First off can anyone out there recommend a book that is an elimination diet for FM? There are so many diets out there and I can't find an actual elimination diet book. Help!!!
Secondly, has anyone had any success with this type of diet in reducing FM symptoms?
Thank you so much!!!
Lalabug
I have not heard of any, but I would like to know if others have. I was told to eliminate sweets mainly. Some other things too…but Something about sugar can cause the nerve pain to become worse.
Let’s see what others say.
Joy
Hi Justamom and Lalabug,
I haven't heard that before. I mean, I suppose it could be possible. Maybe sweets increase inflammation or something. Although dark chocolate is supposed to be good for you.
You're right, it will be interesting to hear what others have to say.
Hi,petunia.
Who knows sometimes I think I’m just told things to hush me up. I will check into it. And see if I can find something about it, then I will share the site. If I find it.
Joy
http://www.everydayhealth.com/fibromyalgia/fibromyalgia-kicking-the-sugar-habit.aspx
Not proven but may help to avoid sugars.
Lalabug,
I've been doing the Virgin Diet for about a week now. At first I thought it would be hard to give up Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Eggs, Corn, Peanuts and Sugar but it really hasn't been. I purchased a Ninja Professional for like $139 at Target and got a $20 gift card. I make green shakes using the Tropical Smoothie recipe with Rice protein and ground flax seeds. There is a brand, Lundburg, that makes great rice substitutes for wheat products. I've tried the rice chips and rice cakes both are good. Last night I had their rice with black beans and added sausage and it was really good. The main thing is to use whole foods and herbs. Last night the kids had tacos and I made my own taco seasoning because the packets have soy in them. It was very easy and the kids liked it and I could eat it. I also snack on almonds. For my coffee I use a tablespoon on sugar (because the Virgin Diet allows 5grams per 100 calories) and coconut milk creamer. Then I make a shake for breakfast and lunch. Kale, Spinach, mango, banana, and pineapple or Kale, Spinach, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. With rice protein powder and flax seed. Then I make a healthy dinner. Now I'm looking into GMO free meat. There is a program in our area where you can order food and pick it up once a week at a local church. There are farms that have only grass fed cattle, pigs and chickens. Starting next week I will be ordering all my meats from them and any other organic produce I need. This way of eating will increase my food budget a bit but I have noticed a difference in my pain since being on the plan. I haven't taken a pain pill in the last couple of days and my neck and shoulders don't hurt. Yesterday I was looking up ways to make a butter alternative. There is one that used organic coconut oil and olive oil so I'm going to give that recipe a try this weekend.
The only thing I'm feeling like I'm missing are eggs. I used to have breakfast at work every morning. Eggs, fried potatoes with peppers and sausage. And I used to eat lunch at work everyday. I'm sure their budget is taking a bit hit from me not eating there anymore. :-)
The best part is the scales are going down.
Give it a try and then we can swap recipes.
Gentle Hugs,
Stacey (who's going to get her brownish lunch smoothy now)
Gentle Hugs
I saw this today and thought it might be helpful for anyone making a dietary change.
5 WAYS TO OVERCOME EMOTIONAL BLOCKS DURING DIETARY CHANGES
1. Positive Thinking! In order to get over these emotional blocks, it is important to know that a lifestyle change always involves a positive mindset. Oprah Winfrey hit it on the nail when she said "My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment." Make each moment count with a positive attitude.
2. Practicing compassion, unconditional self love, and acceptance through dietary transitions will lighten our expectations and give more room for learning and growth. Our heart must be in it so we can celebrate when goals are reached, as well as call upon it when times get tough. We become open to knowing that there are ups and downs to every endeavor, and as this happens, we are able to go with the flow and be more present with our daily choices. Don't be too hard on yourself if you have not met certain health goals, just pick up where you left off and try again.
3. Remember all those symptoms you are trying to resolve! Physically: weight gain/loss, hives, rashes, headaches, water retention, digestive disturbances, respiratory issues, nervous system imbalances. Mental/Emotional: fatigue, sluggishness, mood swings, inability to concentrate or focus... Life feels better without them! Remind yourself of this often.
4. Find support. Surrounding yourself with people who can support you can really make the difference. Friends and family are always wonderful to have on your side, but you can also find support in community groups, online forums, websites, and blogs. Many, many people want to share their stories and more often than not, they will resonate with something you have or are experiencing.
