Avoid Fibromyalgia

My heart goes out to all of you who suffer from this debilitating condition, fibromyalgia, day in and day out. It is stunning how many of you are very young people in what is supposed to be the prime of your life. And many of you share the myriad of symptoms from muscle and skeletal pain, to bowel-related issues (IBS and the like), to endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), to sleep problems, depression, brain fog, painful muscle spasms, and more. In short, there are few parts of your body and its functions that are not affected.
For what it's worth allow me to give you a natural medicine perspective on fibromyalgia--and with that, maybe, an ounce of hope...

All of the many symptoms of fibro, including those mentioned above, are connected with high levels of tissue acidity. In natural medicine we call this chronic metabolic acidosis. An acid body has a lowered pain threshold. That is why fibro pain becomes so uncontrollable and agonizing.
Unfortunately, most of the mainstream prescription drugs designed to suppress your body's response are rendering it even more acidic... That is why you need ever more frequent and higher doses and additional remedies to cope with your pain and issues.

In addition, prescription drugs tend to block or otherwise negatively influence your body's mineral balance. But mineral imbalance already is the result of an acidic body. You see, the snow ball turns into an avalanche. Minerals affect all your body's systems and functions from its hormone and enzyme production to how it is able to absorb vitamins and nutrients.
Unfortunately, once your gut is affected (from simple bloating to IBS and other conditions) your mineral and nutrient absorption is the first to suffer. An aching body screams out to you that it is MALNOURISHED!

Honestly, who among you stays away completely from all

- Soda drinks,
- Alcohol and smoking,
- Processed foods,
- Margarine, lard, and other of the unhealthy fats and deep-fried foods, roasted and salted treats,
- Grain products (and that may initially include the supposedly healthy whole grains) because they all include a morphine-like addictive components,
- Sugars of any form (including the hidden ones) and fruit in excess of 2 small servings a day),
- Dairy products, since lactose too is sugar and casein also contains some morphine-like addictive substances,
- Starchy and high-sugar vegetables, such as carrots, some squashes, etc.?

All of the above make our body more acidic.

On the other hand, who among you sticks to a low-carbohydrate and maybe also low-calorie diet rich in

+ Green and colored, lightly cooked vegetables,
+ Blueberries, pomegranate, persimmons, and other highly antioxidant fruit at no more than max. 2 servings daily,
+ Fish such as salmon, mackerel, and other great sources of omega-3s,
+ Light proteins (e.g. chicken, turkey) and other leaner meats and servings no larger than the size of your palm,
+ Olive oil, grapeseed oil or sesame seed oil for fats,
+ Green or white tea, oolong tea, etc. to provide you with the necessary anti-oxidants (think of them as your pain-binders),
+ Fresh, clean water to help flush the toxins out of your system?

These simple recommendations, if you resolve to follow them closely, will at least stop the daily aggravation and progressive worsening of your condition.

Our body replaces its cells roughly every 3 months--few at a time. This is your chance: Over time, you may find that by eliminating (not just limiting) the destructive foods and, instead, by providing your body with the necessary nutrients you will find improvement.

Unfortunately, there are no short-cuts. In most cases your over-the-counter supplements and vitamins will not work for two reasons:

1) your absorption is compromised if your gut is even mildly affected - and that is already a given if you are on any prescription drugs.

2) your minerals and vitamins are so out of balance that only a very specific and individual approach will not make matters worse.

Remember that most multivitamins are designed for people whose basic ratios are in tact but who may have some additional requirements. With fibro your basic ratios are compromised. Therefore, it would be best for you to find yourself a credible natural medicine professional experienced in these matters.
It can be done; your young age is all in your favor.
So, for starters: stop putting diesel into your gas tank and brake oil into your windshield washer container, so to speak.

Treat your body kindly with the nutrients it needs and deserves, help it clean out the toxins, and watch over the coming months a new you come back to life.

Carbohydrates and possibly gluten may be the triggers for many conditions related to FM.

Going 100% gluten-free may be an answer for many individuals who have a whole list of health complaints. Since gluten causes an inflammation in your intestines (duodenum) gluten-sensitivity (or its most progressive form: Celiac disease) leads to absorption problems and results in severe mineral deficiencies.

