My mother has been suffering from fibromyalgia for years: it is a highly debilitating condition of rheumatic origin that is aggravated by a psychic and nervous factor, characterized by severe disabling muscle and joint pain, associated with insomnia, a strong sense of fatigue, irritability, a state of elevated inflammatory which also involves the gastrointestinal system, and depression. Worse, fibromyalgia is still difficult to diagnose today: in order to be diagnosed correctly, it is necessary to first exclude a series of pathologies with similar symptoms, and then identify the so-called ” tender points ” in the patient, or to establish his painful points with acupressure , and find no less than eleven of the eighteen classified as such.
Fibromyalgia continues to be very little talked about, but nutrition also plays a role in this disorder.
In fact, it is estimated that about 40% of subjects suffering from fibromyalgia have a worsening of symptoms in relation to some foods, in particular those that in sensitive digestive systems give more digestive problems , namely:
– gluten and casein
– lactose
– simple sugars excess
– bad quality fats: fried foods, long-chain animal fats, vegetable oils high in omega6
– solanaceous (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, potatoes, chilli)
– alcohol and caffeine
The foods suitable for the diet for fibromyalgia are: foods rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables (excluding solanaceae), leafy and cruciferous vegetables, whole grains, fish, especially those rich in omega 3, medium-chain saturated fats (coconut oil, coconut butter, goat in moderation), lean proteins, foods rich in monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, almonds, and then: flax seeds, chia seeds, false cereals such as quinoa and buckwheat.
The diet for fibromyalgia is a balanced diet with a low glycemic index: low sugar, mostly from alternative sources of sugar, whole carbohydrates with vegetables, abundant olive oil to promote the digestion of fibers, proteins to balance meals (therefore at every meal a small portion of protein).
The specific diets most recommended for those suffering from this disorder may be the paleo autoimmune diet and the Seignalet diet.