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Take responsibility and educate yourself along with keeping a positive mindset, in addition to the dietary and lifestyle changes covered in this article, and you’ll do just fine.

So you’ve been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, what now? Are you wondering where do I go from here? What does this diagnosis mean? It’s not a death sentence, thank goodness, but there are some lifestyle and dietary changes necessary for optimum well being.

First, let me give you a little background on me and the challenges I faced when I was first diagnosed. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2002. At the time I was running an in-home daycare, and home-schooling my children. I remember experiencing odd pain in various parts of my body with no explanation, or result of injury/strain. I did some searching on the internet to see if I could find something, anything, that might explain what could possibly be wrong with me. Everything I found indicated Fibromyalgia. I consulted with my family physician, who knew nothing about Fibromyalgia. In fact, his response was, “Fibromyalgia is just a ‘trash can’ term for depression.” Consequently, he prescribed an anti-depressant.

My strange aches, pains and fatigue worsened to the point I began thinking something was seriously wrong with me. I asked my doctor to run some blood work to see if maybe I was anemic. He called me a few days later suggesting I make an appointment to go over my lab results. Uh, oh! I began thinking the worst. The “C” word possibly? Oh, God please, NO! I was told the good news was, I wasn’t anemic…the bad news, I tested very high and positive for Lupus. I was sent to a Rheumatologist who ran further testing on me which negated the Lupus diagnosis. She diagnosed me with having a very severe case of Fibromyalgia. She explained that it is a connective tissue disorder that causes pain, fatigue, inflammation, depression, and a myriad of other symptoms. I was prescribed an NSAID (non steroidal anti-inflammatory) medication and narcotic pain killers. Over time, my body developed an intolerance for the anti-inflammatory medication and a tolerance to the pain medication. Back to square one! This is how I discovered the following information I’ll share next.

I’ll touch on the dietary changes first as those are sometimes the most difficult to make and adhere to. An important thing for you to know is that it’s absolutely imperative that if you consume Aspartame, in any form, NutraSweet®, Equal®, or any other chemically processed artificial sweeteners, including Splenda®, you stop immediately! These are the worst things that you can put into your body. For one thing, they’re not real food substances and your brain does not recognize them as such. Although white sugar is not good for anyone with Fibromyalgia either, you’re better off consuming this, as your body knows how to process it.

Agave Cactus

My sweetener of choice is Agave Nectar. It is a natural sweetener made from the juice of the agave plant (as you can see, it closely resembles the Aloe Vera plant). You could use honey if you prefer, however Agave Nectar has a lower glycemic index (which if you have Hypoglycemia, or are Diabetic is much more beneficial for you). In addition, it won‘t crystallize like honey has a tendency to do. Nutrition facts: Serving size 1 Tablespoon; Calories 60; Total Fat 0g; Sodium 0g; Total Carbohydrates 16g; Sugars 15g; Dietary Fiber 1g; Protein 0g. Agave Nectar is available at most of your local health food stores. If you are unable to locate it, you can contact MADHAVA HONEY, Box 756, Lyons, CO 80540,www.agave@madhavahoney.com.

Now that we’ve covered the sweetener, let’s move on to other dietary changes. Most of us consider eating 3 meals a day, consisting of meat/protein, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables as eating healthy. What we don’t know, is that while we may be getting vitamins and minerals, when we cook our fruits and vegetables, we’re destroying the enzymes. Think of enzymes as the key to the door of our cells. Enzymes unlock the cell allowing the vitamins and minerals to be absorbed properly, resulting in optimum health benefits. Thus the new trend of the “Raw Diet” which emphasizes raw and living foods.

THE RAW FOOD DIET

Raw and living food is uncooked fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouted grains. There are also some other foods that fall within this category such as seaweeds, raw carob powder, cold pressed olive oil and certain spices and seasonings. Whole, ripe, raw, organic foods in their natural state are what help to keep us healthy, vibrant and free of sickness and disease.

