Eating Healthy Wont Cure Your Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, But Eating Poorly Will Make It Worse.
Posted by Catherine Morgan on March 12, 2007
Eating Healthy Wont Cure Your CFS, But Eating Poorly Will Make It Worse. — by Catherine Morgan
There is no cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS and FM), but many doctors believe that it is helpful to eat healthy. I believe this is true for several reasons; one – many people with CFS and FM are sensitive to chemicals and additives that are found in processed foods, two – refined sugars such as fructose are not good for anyone (except maybe a diabetic in insulin shock), three – good nutrition is found to benefit everyone, sick or not, it’s just better for you.
So with that said, why aren’t we all eating healthy? Well, that is simple to answer. It’s harder, it’s more work, it’s more expensive, and most of us are addicted to sweets. So what should we do then? Well, we try are best to start eating healthy, one day at a time, one healthy food at a time.
Here are a few places you can start.
1. Eliminate or limit your intake of refined sugars, (ie: cookies, cakes, candy, soda, etc.), nature sugar from fruits are o.k.
2. If you don’t eat vegetables, start eating one serving a day, if you already eat one serving a day, try to start eating two….(you see where I am going with this, right?). Not all vegetables are created equal, for instance; spinach, broccoli, green beans, are really good for you, corn, potatoes, iceberg lettuce, just so so…..but better than nothing.
3. Increase your “lean” protein intake, (ie: chicken, fish, pork, lean beef). Wild Salmon once a week is a great idea, and you can now get it in frozen, single portioned packages. I find this helpful because buying “fresh” goes bad fast. And most “fresh” is actually Atlantic Salmon (code name for farm raised with chemicals).
4. Replace all (or most) soda intake with water. There is nothing about soda, diet or regular, that is good for you. If you are drinking it for the caffeine, coffee is better for this purpose than soda.
5. Eliminate or cut back your use of processed foods, (ie: frozen dinners, anything with a powder packet, anything with “sulfite”, etc.)
6. Increase your intake of fiber, oatmeal in the morning is good for this. I admit, I do cheat and use the “instant” variety of oatmeal, it’s just easier.
These are just a few ideas. Obviously there is much more to good nutrition, but we need to start somewhere, taking baby steps is better than not taking any steps. Don’t do it all at once, make small changes, and gradually work your way into eating a healthier diet. You will begin to see that you feel better when you eat healthier than you do when you are eating junk, this will then become your motivation to keep it up.
You might also find an article I wrote titled “Can What You Eat Make You Happy?” helpful.
ALSO SEE:
A great book to help you get and stay on the right track with your nutrition is; “YOU on a DIET”, you can find this and other books on CFS & FM.
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ALSO SEE:
INFORMATION ON CFS THAT YOU CAN PRINT OUT AND GIVE TO YOUR DOCTOR, WRITTEN BY DOCTORS, FOR DOCTORS.
VIDEOS THAT EXPLAIN CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME, YOU CAN PASS THEM ON TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
MUSIC VIDEOS THAT I LIKE, AND THAT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL A BIT BETTER ON A BAD DAY.
TIPS FOR LIVING WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME.
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pastorofdisaster said
Thank you for all the good information. It is really a great service.
Catherine Morgan said
Thanks.
Joan said
Good post for people with CFS. We’re doing a study in our hospital about nutrition and CFS, and we’re observing that many desperate patients start doing strange diets recommended by naturopaths or any other practitioners of “alternative” medicines.
We’re seeing that these patients fall under malnutrition and that their condition gets worse, but the saddest thing is that they still believe in those “therapies”.
I hope that when we finish the study our results can contribute to a better quality of life for CFS patients.
Good luck!
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Joan.
You’ll have to send me the information once your study is complete, I would be very interested in the results as well.
I don’t have a problem with integrating alternative modalities of healing with conventional medicine. But, what I don’t like is when people claim to have “cures” for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. People that are chronically ill want a cure, so they will pay a lot of money for pills and supplements in hopes of being cured (especially when their own physicians are minimizing or ignoring their condition).
As a person with CFS, I won’t give up hope that new treatments will be developed to help minimize my symptoms, but realistically, I’m not expecting to be cured (although it sure would be nice). I would just be happy if medical doctors would take the time to learn and understand this disease, and be better practitioners to their patients. Until then, there will be many people that will continue to be taken advantage of by scams and claims of “cures”.
I wish I could tell all people to ignore claims of “cures” — It’s no different than buying a lottery ticket from someone guaranteeing that you will win the jackpot, obviously that is not true. When you do a search for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, you might come across my site or a similar one with honest information (and not trying to sell you a cure)…But, for every site like mine there are 50 that are just making false claims and making money off of the desperation of sick people. And, that’s just not right.
Joan said
I couldn’t agree more with you. It is the desperation and the lack of a solution from the conventional medicine that drags people to try anything.
I think is gonna take time to find a cure for CFS and for the time being advances in this syndrome will only minimize it.
I’ll try to keep you posted if we ever get our results published (I hope so).
Also, if you are interested in nutrition don’t forget to check out my blog.
Catherine Morgan said
Thanks Joan. I’ll check out your blog soon.
Glenys Hicks said
Hi, Catherine. This is so true! When I first started to suffer from CFS, I automatically ate, thinking food would give me an energy boost! All it gave me was extra pounds! I agree that good nutrition will help you more than eating poorly.
Blessings and God’s comfort,
Glenys
Catherine Morgan said
Thanks Glenys.
Maria Reason said
I am dignosed with fibro/cfs extensive chonic obstructive airways disease damage to the disks and nerves in the lumbar thoracic and neck where it is worse with a disc completelely missing which has deteriorated into stenosis which if I make the wrong move usually results inindiscribably excruciating neurologicial flare up in arms shoulders head face eyes ears teeth for days is causing narrowing of the spinal cord continually restricting not only blood and nerve flow but cerebral fluid which if cut off would result in severe cerebral haemourage or instant quadraplegia experienced the most traumatic sudden shocking loss of 12 year old son. virtually no relationship with older son with little ability or opportunity to be a Grandma to his 2 daughters have covered up the pain of kidney disease at 3 dreadful treatment and midignosis from med prof at age 20 resulting in extensive surgery at 26 hysterectomy bowel bladder and ligament repair overseen by retired prominent cosultant surgeon. no apolagies even though he compensated by understanding the pain mus thave been so bad he found it difficulto beleive could move but was trying best to bring up 2 boys alone taking in homeles and helpless doing voluntary work told of for not being able to breathe after car accident still no apolagy when found to have 3/4 fractured ribs punctured lung and moved to intensive care Sorry too tired Love and Comfort Peace Alone
helene malmsio said
May I use this article of yours on recommended foods on my website please?
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Helene. Feel free to use this article on your site…just link back to me here. Thanks.
Patti said
I have been told that by cutting out all frozen food and only eating stewed apple as apposed to any other fruit reduces the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome any comments. Apart from the obvious that it would be better for everyone. But when suffering with CFS cooking from scratch isnt always an option.
santos said
I am verry tired all the time special in the morning i have loose my muscle I have sore throut diahrea almost al the time my color of my skin have chage and im bein going to the doctor for the past 5 years all kind of test i cant sleep well…please help me thanks……santos.
Cherokee said
Informative and entertaining. I’ve added your blog to my “reading material.” Keep me updated!
yasser said
could i take this picture and put it in my corse work
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