Endometriosis - Diet and Nutrition

How diet changes can help reduce the symptoms of endometriosis

Changing what you eat to deal with Endometriosis is a really good foundation to assist you in reducing your symptoms, and will also help improve your overall health.

"Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food."
Hippocrates

Many of you are aware that various illnesses and diseases have responded very positively to changes in diet, and endometriosis is no exception.  There has been plenty of positive feedback from others saying how they have improved so much just by changing their diet.

Those who want a basic understanding to the diet there is a quick start guide HERE

Changing your diet  can help with the following:

• Reduce symptoms of pain
  
  
• Relieve cramps
  
  
• Reduce inflammation
  
  
• Reduce bloating
  
  
• Reduce estrogen levels
  
  
• Balance hormones
  
  
• Reduce weight – estrogen is stored in fat and endometriosis is fed by estrogen
  
  
• Reduce toxins – found in e-numbers, additives, preservatives, pesticides, chemicals, anti-biotics used in animal husbandry,

AND changing what you eat will also :

• Help increase energy levels
  
  
• Boost your immune system
  
  
• Improve overall health

Controlled Diet to help Endometriosis

Changing the foods you eat and following a diet for endometriosis has had many scientific studies which you can read about here. Changing what you eat is a great way to start reducing  the symptoms of endometriosis  and provides a simple natural and healthy self help option.

The reason that certain foods make the symptoms of endometriosis worse is based on the chemical reactions in the body that are caused by these food groups. 

The controlled diet for endometriosis eliminates these problem food groups and in turn this helps to reduce the negative chemical reactions and can help to reduce many of the symptoms of the disease.

The improvement in symptoms can include a reduction in pain, reduction of inflammation, and aims to reduce levels of estrogen in the body and thus reduce the opportunity of the disease to develop further.

So where do we start!

Pain and hormones in relation to diet …………

Endometriosis is fed by estrogen synthesis in the body. This can take the form of:

• your own natural estrogen which is produced in the body
• the estrogen that is taken up from excess foods that contain phyto-estrogens
• from chemical based estrogens that are found in toiletries and cosmetics in the form of xeno-estrogens
  

The correct diet can help to balance these different forms of estrogen.

You also need to reduce your use of xeno-estrogens (found in highly chemical based cosmetics and toiletries) in order to reduce xeno-estrogens from your system - which can worsen symptoms. 

Also.....

As well as dealing with estrogen levels, you need to address the levels of prostaglandins in your body. Prostaglandins are very complex natural fatty acids and are derived from dietary sources. There are many different forms of prostaglandins and new types  are still being discovered.

The painful menstrual cramps you feel are actually due to prostaglandins, as well as the pain symptoms of endometriosis. A change in diet can alter the level and the types of prostaglandins in your body.

We actually have two main 'types' of prostaglandins - there are the 'good ones' and the 'bad ones'.

The aim of the endometriosis diet is to block the 'bad ones' because of their negative actions on the body, and increase the levels of the 'good ones' because of their opposite and positive effect. The action of the 'bad ones' will increase uterine contractions and pain, and increase inflammation.

The role of the 'good ones' have a soothing effect and do the opposite to the bad ones. When you change the oils in your diet you can promote the good prostaglandins.

Omega 3 oils will reduce pain & inflammation

The good oils are found in the omega-3 fatty oil group, and lead to good prostaglandin production. Some of the best sources of omega-3 oils are found in marine and plant oils and include:

• oily fish
• walnut oil
• pumpkin seeds
• chia seeds
• dark green leafy veg

You can  also supplement with  omega 3 oils - aim to get the best quality possible.

At the same time it is important to reduce intake of the fatty acids that stimulate negative prostaglandins which are found in saturated fats, animal fats and butter.

Fibre intake

It will help your symptoms if you increase your intake of fibre, as fibre will help to decrease the circulating estrogen in your system. 

