Fibromyalgia

While the relationship between food and symptoms in fibromyalgia patients varies significantly from person to person, there are food groups that should be universally avoided. Refined carbohydrates and sugar increase systemic inflammatory markers (CRP and IL-6) along with insulin spikes. Processed meats and trans fats also exacerbate pain through the same mechanism. Caffeine causes an energy crash following a short-term stimulating effect and disrupts slow-wave sleep. Alcohol disrupts sleep structure and hinders muscle recovery. Since some patients have reported reduced pain after eliminating gluten, dairy products, and nightshades (tomatoes, eggplant, and bell peppers), tracking a personal food diary is helpful. From the Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic: In Korean medicine, excessive consumption of sugar, wheat flour, and greasy foods damages digestive function and generates waste products in the body. When digestive function weakens, nutrients are not properly supplied to the muscles, leading to severe muscle aches; furthermore, if waste products block circulation, the circulation of vital energy and blood becomes even more stagnant. Excessive consumption of cold and raw foods damages the warm energy of digestion, creating an internal environment where cold energy and dampness can easily invade the muscles. At Dongjedang, dietary guidance is provided alongside treatment, with the basic approach focusing on restoring digestive function and reducing internal waste through warm, easily digestible foods.