No surprise that brain fog, sleep issues, cysts, and a slew of other complications even including muscular pain, muscle spasms and cramps follow!

The duodenum is where most of your calcium should be absorbed. An inflamed gut cannot fulfill this job. Instead, the inflamed cell walls allow large proteins to leak into your blood stream turning it "acidic" (leaky gut syndrome and dysbiosis). Blood needs to retain its pH balance with the help of certain minerals. Since not enough calcium is being absorbed by your gut your blood needs to get it from where it can, e.g. bones and teeth. This calcium buffer does not remain in the blood indefinitely - it gets redeposited again--arteries (plaque), joints (arthritis), muscle tissue (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.).

What is your first line of defense? With everything else I recommend to remove the constant assault on your system. In plain English, stop putting diesel into your gas tank: Stick to low-carbohydrate, gluten-free, possibly low calorie diet (if you are even slightly overweight) with plenty fresh, lightly cooked greens, light proteins, and plenty of plain water (not chlorinated!) and green or white tea - no soft drinks! (Soft drinks, apart from the toxins and chemicals we do not want in our body, negatively affect your phosphorus levels and cause major mineral imbalances.)
1) Going gluten-free is not that easy - contamination is a big problem and as little as 1 gram can keep your system from healing.
2) Keep ALL your other gluten-free grain carbohydrates below max. 30 grams daily (grains make an acidic system even more acidic and may put you at high risk for diabetes).

The good news: cells renew every 105 to 125 days; i.e. health improvements are possible every 3 months. When you start putting ONLY good foods into your system the new cells have a chance to be healthier than the ones before. Your body is no less dependent on the right fuels than your car. Service it well!

Staying away from acidifying your body is key for control or reversal of FM.

It is great that you are drinking alkalizing water and try to stick to an alkaline diet. You have realized that only by eliminating the triggers do you stand a chance of getting your body processes under control.

You also might want to watch out for toxins, extra sugar and chemicals in your popular commercial
- toothpastes
- mouthwashes
- deodorants
- creams
- make-up
- other hygiene and beauty products.

These are all full of acidifying substances. Natural products are not cheap but generally last a long time. They are well worth your while because the mucous tissue in your mouth and the skin under your arms very easily absorbs everything.

Also think of your chewing gums. They too are full of substances that don't belong into our body and render it more acidic.

There is some more you can do:
Unfortunately most of our town/city water is highly acidic and full of contaminants. Chlorine bleach, silver, and other filters are used to kill bacteria. You know what happens when you leave a sock in chlorine for too long... I for one don't want that stuff in my body.

More importantly, the water filtration plants do not yet have a system in place to filter out all the prescription medications from birth control pills to statin and other drugs all of us eliminate daily...
I know, you don't drink it; but we shower and bathe in this reconditioned water! Our skin absorbs these particles and our lungs breathe them in. All contribute to acidification of our tissues, which in turn leads to a lowered pain threshold... You know the avalanche-reaction.

And, by the way, the water softeners using salt affect your sodium-potassium balance and with it your calcium metabolism. Yes, that means: more of the same...

Most prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications make your system more acidic. An acidic environment ALWAYS makes for inflammation.

Many FM sufferers recently have been prescribed a diabetes neuropathy drug called Lyrica.

According to Pfizer's own website its side effects are:
"dizziness, sleepiness, dry mouth, and edema. Plus blurred vision, weight gain, constipation, euphoric mood, and loss of balance. Also, increased appetite and trouble concentrating. "

The manufacturer's website goes on to say:
"LYRICA may cause serious allergic reactions. You should call your doctor right away if you think you have a serious allergic reaction such as swelling of the face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue or neck or if you have any trouble breathing. Other allergic reactions may include rash, hives and blisters."

Many of these symptoms are also linked with liver disease, heart disease, hypertension (a kidney-related issue) and, my favorite, diabetes.
And, ALL of these symptoms show a direct link to your calcium metabolism incl. chronic metabolic acidosis, which--according to our Natural Medicine view--are at the bottom of your fibromyalgia pain.

The more acidic your system the more severe and more diverse your symptoms.