Is Diet A Treatment For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Is Diet A Treatment For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
by Terry Barrett

Sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that carry extra weight may be able to speed their recovery by reducing some of this excess.

Obesity levels in the United States, South America, Canada, and throughout Europe have reached unprecedented levels in recorded history.

It is also accepted that the lifestyles we lead are often causes of stress.

Is it pure coincidence that these new peaks of obesity and stress correlate directly with an increase in the occurrence of "modern" or "new" diseases of Western society?

Heart disease, cancers, and others illnesses including the rheumatic and fatigue varieties, specifically Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have all increased along with our unhealthy lifestyles.

There was a time when the medical profession was so blinkered as to suggest that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome didn't really exist and was simply caused by the sufferer's state of mind. Thankfully, we have moved past this era

Carrying superfluous weight will aggravate small anomalies in the balance of our musculoskeletal system

These anomalies in combination with a certain genetic tendency appear to underlie the onset of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in certain individuals, while others who suffer the same initial "prompting" infection or exposure recover relatively unscathed.

Once effected with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, carrying extra weight might cause your condition to last longer and be exacerbated more than in patients of normal weight

The Autonomic Nervous System will be damaged by the initial onset of your condition thereby effecting your homeostasis (your internal environment), digestion, and organs such as the kidneys and liver. These areas will be under additional stress in individuals who are overweight or obese.

The last thing sufferers need to hear when they are struck with the early stages of Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that they need to lose weight. It is however advised that they eat a well balanced diet.

It is important that the foods you eat should be natural and unprocessed whenever possible and rich in vitamins and minerals.

Eat 5 or more portions of fresh, raw fruit and lightly boiled or steamed vegetables per day, with a good balance of protein and carbohydrates.

Eat whole grains and other high fiber foods. This helps avoid constipation which itself can cause fatigue

Eat red meat no more than once a week. Chicken and fish are a beter alternative.

Avoid sugar as much as possible. Fruit contains all the sugars you need in a more useable form.

Restrict dairy products due to the possible immune systems over-reaction to cow's milk.

Avoid alcohol consumption. The load on the liver, kidneys and stomach are excessive.

Take a daily supplements of quality multivitamins and multiminerals

Eliminate caffine - use decaffinated drinks instead

Drink plenty of water - this will help flush out toxins

At a later stage as overall toxicity reduces, the immune system recovers, and digestive stress is reduced, weight loss strategies can be considered and undertaken - but gradually.

Due to the very nature of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome it is important to avoid activities that involve demanding exercise. This is due to the fact that with CFS, extreme fatigue can be made worse with high activity, so the point is to start very slowly and for short periods then build up the exercise levels as the condition improves.

Patients suffering Chronic Fatigue Syndrome should never attempt to waste what little energy they have on strenuous exercise. The only energy you should be expending is on your essential daily activities, and relaxing walks or pastimes which will reduce your susceptibility to depression.

In summary, eat healthily - avoid foods high in sugar and fats, just as in any weight loss diet and you should gradually reduce the level of excessive weight, which in turn should help recovery from CFS.

Read the unusual story of how one man cured himself from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using a secret 5000+ year old Natural Healing Science CLICK HERE

About the Author

Always Tired? You could have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
by Nigel Lee

It can be difficult for any doctors to actually diagnose fatigue, this is especially true in the case of chronic fatigue syndrome. Fatigue is considered to be a symptom of something else, and not a condition in its own right. However, chronic fatigue syndrome is wreaking havoc on the lives of so many people. Chronic fatigue syndrome can result in depression, and the individual being unproductive.

This condition doesn't just take its toll on the sufferer alone, it can also affect the whole family. It can cause family members to become impatient because they get so frustrated! It can also put a strain on friendships if after work, university or college you don't have the energy to meet with your friends.

It's normal for people to feel tired, especially when you've just had to entertain the in-laws! But chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is much more serious than normal tiredness. CFS is when the tiredness actually starts to interfere with the normal day to day lives of sufferers and their friends and family. Tiredness doesn't last as long as CFS. CFS normally lasts a minimum of 6 months without any apparent illness causing it.

CFS is often said to simply be a problem that the patient has made up in their own mind, however anybody suffering from this condition can vouch for it being real! Many more women suffer from CFS than men.

CFS sufferers may notice headaches, problems sleeping, irritability and depression. There are also some physical symptoms that affect some sufferers including fevers, sore throats, or even aching muscles.

Fatigue is commonly caused by another underlying disorder, this could be diabetes, PMS, serious infections, low blood pressure, or low blood sugar.

More and more doctors are starting to realize that CFS is a condition in its own right, however, the experts cannot agree on a cause. Some experts believe that previous viral infections, high or low blood pressure, mercury poisoning, and even drug use can cause an onset of CFS.

If you are somebody who is suffering from excessive tiredness then there are things that you can do so that you won't feel so tired. It is possible to fight against your fatigue, the best way is to exercise often and also get plenty of rest. You should avoid taking drugs, and drinking alcohol or caffeine.

If you are tired all the time and constantly asking yourself "why am I always tired?" then make an appointment with your doctor. Get yourself tested to see if you are suffering from a low thyroid function, hypoglycemia, or any allergies.

You should take vitamin supplements which should improve your body's balance of vitamins and chemicals. Vitamin B is commonly used to treat patients suffering from low energy. Vitamin B is found in sardines, beef, salmon, and milk.

Magnesium is a natural mineral that is important to encourage extra energy. Any deficiencies in magnesium can cause weakness in the muscles. To increase magnesium intake you should eat more wheat germ, almonds, pecans, tuna and hazelnuts. Make sure you also eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, you should eat more citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables and potatoes.

You can treat chronic fatigue syndrome by drinking chia seeds soaked in warm water. You should be able to find these seeds in your local health food shop and can be added to oatmeal if desired. Native Americans used these seeds to improve their energy levels.

If you take any artificial energy boosters make sure you consult your doctor beforehand. If you do start to notice any side effects you must immediately stop using it.

About the Author

Nigel owns CureTiredness, a website which contains lots of useful information if you wish to know more about stopping tiredness.