Fibromyalgia is a degenerative disease with several causal factors, including structural misalignment, poor nutrition and malabsorption of nutrients. From a nutritional perspective, I realize there can be a lot of confusion about what to eat to help alleviate the symptoms of fibromyalgia, particularly since there is so much conflicting information. To that end, I recommend a balanced approach to your diet. Focus on eating organic, whole foods, which should include an abundance of vegetables, nuts and seeds, while limiting your intake of processed foods, sugar and caffeine. As for your question about sugar -- it is ok to eat moderate amounts of fruit; however, I recommend avoiding refined carbohydrates. You can consume whole grains such as quinoa and brown rice. In addition, it is important to avoid preservatives, artificial flavors and ingredients, and glutamates. Plus, you may want to experiment with eating 5 smaller meals a day instead of 3 large meals and see how you feel.
Choose foods that are lower in arachidonic acid, which is a form of an Omega 6 fatty acid that can be found in higher concentrations in egg yolks, organ meats and some other animal based food items. (Arachidonic acid in excess can be unhealthy because it promotes inflammation.) Supplement with Omega 3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation, from fish oil or flax oil and experiment with eating foods that are high in Omega 3’s such as Wild Alaskan Salmon, walnuts, ground flax seeds and anchovies. A typical American diet contains 11 to 30 times more Omega 6 than Omega 3 fatty acids. In general, the balance between Omega 6 and Omega 3 should be 1:1.
If you suspect that you have food allergies, I recommend that you get tested to determine if you need to eliminate certain foods from your diet. Common allergenic foods are dairy, soy, citrus, peanuts, wheat, fish, eggs, corn and tomatoes. Another possibility that you referred to in your question is to experiment with an elimination diet by removing suspected allergens from your diet for two weeks. Reintroduce one food every three days. Observe if you have reactions such as gastrointestinal upset, mood changes, flushing, fatigue, and worsening of symptoms. A rotation diet, in which the same food is not eaten more than once every four days, may reduce sensitivities. You can do an elimination diet while breastfeeding, as long as it does not involve a detoxification component, since the released toxins will migrate into your milk. Additionally, make sure you are eating enough to support the extra calorie demand that breastfeeding puts on you.
You may also find it helpful to keep a food diary. The food diary will help you reflect on what you eat and how it makes you feel. This will help you tune into your body, and become more aware of harmful food patterns that may be exasperating your symptoms. In addition, it will assist you in recognizing what foods nourish you and increase your vitality.
Finally, I recommend seeing a naturopathic doctor to further support you in managing your symptoms by evaluating your body chemistry and determining the cause of your imbalance, while offering guidance on supplementation and diet. In addition, a naturopathic doctor can help assess if you may have an iodine deficiency or heavy metal toxicity, which may be contributing in part to your health condition.
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