Rheumatism Diet For Fibromyalgia
How To Reduce Rheumatic Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia

Dietary Advice To Reduce Rheumatic Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia

Because fibromyalgia is classified as a rheumatic condition, some patients may benefit from following the generally accepted dietary guidelines for rheumatics. “Rheumatism” describes a variety of ailments where pain occurs with or without signs of inflammation, in joints, muscles, tendons and connective tissues.

Some research suggests that a low intake of the antioxidants selenium and vitamins A, C and E may increase the risk of rheumatic illnesses. To avoid this, eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and include beta-carotene, avocados, fresh nuts, and whole grain cereals in your regular diet. One USA study has shown that supplements of selenium with vitamin E can help reduce muscular pain, stiffness and aching.

Eating Advice For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Fibromyalgia patients who also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory condition which causes pain and swelling in the joints, may benefit by eating more anti-inflammatory foods and by increasing the vitamin A, C and E content of their diet. Foods which are supposed to reduce arthritic symptoms include:

Fruits – such as: blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kiwi fruit, peaches, mango, cantaloupe melon and anti-inflammatory fruit such as apples.

Vegetables – such as: carrots, squash, sweet potato, spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts.

Oily fish – such as: like salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, tuna and trout, for their content of omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) which act as anti-inflammatory agents.

Nuts and seeds – such as: walnuts, Brazil nuts and almonds, as well as seeds like sunflower, linseeds and pumpkin seeds, for their EFAs and vitamin E.

Legumes and grains – such as: lentils, garbanzo beans, brown rice, basmati rice and whole wheat bread.

Rheumatism And Cholesterol

Rheumatoid arthritis has no specific cause, although some experts believe that the disease may be associated with a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, as it is more common in countries where rich foods are eaten, like the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

A healthy cholesterol-lowering diet includes: reduced-fat sources of protein, like fish and lean chicken/turkey, and a lower overall fat content by eating only tiny amounts of saturated or trans fat in foods like cheese, butter, cookies, cakes and commercial snackfoods.