Studies have shown that 74%-90% of people with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis or fibromyalgia experienced increased inflammation and pain after eating nightshade family fruits or vegetables. These include tomatoes, bell peppers, white potatoes, eggplant, chilies and paprika.
Eat Fruits & Veggies
Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can improve the health of a fibromyalgia patient. Fruits and vegetables are low in calories and high in fiber and antioxidants. Vitamins A, C, and E are found in fresh fruits and veggies, and these also fight free radicals to keep your body normalized.
Antioxidants.
Foods that are high in antioxidants protect nerve cells from touch sensitivity. These types of foods include berries, kidney beans, artichokes, pecans, beets, spinach, and dark chocolate.
Dark green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and broccoli are also good options. Eat more fiber. Beans, fruits, vegetables, lentils, and brown rice are healthy choices. People who are not eating enough fiber should increase fiber levels gradually and drink extra water to avoid gastrointestinal discomfort.
Bananas can help boost energy levels, as they are high in carbohydrates, vitamin B6 and potassium. Non-citrus fruits such as pineapple, papaya and guava contain enzymes that are beneficial to the gut. Dried fruit, seeds and beans are rich in magnesium and help the body use calcium properly.
Choose Dark, Leafy Greens, Nuts, and Seeds for Magnesium
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 research, it looks like tea has several things to offer, both for the public in general and for those of us with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Some vegetables may trigger flare up of symptoms in fibromyalgia patients. These include tomatoes, chili, eggplant and bell pepper.
Stress makes symptoms of fibromyalgia worse. Many people with fibromyalgia experience stress and feelings of depression, anxiety, and frustration. People may benefit from trying to avoid or limit exposure to stressful situations and making time to relax.
Magnesium deficiency has been largely associated with muscle pain along with fatigue, sleep difficulties, and anxiety; all of which are common symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Biofeedback, deep breathing, meditation, self-hypnosis, or even just distracting yourself with a good book or some soothing music can help take your mind off the pain and make coping with a flare more manageable, say experts at the National Fibromyalgia Association.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there may be a link between fibromyalgia symptoms and a vitamin D deficiency. Some good dietary sources of vitamin D include: egg yolks. low fat yogurt fortified with vitamin D.
Sugar. Reducing or eliminating sugar can have a significant impact on health for two reasons. First, the medical literature has shown that eating foods high in sugar is linked to increased fibromyalgia pain.
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.
Limiting your sugar intake is important for reducing fibromyalgia symptoms and for improving health in general. When you do indulge, opt for natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup or brown sugar instead of artificial sweeteners or high-fructose corn syrup, which are found in a surprising number of products.
It contains powerful antioxidants that help with the negative effects of free radicals. Dark chocolate also has been shown to have high levels of some of the minerals that those of us with FM need, such as magnesium, potassium, manganese, and selenium.
Dairy: Many people who have fibromyalgia are also lactose intolerant, so dairy products can exacerbate pain. However, getting enough calcium is important, so if you can't eat yogurt or drink milk, eat foods fortified with calcium or talk to your doctor about taking a daily calcium supplement.
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.
An Anti-Inflammatory
Watermelon contains specific amino acids that make it a powerful addition to an anti-inflammatory diet. Inflammation can trigger everyday aches and pains, along with more serious conditions like fibromyalgia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Nibble your way to decreased inflammation.