Food Sensitivities & Fibromyalgia: What’s the Connection?
According to the Food Allergy Research & Education, researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies. And that figure doesn’t even take in account the number of people affected by food sensitives. Unlike allergies, food sensitivity isn’t deadly, but it may cause issues like chronic pain.
In one study, 42% of patients suffering from Fibromyalgia reported a worsening of symptoms after consuming certain foods.
The most common food allergies include:
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Soy
- Gluten
- Fish
- Shellfish
This isn’t an exhaustive list. For examples, patients can have a nightshade sensitivity that causes painful flare-ups whenever they consume tomatoes.
If you’re experiencing Fibromyalgia, you may want to consider going on an elimination diet. Food allergies are usually easier to detect than sensitivities. In an allergy, there will be an obvious reaction to the food, like a skin rash. Elimination diets involve removing entire food groups from your dietary intake and reintroducing them slowly to help detect food sensitivities.
Another way to test for food allergies is through skin and blood testing. However, these methods often come back with false results, so they should be used within the context of your medical history for best accuracy.
Many patients report a considerable improvement in their Fibromyalgia when they remove certain food groups from daily eating habits. However, sticking to a new diet can be difficult. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, consider visiting a Fibromyalgia doctor for guidance on dietary chooses, nutritional therapy, and other pain treatment options.
