Foods to Aviod Eating on a Fibromyalgia Diet

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes muscle pain, headaches, fatigue, stiffness, sleep disturbances and a variety of other symptoms. Since it is known that certain foods have health benefits, many fibromyalgia patients have tried altering their diet to help deal with the condition. Avoiding certain foods can help alleviate symptoms. Although it's trial and error as to which foods are best for each person with fibromyalgia to avoid, there are some that seem to be a good place to start.

Artificial

Aspartame, an artificial sweetener that is packaged as NutraSweet and used in many sugar-free and low sugar products, can act as a nerve stimulant. Monosodium glutamine (MSG) is used as a flavor enhancer in many canned foods and can cause headaches for even healthy people so those with fibromyalgia should read labels carefully to avoid more severe reactions. Another additive to avoid is nitrates (found in lunch meats and bacon) as those preservatives can exacerbate symptoms.

Simple Carbohydrates

There is not a lot of nutritional value in simple carbohydrates and they can cause a quick rise in blood sugar. When levels then drop, the body experiences more fatigue--the last thing those with fibromyalgia want to experience. Simple carbohydrates to be avoided include sugar, white bread and sweet baked goods. Drinks that are heavy in sugar (like soda) are especially bad as they have no nutritional value.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant and it can stimulate the pain reaction in those with fibromyalgia. Coffee is the number one source of caffeine, but it is also found in tea (iced and brewed), colas and chocolate. Over-the-counter diet pills also contain caffeine. The affect of caffeine can be experienced when ingested and when it wears of so be aware of how much caffeine is in the diet and avoid any amount that makes you feel worse.

Gluten

Wheat, rye, barley and malt are grains that contain gluten. There are many products that contain these ingredients including breads, cereals, pasta, soups and sauces. Gluten intolerance is sometimes an overlapping condition to fibromyalgia as it presents with a lot of the same symptoms. Whether or not someone with FMS is actually gluten intolerant, avoiding foods with gluten can help ease gastrointestinal symptoms and fatigue for some with fibromyalgia.

Considerations

The idea is that you have an overall improvement in health. For each person, that may mean avoiding different foods depending on the severity of the varying symptoms. If IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), for example, is one of your biggest fibromyalgia complaints, then pay more attention to the fiber in your diet. If fatigue is a major problem, a low sugar diet can be beneficial.