Fibromyalgia affects millions today with widespread pain, fatigue, depression, digestive problems and insomnia. Modern medicine has struck out thus far concerning fibromyalgia treatment, with the cause remaining unknown and conventional drug therapies falling short.
It is widely believed that fibromyalgia is caused, at least in part, by a phenomenon known as central sensitization in which either the brain learns to interpret pain signals without the appropriate stimulus or nerve cells generate pain signals without such stimulus. It may also have a connection to adrenal fatigue, a condition in which the adrenal glands can’t maintain homeostasis in the body during times of physical, emotional or psychological stress, resulting in long-term fatigue.
Food As Medicine
Food can affect your condition in a few different ways. First, if you have a food sensitivity or intolerance, it may exacerbate digestive symptoms and create inflammation throughout your body as the immune system responds to the perceived threat (inflammation = pain). Second, certain food additives have been shown to overexcite the nervous system, which could worsen symptoms caused by central sensitization. Third, there are certain staple foods in the standard American diet that can make anyone sluggish; avoiding these is even more important if you have a health condition like fibromyalgia. Finally, eating the right kinds of foods can help ease digestive symptoms, fatigue, and possibly even pain.
- It’s a good idea to begin keeping a food journal. Keep track of what foods you eat, what symptoms you experience and how intense they are. This may help you identify sensitivities. If you detect a correlation, proceed with the elimination diet. This involves eliminating the suspected food from your diet for at least a week. Reintroducing the food thereafter and monitoring your symptoms can help rule out or confirm a connection. Ingredients often involved in food sensitivity include gluten, dairy and soy.
Nightshades are a bit of a controversial subject, but some believe that vegetables in this family, including potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and peppers, increase inflammation, joint pain and soft tissue pain. Consider adding this family of vegetables to your elimination diet list. - Avoid food additives like MSG and aspartame. These contain excitotoxins that could exacerbate pain from central sensitization.
- Consider a vegetarian diet. One small study showed that a mostly raw, vegetarian diet eased all symptoms but pain in most participants. It’s important to note that people with digestive problems may respond poorly to raw vegetables. In this case, vegetables can be gently steamed to make digestion easier while preserving a majority of nutrients. See more on the study at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Go easy on the carbs and sugars – these can lead to energy crashes that worsen fatigue. Try eating several small meals throughout the day, each including a little protein.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and can help reduce pain over time. Supplementing fish oil as well as eating oily fishes like salmon and mackerel can help ease pain naturally. Keep in mind that the acids need to build up in your system before you feel an effect; this could take half a year, so don’t give up on it too quickly.
Anyone can benefit from eating a healthier diet with fresh foods and limited intake of processed foods, but people with fibromyalgia stand to gain significant relief from a nebulous condition. Dietary changes are less expensive and less dangerous than drug therapies. Consider natural fibromyalgia treatment options as a first line of defense.