If you’re one of the up to six million Americans who suffers with fibromyalgia, you’ve probably experienced the debilitating fatigue that often accompanies the ailment. Medical experts are now saying one of the simplest and best ways for Fibromyalgia patients to boost their get-up-and-go is by choosing a diet that aids in maintaining energy levels while eliminating those foods that can drag you down.
Here’s how to do it:
SAY YES to lean sources of protein such as tofu, white-meat chicken, turkey, beans and fish. The kind of protein in these foods provides consistent energy that doesn’t spike and crash.
SAY NO to saturated fats found in red meats and dark-meat poultry which can clog arteries and restrict blood flow, hindering the delivery of the nutrients your body needs for energy.
SAY YES to snacking between mealson unsalted seeds and nuts. These kinds of portable snacks offer lots of protein and provide omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for proper brain function.
SAY NO to noshing on baked food items like donuts and cake containing yeast along with gluten. The intake of yeast can increase muscle and joint pain and gluten can cause gluten intolerance, resulting in digestive problems and other stomach ailments. Both conditions drain energy.
SAY YES to whole-grain pastas, tortillas, bagels and breads instead of white versions. Whole-grain foods are rich sources of complex carbohydrates, which your body converts into energy at a slow, consistent rate. Conversely, white-flour products are simple carbohydrates that can produce energy highs and then lows.
SAY NO (more often than not) to dairy products, such as cheese, yogurt, milk and cottage cheese. Like red meats and dark-meat poultry, dairy products are loaded with saturated fats.
SAY YES to soy-based cheese and milk, which are low-fat sources of lean protein.
SAY NO to food items with caffeine like colas, chocolate, tea and coffee which are considered to be stimulants. While these items may initially give an energy boost, it quickly turns to fatigue.
SAY YES to supplements – B vitamins, magnesium and D-ribose – can help your body gain lost vitality.
SAY NO to big meals that weigh you down in more ways than one.
SAY YES to five or six meals instead of two or three. This can help you to not only avoid those energy crashes that occur between meals but avoid the exhaustion that often accompanies eating lots of food at one time.
Finally say YES to activities once your energy gets the boost it needs.
--Robin Westen
Robin Westen is ThirdAge’s medical reporter. Check for her daily updates.
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