“Magnesium is necessary for helping to prevent the excitotoxicity caused by glutamate,” says Holton. Magnesium is found in many healthy foods, including legumes (dried beans and lentils), nuts and seeds, avocado, yogurt, bananas, fatty fish, dark chocolate, and dark, leafy greens.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, food additives called excitotoxins may worsen some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Examples of these include monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is a flavor enhancer, and aspartame, which is an artificial sweetener.
Physical and emotional stress are the most common triggers of fibromyalgia flares. Other triggers include lack of sleep, weather changes, and hormone imbalances.
Caffeine, heavy meals, and alcohol should be avoided before bedtime. Individuals should go to bed around the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, even on weekends or after a sleepless night. Exposure to light should be minimized before bedtime.
some people with fibromyalgia report alcohol causes symptoms to flare. Drinking alcohol while taking certain medications prescribed for fibromyalgia—such as anti-convulsants, antidepressants, and acetaminophen (an ingredient in many medications) could cause harmful interactions.
Drinking water can indeed help with managing fibromyalgia symptoms. Dehydration can lead to increased pain and fatigue, common symptoms of fibromyalgia. By staying hydrated, you can help prevent these symptoms from worsening. “Staying well-hydrated is a key part of managing fibromyalgia symptoms.
Magnesium
Not only is it credited with keeping the heart, kidneys and bones strong, it also helps us avoid muscle spasms, weakness and back pain, Dr. Teitelbaum says. Women with fibromyalgia may be deficient in magnesium, studies suggest. And magnesium may help relieve fibro pain and other symptoms.
The drugs amitriptyline, duloxetine, milnacipran and pregabalin can relieve fibromyalgia pain in some people. They may cause side effects such as a dry mouth or nausea. Normal painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (paracetamol) aren't recommended for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
These include spinach, kale, bok choi, swiss chard, arugula, collard greens, mustard greens, watercress, and broccoli. 2. Bananas. One of the fruits that will give you the most bang for your buck energy wise is bananas.
Fibromyalgia is associated with low levels of many vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins like vitamin B12, vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, and zinc. Many people are also deficient in vitamins A, C, E, and K. Many dietitians recommend getting all your vitamins and minerals through your diet.
Dairy. While dairy products can be helpful for certain conditions, they may be harmful for others such as symptoms of fibromyalgia. This harmful effect includes symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain. diarrhea, and increased mucus production.
In some cases, the doctor may recommend a multivitamin that includes antioxidant vitamins A, C, D, E, and the B vitamins, as well as calcium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc to ease symptoms. Coenzyme Q10. This antioxidant, used to convert food into energy, has shown some promise in treating fibromyalgia symptoms.
Exercise Regularly
Regular, low-intensity exercise, such as walking or warm-water exercise, is one of the best treatments for fibromyalgia. It helps decrease pain and stiffness, reduce stress, and may increase your sense of control over fibromyalgia. You may also sleep better.
The key is to use the correct forms of magnesium. The best is magnesium taurate or magnesium malate for fibromyalgia. These typically offer the most efficient absorption. Magnesium citrate, which is the most commonly found is a good laxative but not for maximum absorption.
It's already difficult for some people with fibromyalgia to get quality sleep, so talk to your doctor about how much caffeine you can have. Dairy: Many people who have fibromyalgia are also lactose intolerant, so dairy products can exacerbate pain.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, sleep problems, fatigue, and depression that can sometimes interfere with a person's daily life. Foods that can trigger fibromyalgia pain include refined sugar, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, fried foods, red meat, processed foods and others.
The nightshade family includes eggplant, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes. These vegetables contain solanine, which is a toxin. It makes inflammation of the joints much worse in some people. Medical doctors advise against eating vegetables in the nightshade family if a person has fibromyalgia.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia are associated with physical inactivity such as excessive sitting. Physical inactivity itself produces increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, factors present in fibromyalgia. Therefore, increasing physical activity should benefit patients with fibromyalgia.
In addition to gradually increasing movement over time, also try to choose activities that won't put too much strain on your body. Experts typically recommend any low-impact aerobic activity, such as walking, swimming, or cycling.