The benefits of eating a raw and living food diet are too numerous to mention in entirety. The living and raw food diet has helped many people feel better when nothing else has worked.

Many people have healed themselves of diseases and ailments such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, acne, migraines, back pain, neck and joint pain, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypoglycemia, colitis, diverticulitis, Candida, arthritis, serious allergies, depression, anxiety, mood swings, heartburn, gas, bloating, skin diseases, obesity, chronic fatigue, cancers and many more. Excess weight seems to just melt off your body when you eat a raw and living food diet!

By eating a raw and living food diet you will begin to turn back the hands of time. By eating a raw and living food diet you will start to look younger and more beautiful. You could turn your hair back to its natural color and stop hair loss. You could erase wrinkles and deep creases and age spots, your circles, bags and eye puffiness would disappear. Your acne and blemishes would be gone. Your teeth would be tighter and your gums would stop bleeding and your skin would glow and your eyes would sparkle. You would notice that you look better without make-up and that you have a natural sunny blush. People eating a raw food diet are the healthiest looking people I have ever seen. They have a glow in their skin, a shine to their hair, a sparkle in their eyes, a healthy, fit, body and look younger than their age. They have a youthful energy and they feel good about themselves and happy to be alive!

Why is raw and living food healthier than cooked food?
Giving up cooked food and switching to a raw and living food diet has helped so many people feel well for the first time in their lives. One of the most amazing things that I have witnessed is how quickly this can happen. Feeling healthier, losing weight and healing your body doesn’t take years or months or even weeks on this diet. You will notice changes within days. When you eat a raw and living food diet you are feeding your body and your cells live foods filled with vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other life giving substances that cooking destroys.

There are many factors why raw foods improve health but enzymes and acid alkaline balance are probably the two most important ones.

When food is cooked at over 112 degrees (this temperature can be felt as warm to the touch) we destroy all of its enzymes. This is a problem because we need enzymes for every function in our body. To walk, to talk, to breathe and to move; life itself depends on them. As we age, our bodies natural source of enzymes becomes depleted and we need to replenish this source through the foods we eat. If we do not do this and we continue to eat cooked foods, then we eventually begin to use up our body’s enzyme reserves. Cooking makes it harder for our bodies to break up and digest the foods that we eat. This food then begins to get stored in our bodies as toxins; which can lead to all kinds of diseases and illness.

Dr. Humbart Santillo, M.D., states in his book Intuitive Eating that:

“A human being is not maintained by food intake alone, but rather by what is digested. Every food must be broken down by enzymes to simpler building blocks. Enzymes may be divided into 2 groups, exogenous (found in raw food) and endogenous (produced within our bodies.) The more one gets of the exogenous enzymes, the less will have to be borrowed from other metabolic processes and supplied by the pancreas. The enzymes contained in raw food actually aid in the digestion of that same food when it is chewed. One can live many years on a cooked food diet, but eventually this will cause cellular enzyme exhaustion which lays the foundation for a weak immune system and ultimately disease.”

When we are born we are given a limited amount of enzyme energy that has to last us a lifetime. Think of this as your enzyme bank account. If we do not make regular deposits to this account from eating exogenous enzymes that are found in raw foods and we continue to eat cooked foods that use up our enzyme supply, we become more susceptible to aging, disease and premature death.

The enzymes that are destroyed in cooking food are detrimental in so many ways. Not only does it affect our immune system but also our brain function and our energy levels.

Dr. Edward Howell in his book Enzyme Nutrition says:

“Humans eating an enzyme less diet use up a tremendous amount of their enzyme potential in lavish secretions of the pancreas and other digestive organs. The result is a shortened lifespan (65 years or less as compared with 100 or more), illness, and lower resistance to stress of all types, psychological and environmental. By eating foods with their enzymes intact and by supplementing cooked foods with enzyme capsules we can stop abnormal and pathological aging processes.”

