CFS & Diet
© Paul B. Murray
The human body requires food and liquids to service.
These elements are needed to keep the body's strength, stamina
and energy level. Diet can be used to strengthen the ailing immune
system of those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A well balance diet should be incorporated as part of the
treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
People
with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can develop a food intolerance and/or allergy.
A food intolerance is a sensitivity
to elements/chemicals found in food.
Food that can not be tolerated can not be digested properly.
Processed foods, such as luncheon meats, food additives,
sugar, and MSG can upset the stomach. Reactions
to food are often immediate and symptoms include headaches, bloating, gas,
light-headedness, nausea, increased fatigue or pain and dizziness.
Drink plenty of water to help flush out your system when you experience a
food intolerance or allergy.
A
change in diet will be required when a person develops Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
To prevent an onset of a food intolerance or allergy keep a diary of
which foods cause symptoms. A food
diary will be helpful in learning which foods to avoid in the future.
Before
becoming ill with CFS, you body would put out signals, such as a stomach growl
or a feeling of weakness, to let you know that you were low on energy.
Now that you ill with CFS, you may noticed that you feel hungry all the
time. This is due to you body
having an overall feeling of weakness or fatigue.
CFS also makes a person more sedentary, requiring fewer calories, but the
person's dysfunctional body does not realize this.
The ill body is misunderstanding your weakness caused by CFS as a
deprival of energy. To accommodate for this problem, switch to eating several
smaller meals throughout the day instead of three main meals.
Drinking
plenty of water is important for the body.
Water helps in aiding organ systems performance and contributing to new
cell growth. Now that you are ill,
an increase intake of 48 ounces (8
to 10 glasses) of water per day is required to help your overstressed organ
system. Spring water is best to drink as well as filtered water.
Have as varied a diet as possible but in moderation. Avoid foods low in nutrients and high in sugar and fat. Instead, eat high-nutrient, high-protein, complex carbohydrate foods such as vegetables, grains, beans,
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