Diet and CFS and Fibromyalgia

Is there any benefit to dietary changes in patients with CFS and fibromyalgia. As a physician treating these disorders for over 20 years, the answer is a resounding YES!!! I have seen dietary changes work wonders for many patients. But what dietary changes are we talking about?

The type of diet I usually recommend for a patient with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia is an elimination diet. I have patients go off wheat, dairy, alcohol, white carbohydrates, and refined sugar. I have patients eliminate wheat and dairy because these substances can cause the body to react abnormally. This type of diet is also a modified candida diet and will decrease the symptoms due to candida hypersensitivity.

I test all my patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia for Celiac Disease (CD). Although most people associate Celiac Disease with gastrointestinal disturbances, there many more symptoms associated with CD. These include fatigue, anemia, hair loss, hives, joint and muscle pain and weakness, neuropathy and infertility. Many patients do not have gastrointestinal symptoms or if they do they are mild and therefore the diagnosis goes undetected. A gluten-free diet can alleviate many symptoms associated with CFS and Fibromyalgia if a patient has a CD.

If you suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia, consider an elimination diet. You’ll be glad you did.

– Dr. Dean Mitchell