If you are sick, tired, overweight or just want to feel better than you do right now, know that this way of eating could be the answer to your prayers. Does it sound like I’m promising a lot? Well, I am because I have seen this raw diet work time and time again. This has been one of the greatest miracles in my life and in the lives of other people whom I’ve shared this with.

Acid Alkaline Balance:

There is so much to say on this subject. Here is a very brief overview so you can begin to think about what kind of effect the foods you eat have on the acid-alkaline balance in your body. An over acid body is found in most people with acute or chronic diseases. Some common symptoms of an overly acid body are arthritis, depression, headaches, lethargy, gastritis, dulled mentality, canker sores, fatigue, muscle stiffness, stomach aches, chest pain, constipation, irritability, sinus problems, acid reflex, restless sleep and so much more. But an overly acid body can lead to many more serious health problems. For example, cancer cells are able to live better than normal cells in an acid environment.

Dr. Ted Morter states:

“When your body is too acid for too long, it plays the game of life with a lineup of backup systems. These backups are either substitute minerals, or ammonia. When your body is too acid -when your normal pH is too low - the systems and organs of your body work overtime just to stay even. But systems and organs aren’t designed to function flat-out in red-alert mode all the time. They need rest just as you do. If the red - alert goes on for months or even years, systems and organs become exhausted. An exhausted body can’t compete with disease. Eventually, disease wins the game.”

How does our body become too acidic? Diet is the major factor. A diet that is too high in acid forming food will cause the body to become too acidic. And what are acid forming foods? Sadly, the typical American diet of high protein flesh foods, high sugar, high fat and low complex carbohydrates is acid forming. Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, white sugars, flour products, pasta, breads, most cooked grains, most beans, most nuts, candy, soda, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, chemical additives, preservatives, drugs and synthetic vitamins are all acid forming. So how do we get our bodies at the right pH balance and create an internal environment that is slightly alkaline? We can do this by eliminating acid producing foods and eating a diet that is high in raw fruits and vegetables. I say raw because when you cook food it makes it more acidic. When you eat a diet that is made up of raw fruits, vegetables, sprouted nuts, seeds and grains you will begin to shift that acid state to a more alkaline state.

What does someone's daily diet look like when they are eating raw and living food?

The diet of someone eating a raw diet varies according to the person; just as no two people who eat cooked food eat the same.

Whole fruits, smoothies or fruit and vegetable juices are a great way to start the day.

For lunch and dinner there are so many raw food dishes that you could make. Just as it is impossible to list all of the cooked food entrees that people eat, so too would it be impossible to list all of the options available for lunches and dinners. The choices for desserts are so numerous and delicious; when made from raw and living food, there is no guilt and no need to abstain. There are times when I have eaten a whole banana cream pie for lunch. Raw pasta, banana and almond butter sandwiches, fettuccini alfredo, burgers, large salads with guacamole and corn chowder are some of my favorite lunch or dinner items.

There are over 300 recipes in Living on Live Food; Hors d’oeuvres; spanakopita (spinach pie) and jicama fries. Breads, muffins and crackers; apple muffins, onion bagel bread and Mexican crackers. Soups; coconut soup, chili and watermelon soup. Dips and spreads; hummus, refried beans and spinach dip. Salads; Italian tomato basil salad and pear beet and jicama salad along with dressings like Japanese salad dressing and green goddess dressing. Entree's; spinach pizza, BBQ chicken fingers, sushi, crab cakes and meatballs. Desserts; blueberry pie, black forest cake, carrot cake, cannoli and fudge. Fruit drinks, vegetable drinks, smoothies and so much more!There is so much to say on this subject. Here is a very brief overview so you can begin to think about what kind of effect the foods you eat have on the acid-alkaline balance in your body. An over acid body is found in most people with acute or chronic diseases. Some common symptoms of an overly acid body are arthritis, depression, headaches, lethargy, gastritis, dulled mentality, canker sores, fatigue, muscle stiffness, stomach aches, chest pain, constipation, irritability, sinus problems, acid reflex, restless sleep and so much more. But an overly acid body can lead to many more serious health problems. For example, cancer cells are able to live better than normal cells in an acid environment.

