A fibromyalgia is a syndrome classified as a type of soft tissue rheumatism (that is, it does not affect bones and joints) that causes pain throughout the body: neck, back, hands and feet, for example. Other signs are restless sleep, tiredness, difficulty remembering and concentrating and mood changes.
In Brazil, the disorder takes almost five years to be diagnosed, after the patient has consulted, on average, seven doctors. For every ten people with the condition, nine are women.
What many also don't know is that fibromyalgia is related to intestinal problems. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), for example, is present in almost 60% of cases of the disease, according to data from Brazilian Society of Rheumatology.
Although the connection is not completely understood by medicine, it is very important to take care of your gastrointestinal health to prevent constipation, diarrhea and other discomforts.
How to treat IBS?
Typically, patients with irritable bowel syndrome should seek a low FODMAP diet (an acronym for osmotic carbohydrates, usually fiber, which can be difficult for some people to digest).
Therefore, they should avoid foods rich in FODMAPs, including: corn syrup, honey, apples, pears, mangoes, asparagus, cherries, watermelon, fruit juices, cow's milk, goat's milk, sheep's milk, yogurt, cream, cream, ricotta and cottage cheese, onion, garlic, leeks, wheat, couscous, flour, pasta, rye, persimmon, watermelon, chicory, artichoke, beetroot, asparagus, carrot, okra, kale, lentils, chickpeas, beans , pea, soy, apricot, peach, plum, lychee, cauliflower and mushrooms.
This is because foods rich in FODMAPs are fermentable carbohydrates. undigested by the human digestive tractsuch as oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), disaccharides such as lactose and monosaccharides such as fructose. The piliol group mainly includes sorbitol and mannitol.
The low-FODMAP diet is generally prescribed temporarily, until the trigger foods are identified, because as the diet's prebiotic intake is low, if maintained for a long time it can lead to constipation and dysbiosis. As it is a diet that poses risks, must have professional guidance.
In addition to treatment clinical with dietary re-education and changes in habits, some medications and specific supplementary probiotics can also help to deal with the disease. If symptoms are very prevalent, it is recommended to seek medical attention to rule out other pathologies, identify triggers, and reorganize diet and lifestyle.
