Aerobic exercise is often prescribed for fibromyalgia (FM) as a non-drug therapy option. Of all the FM people I have asked about this form of exercise, few participate, probably for two very good reasons. One, the energy crunch due to low magnesium and two, the eventual increase in pain levels.

So why exercise?  A few very important reasons. Flexibility. Improved blood flow to supply oxygen and nutrients to cells, muscles, organs and brain (for less fibro fog!). Better mood. Decreased stress. More restful sleep.

But does the exercise have to be aerobic?  A Tufts University study decided to find out.

Can a probiotic help you think if you have fibromyalgia, a disorder known for its cognitive issues? Perhaps so says a new study.

As probiotics continue to gain their deserved recognition in helping to alleviate and mitigate various issues originating in the GI tract, they are now also being considered for therapeutic use for a range of other conditions. It appears that this enteric system with a "brain" of its own has more influence over brain processes – which include thinking – than previously believed. For instance much of our neurotransmitters are manufactured in the GI tract. This fact alone means your GI health is linked to the health of your brain and nervous system.

With this knowledge in mind, a team of researchers in Spain hypothesized that fibromyalgia (FM) may benefit from probiotics, stating their use "might be a new treatment that could improve the physical, psychological and cognitive state in FM."