Why don't I have to count calories or fat grams? How can I eat avocados, nuts and other high fat foods on this diet and still lose weight?

There is a huge difference between cooked fats and raw fats.

The studies that have been done linking fats to high cancer rates, heart attacks, kidney failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, angina, cardiovascular disease and all of the other diseases that clog up the blood and the arteries have been done with cooked fats. Obesity is linked to a high cooked fat diet.

Raw plant fats on the other hand, have exactly the opposite effect. Raw fats such as avocados, olives, coconuts, nuts and seeds are imperative in a healthy diet. These fats contain antioxidants. They contain oils that help the joints, nerves and bones.

These raw plant fats do not cause the body to gain excess weight because they still contain the enzyme lipase; this is the enzyme that is needed to digest fat. Cooking fats destroy lipase; along with other important enzymes and minerals. The fat digesting enzyme, lipase, breaks up the raw plant foods as they are eaten and help to digest the oils in these foods. Because this food is getting assimilated and digested properly, it is not clogging up the blood and arteries, causing all kinds of chronic and degenerative diseases. It is not getting stored as excess weight in the body. You will not get fat by eating avocados, sprouted nuts and seeds and other plant fats. When I first started this diet I was eating 2-3 avocados a day and losing weight. I didn’t have much weight to lose, but the few extra pounds I had just melted off because I was eating fats in their whole natural form with all of their enzymes intact. http://alissacohen.com/index.html

I’m an eye witness to how the Raw Diet works! My sister and brother-in-law lost 45-50 lbs respectively by sticking to the raw diet for almost a year. They both had been experiencing numerous health problems from high blood pressure to high cholesterol. My sister was beginning to suffer symptoms of Fibromyalgia. They had been avid health food “nuts” for years! Yet, they were the most unhealthy, healthy people walking around. I know that sounds like an oxy moron, which in a sense, it is. This is what happens when we’re deceived into thinking we’re eating healthy.

One more point I’d like to add is that for some unknown reason, Fibromyalgia sufferers produce more mucus than others. Doctors have been known to prescribe Guaifenesin, a medication used to treat excess mucus and phlegm. The reason I’m mentioning this is because the consumption of meats and dairy products can also cause the body to produce excess amounts of mucus. Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep the consumption of these foods to a minimum.

Okay, now that you’ve been educated about the importance of dietary changes, I’ll move on to the lifestyle changes necessary to live a productive and optimal life in spite of having Fibromyalgia.

One thing that is crucial to anyone diagnosed as having Fibromyalgia is to GET OUT OF BED! It’s so easy, with the chronic pain and fatigue, to want to just stay in bed. But, doing so is the worst thing you can do! You need to force yourself to get up, do some kind of exercising (i.e. yoga, walking, low impact aerobics, etc.). Being sedentary only worsens symptoms, and aggravates the depression that is associated with Fibromyalgia.

Another thing that’s important is being prepared for weather changes and knowing what to expect. Along with severe weather changes, hot, or cold, it’s not uncommon to experience the onset of a flare-up. Dressing appropriately and avoiding extreme temperature changes is important. Many people also experience something called Secondary Raynaud’s Syndrome. This is a syndrome/disorder that affects the blood vessels in the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. This disorder is characterized by episodic attacks, called “vasospastic attacks,” that cause the blood vessels in the fingers and toes to constrict, resulting in discoloration.

In summary, you are not powerless, there are steps that can be taken to help yourself. Take responsibility and educate yourself along with keeping a positive mindset, in addition to the dietary and lifestyle changes covered in this article, and you’ll do just fine.