Cindy Stewart Author of Your Fibromyalgia Diet: Eating Your Way to Better Health
This blog posting is on an interview I conducted with a great gal who also suffers from Fibromyalgia. Her name is Cindy Stewart.
She was a nurse practitioner and licensed massage therapist for most of her career. Now, after retiring, she inspires health conscious individuals. She currently has a new book out for Fibro sufferers entitled Your Fibromyalgia Diet: Eating Your Way to Better Health.
F&F: What made you decide to write the book Your Fibromyalgia Diet: Eating Your Way to Better Health?
Cindy Stewart: Since there is still no known
cause or recognized treatment plan that works for everyone, many fibromyalgia
survivors have turned to diet as a way to relieve some of their fibro symptoms.
Studies have proven that diet plays a significant role in treating fibromyalgia.
Unfortunately, it's not the same diet for everybody; not everyone is helped in
the same way.
There is little evidence to
support any single diet as a way to deal with fibromyalgia. The variety of
dietary approaches for fibromyalgia is so diverse it's hard to imagine they’re
all aimed at treating the same illness. You may have heard some for the
following: “All fruit is good. Some
fruit is bad. Sugar is bad. Sugar has no impact. Avoid meat. Eat more whole
grains. Don't eat any whole grains. Tomatoes are healthy. Tomatoes are harmful
……”
Since fibromyalgia is not a
specific illness and is more like a symptom complex, what treatment option works
for one person very frequently does not work for another. And this includes
dietary measures.
I know that I was initially confused
and frustrated. I figured that others suffering from fibromyalgia were probably
confused as well. It was then that I started researching and experimenting with
many different dietary approaches.
Experts say that diversity is
another hallmark of fibromyalgia. So what I ended up with was a compilation of
best dietary practices infused with foods that have helped me with my fibro symptoms
and a simple plan to help incorporate good nutritional habits into one’s daily
life.
F&F: When were you, yourself first
diagnosed?
Cindy Stewart: In 1992, after presenting my
symptoms to my doctor, he ran many tests, mostly to rule out lupus. One of my
blood test came back with a positive ANA, which can be indicative of having fibromyalgia. But after other screening tests, both lupus
and RA were ruled out and I was diagnosed with fibrositis (fibromyalgia was not
used as a term for the illness back in those days). I was also diagnosed with
Raynaud’s, as I had severe peripheral circulation problems in my hands and
feet.
It wasn’t until 1995, after a
head-on car accident (and not recovering from my aches and pains) that I was
sent to see a rheumatologist. After many inconclusive blood tests, I was
officially given the diagnosis of fibromyalgia along with a new diagnosis of
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. As you can see,
I have spent decades trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t for my
particular illness.
F&F: What makes treating Fibromyalgia Naturally optimize the sufferers' health?
Cindy Stewart: Not too long ago, the FDA approved several medications such as Lyrica for
fibromyalgia patients. Many of us are thrilled that the medical community is
finally recognizing our struggle. But I have to say, I think that those of us
with fibromyalgia deserve more than a prescription for their pain and
suffering.
This is especially so since the
initial FDA reviewers of many of the current medications used, felt that the treatment
results were not that impressive. On top of this, some of these drugs along
with taking pain meds that are often prescribed for us, have some unappealing
side effects including weight gain, swelling, dizziness, and drowsiness (the
last thing a person with fibromyalgia needs).
It may come as a surprise to
some, but people do recover from the debilitating effects of fibromyalgia. A
case in point, is that I have not missed a day of work or a scheduled event in
over 7 years as a result of being incapacitated by my fibromyalgia symptoms. I
mention this to give you hope that you too can build your arsenal of effective
coping strategies over time.
You can improve tremendously by
learning how to nurture your body from the inside out. I see this as a
condition that strikes at the very core of our being, where there can be many
underlying issues to uncover - from sleep and diet, to viruses and bacterial infections, to how we
think and feel.
It is often a difficult
road to travel. But we can feel
good again, if we’re willing to roll up our sleeves, do some digging, and learn
some new ways of being. We all need to take a closer look at fibromyalgia and
our options for feeling better naturally.
F&F:
Looking at the cover of the book, I see skewers wrapped in what looks
like bacon. Is that bacon? Meat has been somewhat of a taboo with some
Fibro diets. Can Fibro
sufferers look forward to meat in their diet?
Cindy Stewart: No not bacon, only grilled lean
chicken breasts and onion on a bed of greens. As I mentioned earlier, not one
diet approach fits all. For some, small
portions of fish and poultry can be a healthy option.
F&F: What are some of the
benefits that a Fibro sufferer can look forward to immediately from
eating naturally? What are some down the road?
Cindy Stewart: I would encourage your readers
to pick up a copy of Your Fibromyalgia Diet and discover both the benefits
and great tips of eating more naturally.
Wonderful information and a definitely great book to pick up! Thanks so much for stopping by Fibro and Fabulous to say hello, Cindy!
Thanks Kimberley! I’ve recently begun sharing my insights and experience about how I have been able to better manage my fibromyalgia.
Coming from a health care background in nursing and massage therapy, I have always tried to find natural ways to deal with my fibro flare-ups, fatigue, and irritable bowels.
This prompted me to write a book about how to eat healthier, so as to minimize the frequency and severity of some of the more common fibro symptoms.
I would like to offer your readership an opportunity to pick up my latest ebook for free on Wednesday, October 9 for a limited time before it goes on sale.
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To pick up your copy of the
eBook “Your Fibromyalgia Diet” visit Amazon at: http://yourfibromyalgiadiet.com
For additional great how to
articles visit Cindy’s blog at: http://treating-fibromyalgia.com
Check out the latest how to
videos from The Fibro Gal at: http://www.youtube.com/user/FibromyalgiaGal
