Photo: Steve Snodgrass
Recent studies have shown that food additives may increase symptoms of fibromyalgia. Although there is no proof of a complete cure for fibromyalgia, the foods you eat might just help your symptoms. But what are food additives and how do they affect fibromyalgia sufferers?
You might know food additives by the names of MSG or aspartame. Those are just common examples seen in everyday foods like diet sodas. These food additives are in the category of “excitotoxins,” which is also a naturally occurring substance in the brain. The normal function of these excitotoxins is to get your brain firing quickly, which helps you learn and retain information. In fact, you’re using them right now! But what happens when we add artificial excitotoxins to our body?
Artificial excitotoxins affect our neurons by overstimulating them, which can in turn overwhelm the brain. They can potentially even excite your brain cells to death.
Here are a few examples of what high levels of excitotoxins do to the body:
- Mental misfires
- Amplified pain
- Uncontrollable anxiety and irritability
These symptoms are consistent with the pain that fibromyalgia sufferers go through each and every day. There might be a chance that avoiding foods with these excitotoxins will help reduce the amount of painful symptoms you feel.
The only way to know if you’re eating excitotoxins is to read the labels of your food. Here are a few things to avoid if you are trying to eliminate excitotoxins from your diet:
- MSG; can be labeled as: natural flavor(s), flavoring, plant protein, carrageenan, yeast extract, anything with glutamate
- Aspartate; can be labeled as: aspartame (brand names are Equal, NutraSweet, and AminoSweet)
Even though there isn’t a cure for fibromyalgia, we do know there are certain things you can do to help yourself feel better. With the support of your family and friends, it’s easier to try new ways to deal with your symptoms. The great thing is, simply trying to cut down on excitotoxins is a free to try. And it doesn’t involve trying new medicines either, which might have negative side effects. And who knows? It just might work for you and your symptoms.
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