5. Be creative in the kitchen and HAVE FUN! We are so very lucky to have Whole Life Nutrition as a resource to support your dietary needs as well as introduce so many new and exciting foods to try. No one ever said eliminating certain foods had to be boring! If you do feel you are getting bored of the new foods you are eating, chances are you are in need of a few good new recipes to change it up. An extra bonus: share your food in the household or at a gathering! More often than not, people love what you will have to offer and realize that being health conscious is the way to go!
"Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else." ~Les Brown
I can't wait to try this. I might stop by the seafood store on the way home.
Orange Pepper Salmon
I used wild Alaskan sockeye salmon here, but king or coho would be delicious as well. The sockeye salmon I have been buying lately takes only about 8 minutes to cook at 400 degrees.
2 pounds wild salmon
1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
freshly grated orange peel
1/2 teaspoon Herbamare or sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
extra virgin olive oil
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Rinse your salmon fillet and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut it into 6 fillets. Arrange fillets on a baking sheet or large glass baking dish.
Drizzle orange juice over them. The sprinkle each with a little grated orange peel. I use my microplane fine grater to do this. Make sure you do it before you juice your orange. You'll want the zest from the whole orange.
Then sprinkle with Herbamare (or sea salt) and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle each fillet with a little olive oil.
Bake for about 8 minutes for sockeye, longer for coho, and usually about 20 minutes for king, depending on the thickness.
Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce
Spoon some of this warm sauce over slices of Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Maple syrup will lend a maple flavor to this sauce. If you would like to clearly taste the cranberry and orange flavors then use agave nectar. Another option if you do not want to use agave nectar or maple syrup is to try frozen apple juice concentrate instead. This sauce will stay fresh in a tightly sealed container for about a week in the fridge.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 2 3/4 cups
4 cups fresh cranberries
1 1/2 cups pure maple syrup or agave nectar
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 to 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange peel
Place all ingredients into a medium-sized pot and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes while using a large spoon to mash the berries as they cook. The sauce will begin to thicken as the berries cook.
Remove from heat after the sauce is thickened and the berries are mashed. Pour into a serving bowl or store for future use.
OK, eliminate sugar....
:(
that is going to be a tough one. But I am willing to try!!! Thanks Justamom72!
Dark chocolate too......
argh...
let's go with it is still good for you in really small amounts. Just for now, k? LOL
OK Stacey! First thank you so much for the posting! It sounds like the Virgin Diet is a lot like the Paleo Diet. No Wheat and gluten. Only sweeteners allowed are raw honey or agave (either in small quantities). No dairy at all. Nuts and seeds are ok. Coconut oil and milk are used a lot on this diet. I am not sure about soy but I choose not to have soy. They do allow eggs though. I think I would die without egg whites at least. I don't like a lot of meat and honestly I am so very tired of chicken at every meal. Organic everything is recommended with the diet too. I simply can't afford organic meat. Around here a small chicken breast is $15-$20.00. That is only one maybe two servings. I wish I could as I would like my whole family to be eating organic everything. We do eat organic fruit/veggies from the Dirty dozen list. So, you feel a difference so far? That would be great to actually have some energy with a decrease in pain and headaches. Is the diet book available from any major bookstore? Thanks so very much and I look forward to exchanging recipes with you!!!
Thanks for the link to the Nourishing Meals Blog. Can't wait to peruse the site!
Oh and I forgot to mention that maple syrup is another sweetener allowed on the Paleo Diet. This recipe looks yummy!!!
I stopped artificial sweeteners a while ago...that is I thought I did but then when you look at some of the processed food ingredients and are shocked to find them hidden at the bottom of the ingredient list. Grrrrr. A food journal is a great idea! I need to start that asap! I should also look at a food elimination diet for migraines because I suffer terribly. I am going to a dietician on April 2nd (I just found out today). I struggle with my weight and I had to beg to see a dietician here. I asked for help with eating for FM and it was a no go with my doctor and honestly I had to BEG many times to see a dietician even though I have at least 50 pounds to lose which is not helping my overall health or my FM. My doctor says I should be able to do it on my own. I know that Cymbalta has a side effect of weight gain as well as Gabapentin. Anyways, I am so off topic. Thank you for your suggestions!
Hi, I was diagnosed with FM about 2 years ago. Shortly after that, I went to see a doctor who did a blood test for food sensitivities. The results showed that I had many food sensitivities. The big ones were gluten, dairy, corn and soy. But it also showed I was sensitive to certain fruits, vegetables, and nuts. So, I cut out all of the foods on my list. I noticed an improvement in my pain within a week. Within 4 months, my pain was about 90 percent better. Within 6 months, I was off of Cymbalta and Neurontin, completely. I felt almost normal again. Let me know if you want to know more about my experience. Thanks. Dave