia symptoms in some people in one study. Other potential culprits include processed sugars and the artificial sweetener aspartame. Maintaining a diet in which the foods chosen are as close to their natural state as possible will make it easier to avoid potentially harmful additives.
Keeping a regular record of what one has eaten could identify irritating foods, some of which could be wheat, corn, dairy products, or eggs. Even after identifying an individual’s best foods for fibromyalgia, it can seem time consuming to eat right on a regular basis. Doubling or tripling recipes and storing leftovers can save cooking time. Food-based cookbooks for people with fibromyalgia can be helpful in incorporating recommended foods into a variety of dishes.
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