Feeling physical or mental exhaustion after a hard day’s work is something completely normal and very natural. Engaging in any sort of activity that requires us to make an effort will always result in an energy loss. However, if you have been feeling fatigued for the last 6 months, and if it has never improved even after prolonged resting periods, you might be suffering from a disorder called chronic fatigue syndrome, also called CFS.

Symptoms cover mental as well as physical malaise. Muscle pain, intense headaches, gastro intestinal disorders as well as memory shortages have been reported to be caused by CFS. Good news is that with chronic fatigue syndrome diet, instead of medical treatments, your symptoms of CFS can be relieved.

Foods That Should Be Included in CFS Diets

Grains

1 gram of carbohydrates contains 4 calories (twice more than a gram of protein), making carbohydrates the main energy source of our body. Carbohydrates are therefore a fundamental part of a diet against CFS. You might consider buying grains like brown rice, barley or oatmeal, which include large amount of carbohydrates.

Proteins

Protein is the best provider of essential amino acids required by our body. The best protein foods you can get are meat, fish, eggs and lacteal products like cheese. Besides, dry fruits, nuts and beans also include important protein contents. What you should pay attention is to eat a variety of protein, so you get all the required amino acids.

Fats

Fats contain more caloric energy than any other things, so they are in fact highly recommended for people suffering from CFS. However, unhealthy fats such as butter should still be avoided. Probably the best fat available to most people is found in extra virgin olive oil, a product rich in omega-3 which is a very salutary substance to reduce cell death. Fats can also help improve our immune system and help recover from hormonal imbalances and decreasing memory losses, which is common in CFS patients.

Fruits and Vegetables

Studies have shown patients suffering from CFS have elevated levels of methemoglobin, a marker of oxidative stress. This is a proof that alkaline antioxidant diets can help improve the situation of the patient. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can increase your body’s antioxidant capacity and alleviate the symptoms confronted by CFS patients.

D-Ribose

Recent studies have also focused medical attention over a particular substance called D-Ribose. This five-carbon sugar obtainable through natural sources improves most of the CFS symptoms. By increasing cellular energy synthesis, the patient will soon feel improvements in mental clarity and physical fatigue, while also being able to enjoy from a better sleep. D-Ribose is found in riboflavinin foods such as chicken, lacteals and almonds.

Note: Food intolerance is another symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome. You should attempt to consume healthy foods while eliminating certain others from your diet in order to alleviate the symptoms.

Foods That Should Be Avoided in CFS Diet

Studies suggest there are certain foods that aggravate CFS symptoms. By eliminating them from your diet for several days, you can easily get to know if and how they affect you personally. You can then, after a while, reintroduce some of it (one food at a time) and see if it is the one food specifically or not.

The most common foods and substances deepening CFS symptoms are:

  • Saturated fats and fried food

  • Food with a high caloric content

  • Aspartame and monosodium glutamate

  • Refined sugar

  • Tobacco

Certain substances can also affect your sleep negatively, worsening CFS and aggravating your situation. Try avoiding:

  • Caffeine/Teine

  • Alcohol

  • Sugary foods

Whenever you find a food that is specifically aggravating CFS symptoms, you should of course eliminate it from your diet.

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