Fibromyalgia -Six Food Items to Consider Avoiding
Article by Emily Brewer
1. Soda- This is probably the hardest one to completely eliminate for me. I’ve reduced my soda consumption a great deal and replaced it with water, but I still sneak in a Mountain Dew from time to time. Because soda is very acidic, it tends to cause inflammation.
2. Gluten – Many people have reactions to gluten without even realizing it. It’s a good idea to try limiting glutens. Foods that contain glutens include wheat, kamut, rye, barley, oats (oats are actually gluten free, but they are contaminated with wheat so often that I recommend avoiding them if you have a reaction), spelt (which is not gluten free although many people think it is), and triticale (which is a cross between wheat and rye).
3. Dairy – Luckily, I do not seem to have a major adverse reaction to dairy. I love my cheeses and can’t imagine not being able to eat them. However, if I eat too much cheese or drink too much milk, I do become a little bloated, so I try to limit the intake and make up the calcium in supplement form. With dairy products, many people have lactose intolerance or casein sensitivity
4. Soy- This is often considered a better choice than others (like soy milk), but for many women it can actually cause estrogen imbalances, which can increase pain levels as well.
5. Trans Fat (partially hydrogenated oils/fats)-These are found in many fried foods, margarine, prepackaged cookies and so forth. These are difficult for most people’s bodies to process and leads to obesity, cardiac issues, high cholesterol, and more.
6. Artificial Preservatives
a. MSG-Studies have shown that MSG contains glutamate, which acts as a nerve impulse transmitter in the brain and some glutamate responsive tissues. The glutamate tricks your body into sending nerve impulses when it shouldn’t be. Also, it really doesn’t taste as good as people think!
b. Artificial Coloring- Studies are showing that artificial coloring is linked to hyperactivity and mental issues. Those of us with Fibro already struggle mentally to cope and often end up with depression, so the last thing we need is something else messing with our minds!
c. Artificial Sweeteners- Artificial sweeteners like Saccharin (which was linked to bladder cancer in rats, but hasn’t been directly linked to humans yet, but why risk it?) and Aspartame (this is the ingredient in NutraSweet and Equal). Some artificial sweeteners have been linked to muscle spasms. I found eliminating Aspartame in particular has been helpful for me.
