Diet
Is there any special dietary plan that a fibromite can follow.
FMA UK does not recommend any specific dietary plan or
nutritional supplements.
Any dietary changes should be discussed with a medical
professional before being undertaken.
The following general information can be given, but it must be stressed that there are
many books available that discuss healthy eating. We cannot guarantee that any
nutritional supplements or dietary changes will help the symptoms. We must
emphasise that, for many individuals, treating fibromyalgia requires a multi-treatment
approach, which should be monitored by a medical professional. Sufferers should be
mindful of not wasting their money on “magic cures”.
Researchers have not focused in depth on this area so far
A well–balanced diet is important in maintaining a healthy body and mind. You are
what you eat.
Avoid over-processed foods, nicotine, sugar, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and
preservatives.
Some FMS patients have benefited from changing their diet to all fresh organically
produced foods.
Information about diet can be accessed by reading “The Fibromyalgia Healing Diet” by
Christine Craggs-Hinton – this book can be found in some public libraries or can be
obtained from FMA UK Price £8
There is also dietary advice in:
Dr Mark Pellegrino’s book “Inside Fibromyalgia” chapter 14 is devoted to
“Nutritional Approaches to Fibromyalgia” (Pages 103 to 111) this book can be obtained
from FMA UK Price £20.
He recommends a high protein/low carbohydrate diet. This is not what most dieticians
would acknowledge to be a well-balanced diet. He calls his Diet Plan the HIPLOC DIET.
Suggestions by Dr Pellegrino:
Foods that should be reduced or eliminated:
1. Sugars (desserts, sweets, biscuits, crisps, most fruits, sugared drinks etc)
2. Breads and Starches (anything with flour in- pizza, breaded meats, pasta, pancakes,
waffles, noodles etc)
3. Certain vegetables (potatoes, corn, Cole slaw, peas, any type of beans, rice)
Foods that are okay:
1. Meats (steaks, chicken, fish, luncheon meat if it does not have sugars)
2. Most red and green vegetables
3. Certain fruits such as avocado, raspberries and strawberries
4. Dairy products, cheese, cream, butter, skimmed milk
5. Any salad dressing, mayonnaise or olive oil. Salad garnishes, which include nuts,
olives, grated cheese, mushrooms and allowed vegetables.
6. Some artificial sweeteners (not aspartame) and beverages with no sugar.
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Example of Daily Meals.
Breakfast
2 eggs – any style
2 slices of bacon or sausages
Lunch
Salad (with any dressing) and salad garnishes
Meat, any style, any amount
Eat until you are full
Dinner
Meat, any style, any amount.
Vegetables cooked in butter or any seasoning, or salad as above
Eat until you are full.
Snack foods can include protein and fatty-rich foods (macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts,
Brazil nuts, cream cheese) or you can have sugar-free gelatine dessert with cream or
cottage cheese.
One cup of raspberries or strawberries per day allowed and can be eaten as a snack or
mixed with sugar-free gelatine or cream
Rules
1. Don’t skip meals, and at any meal you should eat until you are full.
2. Don’t eat in between meals except for an evening snack. You may have one 6ozs
glass of skimmed milk per day. The combination of foods should eliminate
cravings, if you get cravings; eat protein, fat rich foods.
3. Take nutritional supplements along with the diet: Multivitamins and minerals.
4. Exercise: Stretch on a daily basis. Try to do some aerobic exercise at least 3x per
week.
5. Stay on the diet 12 days, stop for 2, and then go back on the diet. Repeat the cycle
until ideal body weight is reached. Then modify the diet to maintain stable
weight.
His Survival Strategies- these can be applied to any type of diet/eating plan undertaken by a
fibromite
Observe how what you eat may be affecting your fibromyalgia
Learn and understand how fibromyalgia can interfere with proper nutrition.
Evaluate your nutritional strengths and weaknesses.
Develop realistic strategies to deal with food problems.
Eat 3-6 meals per day.
Increase protein; decrease carbohydrates in your diet.
Avoid nicotine, caffeine and alcohol.
Increase fluid intake to 6 – 8oz glasses per day.
Consider trial elimination of some foods from your diet.
Evaluate your need for nutritional supplements.
Improve your nutrition plan.
This diet should according to Dr Pellegrino provide you with more energy, less pain, weight
control, more mental alertness, better sleep, and fewer fluctuations in symptoms.
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