The easiest sources of fibre to digest are found in fruit and vegetables as the structure and chemical make-up provide a more soothing effect while also aiding digestion. Also, extra fibre in the form of grains, brown rice and pulses etc., are helpful especially for their nutritional value, but keep your fibre intake balanced between the two.

These can include:

• whole grains ( excluding wheat - see below)
• beans, peas, pulses
• brown rice
• vegetables and fruits
• oatmeal

The following foods are recommended to modulate estrogen levels by incorporating one or two servings a day:

• mustard greens
• dark green veg
• broccoli
• cabbage
  

Foods to avoid

• wheat - this includes breads, cakes and pasta products, all based on wheat - contains phytic acid which can aggravate symptoms of endometriosis. Also contains gluten which women with endometriosis seem to be sensitive to.
  
• red meats - promotes negative prostaglandins which cause inflammation and can also contain growth hormones.
  
• refined and concentrated carbohydrates - white bread, flour, cakes, pasta etc. made from refined flours. Most of the nutritional value has been removed and can have a negative effect on blood sugar levels
  
• refined sugars and honey - causes inflammatory reaction, produces a more acidic environment in the body which can increase the inflammation of endometriosis. (honey is fine if you can get hold of certified organic honey)
  
• caffeine - found in tea, coffee, soft drinks -increases abdominal cramps and caffeine increases estrogen levels. Caffeine is a known phyto-estrogen. Coffee is also known to inhibit the absorption of iron.
• chocolate (cheap commercial chocolate - as it contains sugar which is inflammatory - organic dark chocolate is fine especially if it has high cacao content which has health benefits
• dairy produce - including milk, cheese, butter, cream - causes inflammatory reaction as they increase the inflammatory prostaglandins
  
• eggs - advised to leave out eggs unless you get organic as they may contain hormones. 
  
• fried foods - can stimulate negative prostaglandins
  
• saturated fats and oils – Foods that are high in fatty acids stimulate the negative inflammatory prostaglandins. Fatty acids are found in saturated fats, butter, margarine, lard.
  
• soy products and soy protein products - (check link below to read an in-depth explanation why soy should be left out of your diet) Soy is high in omega 6 which causes inflammation - tamari can be used in small amounts
  
• convenience foods - they contain a host of additives, cheap ingredients and have very little nutritional value
  
• tinned foods - use sparingly. Certain exceptions are fine like tinned tomatoes, coconut milk and those foods that are part of ingredients when cooking a nutritious meal
  
• additives and preservatives - increase chemical load on the system
  
• alcohol - consumes vitamin B which is stored in the liver. Good liver function is vital as the liver will help to eliminate excess estrogen from the body

Hormone balancing

Foods containing natural plant sterols (phyto-estrogens) can actually be helpful if consumed in careful balance. They are thought to block the estrogen receptors, so in turn excess estrogen in the body cannot ‘lock-in’ to these receptors. These include:

• peas, beans and pulses
• red and purple berries
• garlic
• apples
• parsley
• fennel
• brassica's: cabbage, cauliflower etc
• nuts and seeds
• celery, carrots
• rhubarb

Vitamins and mineral supplements

Although the best source of vitamins and minerals is through a well balanced diet, many of our foods today are depleted in these vital trace elements. Today, most of us need to supplement our diet with some of the vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to function optimally.

The following is a list of supplements that will help women with Endometriosis:

• Magnesium - is a mineral and is believed to ease cramping with menstruation. It also assist with maintaining water levels in the gut and can help with the problem of constipation
• Zinc - is essential for enzyme activity, helping cells to reproduce which will help with healing. Zinc is also reported to boost the immune system and helping to create an emotional sense of well-being
• Calcium - levels of calcium in menstruating women decrease 10 to 14 days before the onset of menstruation. Deficiency may lead to muscle cramps, headache or pelvic pain.
• Iron - women with Endometriosis tend to have very heavy periods which can lead to an iron deficiency. This can lead to anaemia which is characterised by extreme fatigue and weakness.
• B vitamins - these are important for the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the body. B vitamins are reported to improve the emotional symptoms of Endometriosis, and have proved helpful in dealing with PMT
• Vitamin C - is well known for helping to boost the immune system and help provide resistance to disease. It is also used in the body to build and maintain collagen within the body.
• Vitamin A - is another immune system booster
• Vitamin E - plays an important role by increasing oxygen carrying capacities and also strengthens the immune system
• Selenium - when taken together with vitamin E has been reported to decrease inflammation associated with Endometriosis, as well as immune system booster.

