There has been little information available from the scientific community on nutrition and diet for fibros.

Research has not yet proven that any specific foods affect FM, positively or negatively.  But we do know that eating a good balanced diet helps everyone’s body function at its best.

Good nutrition can help in your health and healing.  Eating healthful foods including those low in fat and high in immunity boosting antioxidants and phytochemicals work together to help maximize energy and alertness and minimize constant fatigue and lethargy.

Many people have overcome their FM symptoms by changing their lifestyle and diet.

Mary Moeller now enjoys a state of remission from her FM symptoms by making a few changes in her lifestyle.  To reach this ideal she advocates eliminating 4 foods completely from your diet (Mary Moeller’s Fibromyalgia Cookbook.)

1. Chocolate

2. Carbonated beverages

3. Coffee

4. Alcohol

Along with changes in nutrition she encourages stretching, exercising and drinking 8+ glasses of water a day.

Also, in Mary Moeller and Joe Elrod’s book, The Fibromyalgia Nutrition Guide, they advocate a more complete list in order to overcome fatigue and feel your best. The 12 items to avoid are:

1.         High fat dairy foods

2.         White sugar and white flour

3.         Fried foods

4.         Preservatives, junk food, and salt

5.         Red meat (especially salt cured bacon, smoked, or nitrate cured

6.         Coffee and caffeniated teas

7.         Colas, soda pop, and carbonated beverages

8.         Liquid with your meals

9.         Alcoholic beverages

10.    All forms of tobacco

11.    Prolonged periods of direct sun rays

12.    Nutrasweet and saccharine

I also have enjoyed the results of better health after quitting carbonated beverages and coffee.  Before, I would have my diet coke and coffee in order to get me out of bed in the morning. As a result I was very hyper and then about 2 hours later or so I would crash and be very tired and fatigued. So I would pump more caffeine and diet coke down to get me moving again. As a result I would spike, crash, spike, crash. My energy level was on a continual roller coaster ride of highs and lows.  Since quitting I have been enjoying a nice steady stream of constant energy all day long.

When I first heard of eliminating sodas I was mortified.  I thought I was doing extremely well to only allow myself 1-2 cokes a day, and to give them up, why I thought, “never”! But slowly I finally weaned myself off, and boy am I glad I did.

Some unsubstantiated studies claim that carbonated beverages leak phosphorus from your bones, and the aspartame (Nutrasweet) in sodas cause memory loss.  Also the sugar in carbonated beverages, according to self-proclaimed authorities, may contribute to yeast problems.

Caffeine is a diuretic, which means you need to drink additional water to replace the lost water. Scientists at Washington State University found that caffeine makes people lose calcium in their urine faster than they usually do. Caffeine can also put added stress on the adrenal glands and the liver.  Since most FM sufferers may have adrenal malfunction due to chronic stress and inadequate nutrition it is probably wise to avoid the caffeine and carbonated drinks.

I know that at times I eat more food or sugar as a way of dealing with stress or handling challenging problems that arise.  When I do this it puts added stress on my adrenal glands. Adrenalin released from the adrenal gland penalizes the body and can cause acute symptoms.  By burning too much sugar your body may deplete its vitamins and minerals especially the B vitamins. Adrenalin has even been known to be responsible for some panic attacks.

If you subject your body to highly refined, over-processed foods, sugar, caffeine, pork, junk food, highly processed starches, additives and preservatives, and highly acid foods, it is possible that your body will suffer because of an already compromised immune system that may be found in many FM sufferers.

Most processed foods are often adulterated by heating, and are full of additives, preservatives, colorings, salt and sugar.  By the way, most drinks purchased at a store have been processed including soda, bottled juices, coffee, alcohol and others. Since many fibros are sensitive to food, drugs, chemicals and pollutants in the environment anyway it is important we do not subject our bodies to more than what’s necessary.

Many fibros are chocoholics.  Chocolate is high in fat and caffeine.  According to Mark Pellegrino in his book, Fibro Survivor, reducing fatty intake could increase energy. Therefore a low fat diet is recommended.  This means chocolate should not be ingested or should be eaten in moderation.  Also fried foods and salt have been found to aggravate pain or swelling in some fibros.

Certain foods have been found to cause fatigue.

