The Fibro Follies

By now, you’ve probably heard of the Mediterranean Diet - not so much a weight loss program as a description of the way most Mediterranean cultures eat as a way of life. It consists mainly of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish, and is very low in red meat. (Think of a rich Greek lamb stew - it’s mostly vegetables, with the meat mainly adding flavor.)  This way of eating really appeals to me - I mean, I’m a beach girl, roughly same latitude as the Mediterranean folks on the other side of the big pond, and I do love me some fruit and fish. The news that it was heart-healthy should have been just the push I needed, frankly. What kept me from it? Frankly, it’s expensive to buy good fish and produce to the exclusion of cheaper (and far worse for you) packaged meals and so-called convenience foods.

Now, I’ve got new reason to take a fresh look at this diet, and so do you.

This Reuters article on MSNBC.com caught my eye for a simple reason - fibromyalgia is often associated with rheumatological conditions. If the diet helps the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, might it also help fibro pain? From the article:

[Rheumatoid arthritis] is caused by an errant immune system attack on the lining of the joints, which leads to chronic inflammation, pain and stiffness. Some research has suggested that components of the Mediterranean diet, like the healthy fats in olive oil, have anti-inflammatory effects.

Hmm - “chronic inflammation, pain, and stiffness” . . . is anyone else reminded of something? Just me?

If you’re interested in getting started on the Mediterranean Diet, I’ve found a few interesting resources you might be interested in that can help you out.

1. The Mediterranean Diet this is a book (from Amazon.com) by Marissa Cloutier that covers the basics. However, she advocates canola oil instead of olive oil, so I’d bear that in mind.
2. The Mediterranean Heart Diet: How It Works and How to Reap the Health Benefits, with Recipes to Get You Started by Helen Fisher - another option.
3. Mediterranean Diet Cookbook: A Delicious Alternative for Lifelong Health - a cookbook by Nancy Harmon Jenkins.
4. Mayo Clinic site on Mediterranean-style cooking

Hope that helps you get started! If you’ve already adopted this way of eating, I’d love to hear from you. Has it had any impact on your fibro symptoms, do you think?  Let us know in the comments!

Technorati Tags: mediterranean diet and fibromyalgia