Diet to Help Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition with no known cause or standardized treatment, is characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. Fibromyalgia affects everyone differently---what triggers periods of increased pain or flares, in one person may not affect another the same way. However, there is much discussion in the medical community as to how much diet plays a part in the severity of fibromyalgia symptoms, and there is much anecdotal evidence of individuals decreasing their own pain levels through controlling their diets.

Problem Foods

Most of this diet control centers around eliminating foods that are known to have inflammatory effects in the body or that block the absorption of nutrients. Caffeine is often pointed to as a pain-inducing culprit. Caffeine is a diuretic, which can cause you to become dehydrated if you don't replace lost fluids. High caffeine levels can also stress the adrenal glands, which commonly don't function that well in fibromyalgia patients to begin with. Most medical experts agree that if you change one thing about your diet to improve your fibromyalgia symptoms, it would be to limit your caffeine intake.

Many fibromyalgia patients are also sensitive to chemical sweeteners and additives. Aspartame (NutraSweet) has been known to stimulate pain receptors in the brain. Monosodium glutamine (MSG), used as a flavor enhancer similar to salt, can also increase pain symptoms in fibromyalgia patients--in a similar fashion as aspartame.

Medical researchers have found that foods in the nightshade family---including tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and potatoes---can aggravate arthritis. Avoiding these foods, especially if you do have arthritis and fibromyalgia can cut down on the severity of flares.

Beneficial Foods

A study conducted by researchers at York University in Canada and published in the journal Pain in 2007 concluded that adding foods high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has a beneficial effect on inflammation, a common cause of fibromyalgia pain. Omega-3s have also been shown to have a healing effect on other conditions associated with fibromyalgia, such as arthritis and inflammatory bowel disorders. Adding omega-3 rich foods, such as fish, flax oil and nuts or a high-quality fish-oil supplement, may help with flares and daily low-level pain.

A Healthy Diet

The best plan for managing fibromyalgia symptoms is to keep a food diary. Write down what you eat and see if there is a pattern that emerges between your diet and your flares. In all cases, experts agree that eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is the best route for maintaining your health and managing pain.