To sum up

• increase omega-3 fatty acids
• avoid red meat, dairy products, wheat and sugar
• increase fibre
• modulate estrogen
• avoid caffeine and alcohol
• avoid refined foods, e-numbers, additives
• minimise or avoid soy products as they contain high levels of phyto-estrogens, and soy contains a particular toxin which seems to be particularly detrimental for women with endometriosis
• peel fruit and vegetables to remove toxic chemicals
• eat organic produce wherever possible
• drink lots of filtered water

  Recipes for the Endometriosis Diet

As you can see by the advice above, there are many foods you are advised to leave out of your diet completely, especially if you are to reap the benefits.

These main foods are:

All red meats, wheat and wheat products, sugar,  dairy products, caffeine, additives and all refined and convenience foods.

The prospect of adjusting your diet so radically may seem somewhat daunting. You may be wondering and concerned about:

• what on earth are you going to eat 
• how do you have variety in your diet
• how do you find recipes which are still enjoyable and tasty, but still suitable for a diet for Endometriosis
• how do you plan meals so that you do not become utterly bored with your diet

There are many great recipes you can use, and the hard work has been done for you......

A book of recipes specifically for a diet for Endometriosis

The information in this book is the bottom line, based on ingredients and recipes that are best suited to a diet for endometriosis. It includes recipes that do not require lots of complex cooking techniques but are full of nutritional value. 

Read feedback what other women have said about their diet experiences - read the feedback comments here

~ The anti-inflammatory, gluten free, dairy free, wheat free options ~

The advice in the book also includes:

• more in-depth recommendations of what to leave out of your diet and why
• tips about estrogen and your diet, and how to keep it in balance
• advice on ways to protect and balance your hormones through diet
• advice about diet and nutrition for fertility
• recipes mostly gluten free/lactose free as well as wheat free to  help deal with issues of coeliac, candida, along with endometriosis 
• details of substitute ingredients as alternatives to milk, butter, egg substitutes for baking, and sugar substitutes
  
• recipes of how to make alternative nut yogurts and nut milks - helpful if you are lactose intolerant
  
• specific information about alternative flours for baking, so you can still bake without using wheat flour -  recipes are gluten free
• snippets of nutritional advice woven among the recipes as you work your way through the book.

The recipes in the book include:

• cold drinks - with lots of nutrition
• hot drinks - to fill the gap from coffee
• healing drinks - and filling smoothies
• soups - so easy to prepare
• vegetable dishes - some can be used as main dishes
• main dishes - for various seasons
• spicy dishes - spices are very healing
• pasta dishes - wheat free
• sweets and puddings - yes, you read that right!
• baking and breads - wheat free
• pie crusts and crumble mixes - also wheat free
• sauces, dressings and dips - to help expand your meal ideas
• spreads and dips - for sandwiches/toast or parties
• a few party recipes - using larger quantities suitable for catering

You can find a selection of the recipes to get you started HERE

All customised for a diet for Endometriosis

It is anticipate that the recipes in the book will give you ideas and guidelines of how to adapt your own favourite recipes, without jeopardising your diet regime for Endometriosis.

To place your order

Make a start to reduce the painful and debilitating symptoms of endometriosis - loads of women as well as medical professionals are now realising just how much our foods can change or affect our bodies.

References:

Endometriosis Foundation - diet information

Reproductive Biomedicine - Diet and endometriosis risk

Pubmed - Risk of endometriosis and diet - population study

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