Diet

Dietary advice for CFS/ME

What sort of diet should I be on if I have CFS/ME?
Young people with CFS/ME should try and make sure they have a healthy balanced diet. This means that you should be eating a variety of carbohydrate (wholegrain bread and cereals, wholemeal pasta, brown rice, potatoes); protein (lean meat, fish, low-fat milk and cheese, eggs, beans); fruit and vegetables. This is sometimes difficult and here are some hints that young people tell us can be helpful.

What about sugary food?
It is helpful to avoid too much sugary food during the day. This is because although sugar gives you a burst of energy, this is followed by a sugar low which can make functioning with CFS/ME even more difficult. If you need to put on weight your dietician may suggest you have a sugary treat or snack at night as the energy slump will not affect you when you are asleep.

How often should I eat?
Many young people find that five or six small meals are better than three big ones.  This would mean eating roughly every three hours. This is especially helpful if you feel nauseated with food. It can also help with activity levels as it gives the body a constant supply of nutrients and energy, which makes activity easier to regulate. It seems to help if you can have meals at a regular time every day, as your body gets more used to food.

Are there foods I should eat more of?
There is some evidence that low iron stores are associated with fatigue. It seems sensible to make sure that you eat a diet with iron in it. Iron can be found in: all meats, oily fish, shell fish, egg yolk, dried fruits, and fortified breakfast cereals. Iron absorption is increased by vitamin C. Vitamin C is also important to deal with the stress the body goes through with CFS/ME. Vitamin C can be found in: fruits, especially citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, kiwis, dark green vegetables and potatoes. We would therefore recommend that you try and include these in your diet. Do not take them as supplements without discussing this with your doctor or dietician, as some of the supplements have side-effects which may affect you if you have CFS/ME.  If you wish to take a supplement without specific advice, take a general multi-vitamin and mineral, not single item pills.

Are there foods that I should exclude from my diet?
There is no evidence that excluding certain foods will make everybody with CFS/ME better. However, some young people have found that excluding certain foods, such as yeast, sugar, wheat or dairy, have helped reduce symptoms. If you want to try and exclude a food we suggest that you do this with your doctor or a dietician, as there are risks of causing more harm then good.  Do not exclude a food from your diet for more than two weeks without professional advice.

What should I do about drinks?
Some young people find it helps their nausea if they drink small amounts frequently rather than occasional large volumes.  Avoid drinking a lot around meal times as this can hinder digestion. Remember to choose low-sugar drinks.  Many CFS/ME patients find that caffeine and alcohol make their symptoms worse. Caffeine is often in soft cola drinks and is also in hot chocolate (and in chocolate). You should avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening as this may make sleeping more difficult.  Avoid alcohol.

Why has my weight changed since I had CFS/ME?
Many young people find they lose weight with CFS/ME and this may be due to their nausea. If you are trying to put on weight, add oil dressings to vegetables and salads, and eat healthy calorie-rich foods such as nuts and avocado.  Some young people find they put on weight with CFS/ME.  This is probably due to changes in their hormones and the reduction in activity. It is important to keep an eye on weight, as large changes either way will make recovery more difficult. Ask for advice on this from a dietician if needed.

April 2005.  Thanks to paediatrician Dr Esther Crawley of the Bath & Bristol CFS/ME NHS paediatric service for this information.

Article last edited on Thursday 12th August 2010                          Printable Version