Doctors concluded in Annals of  Rheumatic Disease that in certain individuals some foods aggravate arthritis.  Often, foods that are acidic are the culprit.  Therefore an arthritic diet is one that remains alkaline.  Some fibros find that highly acidic foods such as citric, foods in the nightshade family like tomato, potato, eggplant, and peppers, red meat, cow milk products, brown and white wheat flour products, sugar containing foods, coffee, chocolate all seem to trigger more muscle pain.

Different foods affect each individual fibro differently. For instance some fibros have severe food allergies for dairy, wheat, corn, nightshade family plants, etc. whereas others do not.  You can discover your own food sensitivity by eliminating foods that trigger pain.  Keeping a food diary can help. In your diary write down everything that goes into your mouth and at the same time track your FM pain.  By comparing the two you may discover that certain foods may trigger allergies or pain.  It has been found that food allergies may undermine your nutrient uptake.

In a 1992 study as reported in the book, What your doctor may not tell you about Fibromyalgia, by Paul St. Amand M.D. and Claudia Marek, it states that:

60% of fibro patients of normal weight crave carbohydrates, and

75% of obese fibros crave carbohydrates

Some fibros have a low carbohydrate intolerance or reactive hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that occurs after eating carbohydrates. This can cause problems metabolizing carbohydrates, inability to lose weight, fatigue, carbohydrate craving and worsening symptoms. Carbohydrates stimulate insulin production.  Excess insulin can cause an increased uptake of sugar into muscle and liver, which can be stored as fatty acids in fat cells, and prevent carbs from being used.

There are nutritional strategies to help fibros.

Dr. Mark Pellegrino says that because of the biochemical changes in fibros it makes good medical sense to try a low carb, high protein diet. Protein diets can decrease cravings, increase energy, lose weight and help with hypoglycemia. Pellegrino suggests watching carb’s like bread, potatoes and refined sugars. There are many fad protein diets like Sugar busters, Zone, Adkins and other low carb diets.  However, Pellegrino says that some fibros do not tolerate a protein diet as well as others, so experiment and find what dietary plan works for you.

Dr. August believes that a 30/30/40 ratio of carbohydrate, fat and protein enables fibros to reach their optimum weight with maximum health. Hypoglycemia and low carb intolerance can be controlled by diet.  Dr. August advocates the Zone diet (Sears and Lawren 1995).  However, there is strong evidence that the Zone diet “works” mainly because of the reduction in total caloric intake with little or nothing to do with the release of insulin.  The reader is referred to some excellent websites that present pro and con arguments over the Zone and other low carb/high protein/high fat diets:

watchingweight.com/lowcarb.htm
cyberiron.com/nutrition/notzone.html
getzoned.com.au/In_the_Media_text_only.htm 
nutrition.ucdavis.edu/perspectives/SeptOct99.htm

Your cells must receive nourishment and eliminate wastes.  When you start to eat healthful foods you may find that you crave sugar, fat, starch and processed foods.  This is a normal occurrence due to a physiological change in your body’s chemistry.  During these times try not to indulge.  These cravings will become fewer and further between as time goes on.  Of course, people who do not suffer from FM also have the same cravings; therefore, we are not unique.

People with FM need to take extra care to eat well.

Try to incorporate raw foods into your diet.  I try to eat a piece of raw fruit or vegetable for breakfast and a raw vegetable or salad for lunch.  Raw foods contain enzymes that can assist in the digestion of foods. Raw foods are full of antioxidants and phytochemicals that help boost the immune system.  If have a juicer, fresh carrot juice is a wonderful addition to incorporate into your lifestyle.  Many people have claimed to heal cancer along with an array of diseases by eating raw foods and drinking carrot juice.  Of course, most of these claims are testimonials with little scientific research to back the use of raw foods to prevent chronic disease.

Along with vegetables, and fruits, omega 3 fish oil contains anti-inflammatory properties. Eating well does not mean you have to starve yourself or totally eliminate all the foods you love.  Rather make small gradual changes and focus on the foods you enjoy.

Eating well may help reduce the fatigue and maximize energy. Incorporate variety, balance and moderation.

Improve your health by reevaluating your overall eating habits and try to make your diet more nutritious.

Your body has been wonderfully and marvelously designed. Allow it to run as efficient as possible.

Look for healthy recipes in the Fibro kitchen that use the principles of good eating discussed in this article.  The bonus (as testified to by my husband) is that you will be considered a “gourmet cook” as your health improves.