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ME/CFS Symptoms – Consider Food Allergies/Sensitivities

2/26/2019

Although most ME/CFS patients share a core group of symptoms, many have additional symptoms that add to the complexity of treatment and healing. Depending on how long ago you were diagnosed with ME/CFS and how thoroughly you were tested, you may or may not have explored food allergies or intolerances. There are in fact some patients who have been diagnosed with ME/CFS who are actually suffering from food and/or environmental allergies.

Recently I was reading about Gluten intolerance and I was surprised at the overlap of symptoms with the standard definition of ME/CFS – Fatigue, feeling rundown like you have the flu, joint pain or numbness in extremities, ‘foggy mind’ where concentration is difficult, headaches, prolonged changes in mental health and gastrointestinal discomfort. It seems that when our bodies are immunocompromised, the symptoms are similar no matter what the cause. According to a recent article ‘Adult-Onset Food Allergies Increasing, Confusing’ on WebMD, about one in 10 adults have a food allergy with half of these starting well into adulthood.

Could you be struggling with a new food allergy? Could a food or environmental allergy/sensitivity be complicating your recovery? Consider this as part of your continuing ‘case study of one’ as you work to understand your version of ME/CFS. Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission. You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net. And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays. And consider being part of the conversation.
Be Well Again,
Martha

2 Comments

Immune Support – Who Do We Listen To?

5/29/2018

2 Comments

Most ME/CFS patients would agree that supporting our immune system is key to a successful path back to health. We recognize that this system is a 24/7 work horse that never rests. The majority of challenges to our person health that we encounter go undetected by us due to the vigilance and vigor of our efficient immune systems. And some researchers support the theory that part of the ME/CFS struggle is due to a compromised or ‘on tilt’ immune system.

So what should ME/CFS patients do to support our immune systems? From my perspective, it’s hard to find definitive information unless it’s followed by an ad for the recommended product. At one extreme are the recognized research groups who won’t commit to anything specific. At the other extreme are the passionate semi-scientific articles extolling the virtues of a ‘total solution’ product. ME/CFS patients find it difficult to sift thru all of this when so much is at stake and brain fog is dulling one’s judgments.

Here's a link to an article from Harvard Law School “How to Boost Your Immune System.” It’s couched but ultimately informative. And it gets us into the supplement discussion again.

For me, eating healthy food loaded with nutrients and getting REM sleep were the highest priority in my efforts to support my immune system as I was working to defeat CFS. What are your strategies? Have you found a combination of things that add up to a healthier immune system? Please COMMENT on this blog or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them with your permission. You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net. And Guest Blogs are most welcome!

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays. And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,
Martha

2 Comments

ME/CFS Nutrition – Avoid the Negative

2/26/2013

4 Comments

Often I’m asked what nutrition plan I followed when I was struggling with ME/CFS. Honestly, it wasn’t so much what I ate. It was what I DIDN’T eat. I simply learned to avoid the negative foods that are a standard part of our American diet. Of course none of this came about on day one. It was over time that I began to recognize the need to give my immune system a fighting chance to get well by fueling it with healthy food and drinks.

I developed the habit of asking myself, “Will my immune system thank me for eating this?” In the beginning, frequently, the answer was no. I began to eat more foods that were rich in nutrients and which could build up the strength of my immune system and less of the foods that were full of empty calories and unpronounceable ingredient lists.

We have learned that some patients who are diagnosed with ME/CFS are actually suffering from severe food allergies. And more and more people are restricting their diets by eliminating one or more common ingredients. Organic, Gluten-free, refined sugar-free and other dietary restrictions are more common and the anecdotal evidence is showing that, for some, these dietary adjustments can generate a noticeable improvement in an individuals health.

For me, eating positive foods and avoiding the negative paid off. How have you adjusted your eating habits? What strategies are working for you? Please COMMENT or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them. You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays. And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha

4 Comments

Immune Support – Who Do We Listen To?

11/8/2011

1 Comment

Most ME/CFS patients would agree that supporting our immune system is key to a successful path back to health. We recognize that this system is a 24/7 work horse that never rests. The majority of challenges to our person health that we encounter are never known to us due to the vigilance and vigor of our efficient immune systems. And some researchers support the theory that part of the ME/CFS struggle is due to a compromised or ‘on tilt’ immune system.

So what should ME/CFS patients do to support our immune systems? From my perspective, it’s hard to find definitive information unless it’s followed by an ad for the recommended product. At one extreme are the recognized research groups who won’t commit to anything specific. At the other extreme are the passionate semi-scientific articles extolling the virtues of a ‘total solution’ product. ME/CFS patients find it difficult to sift thru all of this when so much is at stake and brain fog is dulling one’s judgments.

Here’s a link to an article from Harvard Medical School “How to Boost Your Immune System.” It’s couched but ultimately informative. And it gets us into the supplement discussion again. For me, eating healthy food loaded with nutrients and getting REM sleep were the highest priority in my efforts to support my immune system as I was working to defeat CFS.

What are your strategies? Have you found a combination of things that add up to a healthier immune system? Please COMMENT or Send in your thoughts and I’ll post them. You can use the Contact Form or send an email to Martha at DefeatCFS dot net.

Look for a weekly posting on Tuesdays. And consider being part of the conversation.

Be Well Again,

Martha

1 Comment

ME/CFS Symptoms – Consider Food Allergies/Sensitivities

Immune Support – Who Do We Listen To?

ME/CFS Nutrition – Avoid the Negative

Immune Support – Who Do We Listen To?

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ME/CFS Symptoms – Consider Food Allergies/Sensitivities

Immune Support – Who Do We Listen To?

ME/CFS Nutrition – Avoid the Negative

Immune Support – Who Do We Listen To?

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