Fibromyalgia Myth: A Special Diet Is Needed
The Truth – There is no particular diet that has been found to be effective in treating fibromyalgia symptoms.
In general, fibromyalgia patients are advised to follow a healthy and balanced diet, which consists of lean protein sources, whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, and veggies. They are also advised to drink lots of water.
Patients must also limit their consumption of certain foods which are believed to trigger fibromyalgia symptoms such as:
- fried foods
- refined sugars
- caffeine
- processed foods
- red meat
- alcohol
- any food containing MSG, aspartame
However, there are studies which suggest that a gluten-free diet can help to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms. It is believed that gluten acts as a fuel to whole body inflammation and can cause many gastrointestinal symptoms even in people who are not diagnosed with celiac disease. Although inflammation is not the cause of widespread pain in fibromyalgia, reducing whole body inflammation and the root of it can help lower the intensity of fibromyalgia pain.
