Why it Helps to Remove Gluten and Diary to Help Endometriosis

Diet changes can help reduce the symptoms of endometriosis and removing dairy and gluten can often help reduce inflammation, bloating and pain which are very common distressing symptoms 


Gluten and dairy with endometriosis




'I went gluten free and it got rid of all the IBS type symptoms, it was a miracle the difference it made in my life. I never had any issue with gluten prior to probably 2015. In fact pasta was my favourite food, then over the course of 2 years I seemed to become gluten intolerant which was the same 2 year period my endo symptoms ramped up to the point of being unbearable.'




For many women making changes in diet can improve a number of endometriosis symptoms. Sometimes improvements happens quickly (1-3 months) and for others it can take longer, so don’t be disillusioned if making changes your diet doesn’t yield results immediately. This is about a lifestyle change that will help your body function optimally. 


Problems Caused by Gluten & Dairy

 Gluten is a group of proteins found in wheat, barley and rye as well as other grains that are not commonly used in every day diet. Gluten acts like glue. It gives dough its stretchy shape and makes bread chewy. Gluten can also be found in a lot of convenience foods. Common culprits include traditional soy sauce, stock cubes, salad dressings, processed meats like sausages, imitation seafood, and certain spice blends or malt-derived ingredients.

Some people cannot eat gluten because it triggers abnormal immune or digestive reactions in the body. There is also something called "Gluten belly" which is an informal term used to describe the prominent abdominal swelling, severe bloating, and discomfort that some people experience after eating foods that contain gluten.

Dairy can be very inflammatory for many people. Depending on which country you live in, dairy can contain hormones and/or antibiotics that get passed into the milk when administered to cows to increase milk production and treat disease. This increases overall toxic burden and impacts the health of the microbiome, which both contribute to the severity of this condition.

The worst type of dairy for women with endometriosis (and people in general) contains A1 casein. Unfortunately, this is produced in dairy-producing cows in North America and many other parts of the world. So, if you’re consuming dairy, it’s highly likely that you’re also consuming A1 casein. Goat and sheep milk contain predominantly A2 casein, which is tolerated better than the former and may be a viable alternative for you.

 

Gluten has also shown to be particularly inflammatory to the gastrointestinal tract. Many people report sensitivity to this food and experience relief of symptoms when removed from their diet

 

In one study that enrolled 207 patients with severe painful endometriosis-related symptoms found that 75% (156 women) reported statistically significant reduction in painful symptoms after 12 months of following a gluten free diet.


This may sound a bit radical, but it does help  

When I cut out dairy and gluten from my own diet it helped to reduce the severe bloating I used to suffer as well as some of the pain.  Also, by cutting out gluten it helped reduce the awful brain fog and the fatigue which I used to suffer from really bad.  So I was willing to go without these foods because of the benefits I gained and if I slipped up I would get a flare up of symptoms, which gave me the encouragement to keep these foods out of my diet.

It must be noted that we are all different, and react to certain foods differently. There are obviously individual differences and you may be dealing with other gut health issues. Not everyone experiences the same benefits from dietary changes. Something to keep in mind is that you may have allergies, intolerances or gut imbalances that certain diet changes have helped to improve your health.

It is often recommended to keep a food diary and track your food intake along with symptoms to help identify specific foods that trigger flare-ups. I always advise to keeping a diary that expands on every aspect of your treatment regime and symptoms e.g. diet, supplements taken, stress levels, sleep quality, menstrual cycle, gut symptoms, bowels movements, pain levels and location of pain. It really helps to get a whole picture of what is affecting your body.

More details regarding the possible connection between endometriosis and gluten can be found HERE


FAQ

Does gluten make endometriosis worse?

Gluten is not universally bad for everyone with endometriosis, but many people report that cutting it out helps reduce pelvic pain and bloating. Clinical evidence is still limited and mostly based on observational data rather than large-scale trials, but the overlap between gut inflammation and pelvic discomfort makes diet a common management tool.

What is it in gluten that can affect symptoms of endometriosis?

Wheat products contain specific carbohydrates (FODMAPs) that can cause gas, cramping, and severe bloating—often called "endo-belly"—mimicking or aggravating gut distress

How does gluten affect endometriosis?

Eating gluten may increase pain and bloating for some people. This happens because gluten can trigger gut inflammation and worsen overlapping digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome.

Does removing gluten help as it is more about being gluten sensitive?

Yes, you can experience gluten sensitivity alongside endometriosis, and many women report that avoiding gluten helps reduce their pelvic pain and bloating. While they are separate conditions, studies and patient surveys show a high overlap between endometriosis and gut sensitivities, including non-celiac gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.

What does the science say about gluten and endometriosis?

Medical reviews note that robust, controlled clinical trials proving gluten directly worsens endometriosis lesions are lacking. However, surveys and smaller studies show that a portion of patients (roughly 45% to 75% in specific cohorts) feel an improvement in pain or quality of life on a gluten-free diet


If you want to try a short term Elimination diet to find out if gluten, dairy and other inflammatory foods are triggers for your symptoms you will find all the details HERE


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References

 Ho S, Woodford K, Kukuljan S, Pal S. Comparative effects of A1 versus A2 beta-casein on gastrointestinal measures: a blinded randomised cross-over pilot study.Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014 Sep;68(9):994-1000. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2014.127. Epub 2014 Jul 2.

 Marziali M1, Venza M, Lazzaro S, Lazzaro A, Micossi C, Stolfi VM. Gluten-free diet: a new strategy for management of painful endometriosis related symptoms? Minerva Chir. 2012 Dec;67(6):499-504.



About the Author

Hi, I am Carolyn Levett, the Founder here at endo-resolved - I am an Integrative Health Coach having studied nutrition, naturopathy and aromatherapy as well as being a published author of three endometriosis books. I used to suffer from severe endometriosis and was fortunate to be able to regained my health and recover from this disease with the support of nutrition, natural therapies and lots of determination.

My motivation is to help other women with endometriosis to heal their bodies so they may start to overcome this awful disease without having to totally rely on toxic drugs and surgeries which can cause further damage  -  with healing thoughts, Carolyn.





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