Blueberries for Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

I tried the Ocean Spray bluebery juice. I wasn’t surprised that sugar and high fructose corn syrup were the first two ingredients listed. What surprised me was that the beverage consisted of apple, grape and cranberry juices in addition to the blueberry juice. I wasn’t able to determine what percentage of the drink was blueberry juice. Ut tasted syrupy and I won’t be buying it again. I’d love to try a good blueberry juice soon.

I had never tried blueberries up until a month or two ago as I thought I would not like them and they were too expensive to buy just to try one, anyway I was at afamily members home and she had made a blueberry and strawberry flan, I tried it and was really surprised at how nice they were. So now every week I do my fruit shopping they are included and I make a delicious mixed fresh fruit salad with yoghurt, it has bluberries, strawberries, mango, melon, kiwi & sometimes add apples and pears too, it really refreshing especially now with the summer, its good for you and also helps you to stop picking foods or sweets that are not so good with all the sugars etc in them..so its definately bluberries for me even more so now I know they are good for my FM.

I put frozen blueberries on my cereal almost every morning. I pour the the milk over then and they defrost half way but I like them that way.

I wish it would help. I eat alot of blueberries and I dont see any improvment in my fibro or CFS…..

Blueberries belong to the genus Vaccinium while the nightshade family is in the genus Solanaceae. They are not related at all.

This is really a general nutrition article, not a CFS article.
So many other writers already write about nutrition. I don’t understand why this writer doesn’t write about issues specific to CFS patients. Medical research? Advocacy?

From Your Guide: While this is general nutrition information, the things I included about blueberries are all things that people with fibromyalgia & ME/CFS specifically need. It’s a food that does a lot of the things for which some people might take drugs or supplements, which rarely do enough by themselves. I’ve got more than 1,000 pieces of content, so if you look around my site, you’ll see a wealth of information about medical research, treatments, advocacy, day-to-day life and more. ~Adrienne

Trust me, this writer covers all aspects of CFS and Fibro. I am housebound and reliant on my husband being off work to push me around in my wheelchair, and I have found this the best CFS resource on the web. I like that all the most serious CFS stories are covered as well as exploring dietary ideas.

Oh and I love blueberries! They are like cherries though, you can’t get a juice made from them unless you have a spare £30 at least.

Me again, I forgot to say, we don’t have much energy to trawl the web, so we need one resource like this, which covers everything, all new developments as well as everything else – whats there to complain about?!

this is a great site for both CFS and FM updates – i think the food postings are a summertime theme (nicely timed, as most medical/university research papers are released Sep-May). If there’s any hint of anything breaking for either subject, this will be the place to find more info.

For those looking for 100% juice of only blueberry or cherry, Michigan, US is a great resource. Locally produced juices are frequently found in our local grocers.

I’ve used both juices and found some relief upon starting the juice, but found that my weird FM body seems to build a tolerance to them, so i have to alternate these with grape and tomato juice, being careful to use only 100% juice not from concentrate – when in season, i’ll make the juice at home

Thank you Adrienne for this column. I frequently find hope here. FM is a lonely business and you take some of the sting out of that.
I am from the state of Maine where a lot of the wild blueberries come from. They are smaller than the cultivated varieties and have more antioxidants. They have been a staple in my diet most of my life. Along with other fruits and vegetables, I believe they have helped to keep my general health up and my weight down. However, I have seen no significant improvement in my Fibromyalgia symptoms. I wish they were the cure. It would sure beat drugs!

Blueberries are a staple in my diet. Using my food processor, I usually make a sorbet with frozen blueberries, a dash of stevia and a small amount of vanilla almond milk (which I also make myself). It makes for a delicious frozen treat.

Blueberries are great. I do use frozen and put them in my morning yogurt smoothy. Blue berries, strawberries, 1/4 of a banana, rice protein vanilla and coconut milk. Along with a handful of nuts makes a healthy breakfast.

Just a note to all you readers. It took me 4 years now, but I believe I am reverseing my fibromyalgia sysmptoms gradually.

It isn’t any one thing I eat or do, it is a combination of nutrion, life style changes, a little determination, and trial and error.

I have gone from being literally rolled up in a ball in my bed, and not being able to be up for 5 hrs a day, to carrying a 40 hr work week, and able to do my work at home, and feeling like I can live life again. The depression is gone, the severe pain is occassional. I do have pain, but not unbearable. Depending how I eat, and what nutrion I consume my pain can be much less when I stick to the plan.

I also have candidiasis, so sugar is out. CFS symptoms seem gone, ringing in my ears stopped, muscle spasams and restless leg gone.

I took one symptom at a time, the ones that bothered me the most and worked on them one at a time.

The muscle spasams, Malic Acid and Magnesium and Calcium.

Ringing in the ears B6

Chemical sensitivies, avoidance and training myself to buy only organic personal care products.

No aspartame, or artificial sweetners. Use only stevia products.

Use natural antifungals to fight yeast issues.

I make sure I get my sleep, now that I have been able to sleep for 5 hrs again.

It can happen, be strong and keep trying. I can not believe the difference in how I feel when I stick to paying attention to a healthy diet, with no preservatives or additivies.

Eat lots of fish and lean meat. Protein very important.

Coconut Oil and coconut products a definte plus for my energy and pain.

I use this internally and topically. My skin is looking wonderful. Remember one thing at a time, find what works for you, and then try other things as you go. Don’t try to do it all at once, you will never know what really worked for what.

It isn’t just a diet, it’s a life style change. Generally I will say for the better!

If I eat out alot, consume msg or other chemical additives, I quickly notice symptoms.

Aspartame, High Frutose Corn Syrup, Food Dies, and other additives, just aren’t on my list of things to consume anymore. I read lables on everything. Most of the time, I leave the labled items on the shelf, and choose simple things and combine them myself. I know what I am getting then for sure.

Well done Luann – I always like to pass positive comment when due – 5 yrs fighting for remission -awesome! As one who has been 18 yrs in remission from FM/MFS/CFS/CFIDS-ME/ADRENAL FATIGUE and 3 auto immune diseases all related to Primary FM – there is only one self that one can decide to commit to change of Lifestyle, diet, exercise, stress allowance etc, and take back your life!! Sharon Levin http://www.fibromyalgiasa.co.za

I love the Ocean Spray DIET BLUEBERRY with 2g’s of sugar and only 5 calories per serving. My over all fav are the real deal…blueberries. I start my day off by eating them by the handful. Summer is the best time to find them locally.

To Gary Fredrick… Try blueberry/pomegranate (POM WONDERFUL) on ice with seltzer water. There are NO sweeteners added and you get the antioxidant benefit of BOTH fruits and needed hydration for these, unbelievable, hot summer days we are having. I have been drinking pomegranate since it first hit the market and was delighted when it came out combined with blueberry juice. It IS a bit pricy but when you stretch it out with the seltzer, it lasts longer. I do not suggest drinking it straight out of the bottle…IT IS QUITE CONCENTRATED. Hope this helps as an alternative to that highly sweetened Ocean Spray.
Thanks to the others for their great suggestions!

I purchase blueberry juice concentrate (along with Tart Cherry Juice), from Fruitfast.com Just mix them together with some OJ and u’ve got ur daily requirement. U can also just mix with some water by the pitcher I’ve read, but love it more my way.

Frozen Blueberries on vanilla yogurt sprinkled with toasted almond slivers is my go to meal/snack