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A New Free Report - What Is Fibromyalgia?
This fascinating new report from UK-based publishing house Health Research Today answers some of the most-asked questions about this baffling disease :
- What's the medical definition of Fibromyalgia?
- What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
- What are tender points and what are trigger points? What's the difference?
- What are the known causes of Fibromyalgia?
Fill in this form and we will send you the report immediately, which you are welcome to send on to friends or family!
Natural Treatments for Fibromyalgia
This article is an extract from the ebook Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
Using Diet to Treat Fibromyalgia
A willingness to make lifestyle adjustments is critical for
those with fibromyalgia. While it’s difficult to admit that you have limits, if
you want to take control of your life and your fibromyalgia, you must face and
admit to your limits. In addition to having a positive attitude and adding
exercise to your daily routine, you’ll want to take a long, hard look at your
eating habits. With a healthy diet, fibromyalgia patients can feel better for
longer periods.
While a healthy diet is essential to good health for everyone, it’s even more important if you have fibromyalgia. With a poor diet, fibromyalgia patients may actually suffer from more flare-ups, more sleepless nights, and more overall pain. Therefore, it’s essential that you assess and make the necessary changes to your diet to take control of your fibromyalgia.
First, it’s important you understand what types of foods you want to either eliminate altogether or significantly cut back from your diet. Some of the biggest triggers of fibromyalgia pain are chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol. Some in the medical community recommend completely ridding the diet of fibromyalgia patients of chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol.
If you consume a lot of caffeine, for example, you don’t want to just quit cold turkey, or you’ll likely suffer from some type of withdrawal symptoms, only compounding your normal fibromyalgia symptoms. Instead, gradually decrease your intake until you’ve cut it completely out of your diet. With a caffeine-free diet, fibromyalgia patients can generally find some relief.
Once you’ve cut out the caffeine completely, expect to have cravings. It’s normal, but you don’t want to give in to those cravings. Instead, allow your body to adjust to a diet free of caffeine to see if your fibromyalgia symptoms have lessened or worsened. With an adjusted diet, fibromyalgia patients generally find their symptoms aren’t as bad as they once were.
You’ll also want to avoid, or at least cut the intake of, such foods as red meat, fried foods, salt, foods high in preservatives, potato chips and other so-called “junk food,” and dairy foods that have a high fat content. Remember, your goal for your new diet is to curb your fibromyalgia symptoms.
You can make simple adjustments. For example, instead of eating a steak, opt for fish or for chicken. Don’t use salt on your food. Avoid processed foods like TV dinners, fast food restaurants, and boxed foods (i.e. macaroni and cheese). Additionally, with too much sugar in your diet, fibromyalgia can flare-up. Avoid eating too much sugar.
But, your new fibromyalgia diet isn’t all about taking foods away; you’re also going to want to start eating healthier foods. You’ll want to eat more fruits and vegetables – either raw or slightly cooked. You can also be creative: blend your fruits to make a delicious drink or a refreshing smoothie.
When you buy vegetables and fruits, try to buy organic to avoid those fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticide. Eliminating unnecessary chemicals – like pesticides – from your diet can lessen your fibromyalgia symptoms.
Instead of munching on potato chips when you get hungry, get an apple, carrot sticks, or another healthy food like unsalted nuts. Having a better diet with fibromyalgia also means healthier snacks to give you a boost when you need it.
Start drinking more water – it’s generally recommended that you drink at least eight 10-ounce glasses a day. And, in addition to the new foods you’re introducing to your diet, to curb fibromyalgia symptoms, you’ll want to consult your doctor about what vitamins and supplements to add to your diet.
Vitamins and supplements should be used to complement a healthy diet for fibromyalgia patients. They should never be considered a substitute for a good diet. Vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium are all common vitamins and supplements doctors advise fibromyalgia patients to take. Again, consult your doctor before beginning to take vitamins or supplements.
To ensure your diet remains healthy, consider setting some time aside on the weekend to sit down and create a menu of meals for the upcoming week. That way, you’ll ensure you’re eating healthy every day, instead of running around trying to find a suitable meal for dinner. With a good diet, fibromyalgia can often be alleviated.
Finally, make a conscious effort to eat healthier. It’s not always going to be easy, but when you change your diet, your fibromyalgia symptoms should be less, and you’ll feel better. And, when you feel better physically, you’re going to feel better mentally and emotionally.
© Health Research Today
Read the rest of this article in Freedom From Fibromyalgia!
