The Best Foods for Fibromyalgia

Inflammatory Foods

Foods you have sensitivities to will cause inflammation. Some of the most common food allergens include:

• Dairy
• Gluten
• Corn
• Soy
• Preservatives and food additives, especially MSG
• Alcohol
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Citrus
• Nightshade vegetables, including peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes
• Nuts
• Shellfish
• Refined sugar

Pay close attention to how these foods make you feel. An elimination diet, where you remove from your diet for a month and then reintroduce it, can help you determine which foods to avoid.

Keeping a food diary can be helpful for keeping track of your symptoms and what you're eating and, as a result figuring out what foods are triggers for you

Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Fresh fruits and vegetables stimulate the immune system and help reduce inflammation, while dark leafy greens, seeds, nuts, and seafood are rich in magnesium, which helps reduce muscle spasms and pain.

Other anti-inflammatory foods include:

• Beans
• Cold water fish
• Ginger
• Turmeric
• Almonds
• Soy beans
• Unrefined complex carbs, like brown rice and rolled oats

"Preparing anti-inflammatory foods and trying new recipes can be fun, especially when they're easy and tasty," Jennifer says. Here are two recipes she found that include anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Colorful Salad

• 6 oz baby spinach
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 1 cup garbanzo beans
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup soybeans
• 2 T sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

Combine and enjoy! Jennifer topped her salad with a carrot ginger dressing.

Berry Smoothie

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 T ground flax seed
• 1 T maple syrup
• 1 t cinnamon

Blend all ingredients in a blender until well combined, and enjoy!