I think we all know someone struggling with Fibromyalgia. It’s one of the most common illnesses today and if you’ve heard much about it – you know it can be devastating.
Fibromyalgia
But first – let’s talk a little bit about Fibromyalgia and it’s connection to our ancestors. It seems like there are so many people with fibromyalgia these days. And high cholesterol and Alzheimer’s.
We just never heard of these things when most of us were young. It’s like new diseases are falling out of the sky all the time. But did you know that fibromyalgia is the same thing now – as rheumatism was when our grannies were our age?
Yup! Fibromyalgia and rheumatism are the same thing. Rheumatism just got a new fangled name.
Medical doctors say they don’t know what causes fibromyalgia and there is no cure for it. And they say that – way too often – about way too many diseases! But naturopathic medicine teaches that all diseases have a cause that you can find when you dig deep enough. AND a cure – once you determine the cause!
Naturopathic medicine says that fibromyalgia is caused by a low level of serotonin in the brain. Now, low serotonin causes all kinds of problems. Mood swings, severe depression, insomnia, memory problems and can mess up your heart & digestive system and much more. Many peopleare on antidepressants today – that just need to naturally raise their own serotonin levels. But a person would have to find a naturopathic doctor or really read and study to be able to do that. Some of the natural ways you can raise your own serotonin level is through diet and exercise and getting out in the sun.
Serotonin Levels
Some proteins cause more serotonin production – and without getting into too much detail and confusing all of us – (although I studied it thoroughly and understand it) let me just say that eating more chicken, white flaky fish, cottage cheese, low fat cheeses and other low fat milks and dairy products and legumes can help raise your serotonin level.
Well Lordy and when I researched and found that – I thought MY OWN serotonin level should be through the roof and I should be swinging in trees – because if I don’t have a glass of milk in my hand – I have a spoon full of cottage cheese.
Walking, yoga (which I am getting more and more interested in all the time) swimming, bike riding – all of these things, if done at least 4 days in a row, a week – will over a couple of months, increase your baseline serotonin levels.
A local friend says she swims many days, twice a day at a church near her home in lower town Paducah and she feels it has worked wonders for her Fibromyalgia.
Getting out in the sun at least 30 minutes in the morning helps tremendously. Each night – while we’re sleeping – our bodies are producing melatonin – and melatonin destroys our serotonin. Sunlight suppresses the production of melatonin and allows your serotonin levels to rise during the day. SEE how complicated this can get? This could confuse a MONKEY – if Monkey’s could READ! GOODNESS!!! It would take someone with a rocket scientist brain – spending the winter in a secluded cabin in the mountains – to devour all of this stuff. But I LOVE studying and applying it when I can.
Getting enough sleep is crucial and I’m in trouble there. Because the production of serotonin for tomorrow – requires us to get at least 7 continuous hours of sound sleep tonight. Well no WONDER I’m a mess – because if the dairy doesn’t pump up my serotonin REALLY good – that insomnia is going to drain me dry – day after day after day. You TOO if you’re days are as hectic as mine.
I don’t even remember what age I was the last time I slept 7 hours. PROBABLY about TWELVE.
ALL meditative activities raise serotonin levels. Like spending time out in nature – walking in the woods, a park – along the ocean. Relaxed concentration – meditation – positive visualization – they all raise our serotonin levels.
The very best way to heal your own body of Fibromyalgia or anything else is to do your own research and RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. KNOW your illness like the back of your hand. And yes you DO have time. Think of the time that research and healing will be giving you BACK.
A Great Fibromyalgia Book
Foods that Fight Fibromyalgia: Nutrient-Packed Meals That Increase Energy, Ease Pain, and Move You Towards Recovery
I really recommend this book. Read the reviews – look at the preview – then order that book and take the advice.
YOU CAN HEAL your own body of Fibromyalgia.
Everybody is looking for a simple pill we can pop. But those pills just cause other problems and things we have to worry about. FOOD HEALS!!!
Do a little research on your own – or order that book and study it like your life depends on it.
LET YOUR OWN HEALING JOURNEY BEGIN TODAY!!!
Hi,
I know this article is well intended and all, but did you sit down and consult with anyone who had fibromyalgia before writing it? Do you think you researched the illness enough?
Many dietitians actually say dairy is bad for people suffering from fibromyalgia, so your first tip might not be the way to go for everyone.
As someone who has struggled with fibromyamgia for several years now, I can tell you firsthand that if someone with fibro choose to exercise 4 days in a row during a week they will not feel better, they will feel worse. A little exercise is good, but over-exercising will only make your condition worse.
And your advice about how sleeping is crucial? Yeah, we know. But because our bodies are in constant pain our sleep is almost always disrupted and no matter how much we sleep we will always experience fatigue. getting a good nights sleep hasn’t happened to me since I was 18, and believe me, I try my hardest.
A quick check on the list of symptoms for fibromyalgia will let you know that it isn’t as easy as just stuffing yourself full of cottage cheese, exercising all week and sleeping during the night. If it was that easy, no one would have fibromyalgia. No one will choose to have fibromyalgia. No one chooses to have fullblown wide-spread pain throughout their body 24/7.
Maybe this article had good intentions but it only contributes into this illness not being taken seriously, by belittling it and making it sound like a piece of cake.
Don’t give advice to someone if you do not know what they are dealing with.
Diet and lifestyle can make us well – just as easily as it can make us sick. Most all of us with this or that illness – got that way because of our diet and lifestyle. Whether that be heart disease, cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia or others … You don’t start out with a 30 minute walk … you would start with FIVE minutes and work up.
I did lots of research on fibromyalgia before writing this. I honestly don’t feel dairy is good for ANY of us. Neither is bread or having much MEAT 🙂 EVERYTHING or most all things – would be bad in excess.
I DO know folks that have turned their fibromyalgia around with diet and lifestyle … and that also reversed MS and so many other very bad things … like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and more.
But when we don’t even want to try – the easiest way out is to condemn a possible solution I would guess..Thanks for reading … Hope you have a super day …
This is a terrible article. Firstly, we with fibromyalgia would love to get sleep but can’t as one of the main symptoms,actually mentioned if you’d paid attention to the drivel you were spouting, is insomnia and poor quality if sleep. I am yet to meet anyone with fibro who would be capable of doing that amount of exercise that frequently without being very ill, and ice met s lot of people with it. And it is jot common, it is not everywhere. Most of struggle to get our doctors to recognise it as a real disorder. Please research before writing articles – and that’s research involving more than one persons opinions, there’s a whole community of spoonies out there you could ask.
This is a super and factual article on fibro, Fay and I’m sorry you didn’t find it useful for YOU. You have to put one foot in front of the other and just start the healing process. I’ve known many who HAVE healed their own fibro naturally. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion … but there’s some great advice here and I’d suggest if you have fibro … you take some of it … Thanks for stopping by … and hope you have a super – rest of the day … kay
What about those of us who take Melatonin at night to help us sleep. Are we just reversing the effects of seratonin. It’s hard to get sunshine everyday. It isn’t an abundance year round. Are their herbal supplements that help increase seratonin?
Hi Teri – Serotonin is called the Happiness Hormone 🙂 But you can increase it naturally by just walking for 15 minutes a day. I don’t have problems with Fibro .. but I have horrific problems with insomnia and on the days I can make myself take 15 minutes to walk … it makes all the difference in the world. Also lean protein and the lower carb veggies will help raise your serotonin levels. Fruits are good too and especially apples and kiwi. Just make heavy sweets a treat instead of the norm – because they will knock the props right out from under you 🙁 Thanks for reading and hope you stop by often …