Endometriosis Diet Therapy

Endometriosis – what is it?

Simply put, it is a chronic, inflammatory disease in which the tissue lining the uterus (endometrium) is present in a location other than the uterine cavity.

Try to imagine that. It's a bit like menstrual blood returning to your body and seeping into the peritoneum of the pelvis and the organs therein, such as the bladder, fallopian tubes, ovaries, or intestines. Yes! Right there! And I'll surprise you even more: the lining of the uterus can also seep into the lungs, retina, or brain! The thought probably gives you the shivers.

Endometriosis treatment, and above all, diagnosing endometriosis , is really difficult. Studies conducted to identify or diagnose the causes of this chronic disease have not yet yielded specific data. We still do not know what causes endometriosis or how to cure it. Most specialists consider the body's hormonal imbalance to be the main cause of its development. During hormonal fluctuations accompanying the menstrual cycle, endometriosis foci behave as if they were still in the uterus. This means that they cyclically grow and exfoliate, affecting the intensity of bleeding, inflammation and severe pain in the lower abdomen.

Endometriosis Diet

Endometriosis diet is one of the most important elements of its treatment, allowing to reduce the level of inflammation and the level of estrogens responsible for the development of the disease. A properly selected anti-inflammatory diet makes the symptoms of endometriosis less bothersome, and people suffering from it can lead a relatively normal life. In the chronic treatment of endometriosis, diet, in addition to pharmacotherapy, is a form of complementation of surgical treatment of endometriosis.

Why should it be an anti-inflammatory diet? Because endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent pelvic inflammatory disease. Including a diet rich in a wide range of antioxidant products, quercetin or bioflavonoids has a beneficial effect on balancing estrogen levels and reduces the risk of infertility. This type of diet is appropriate both after surgery and during endometriosis treatment.

Also read our article aboutdiet for Hashimoto's disease and hypothyroidism .

Endometriosis Treatment: What to Include in Your Diet?

So what should an endometriosis diet look like? What to eat and what to definitely avoid? Using the recommendations of the Endometriosis Association (USA-based Endometriosis Association) and the Position of the Expert Team of the Polish Gynecological Society on the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis , an anti-inflammatory diet in the treatment of endometriosis should be rich in a large amount of vegetables and fruits .

Some fruits should definitely be included in the diet supporting the treatment of endometriosis. These are berries, such as delicious blueberries, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries or wild strawberries, which provide the body with vitamins E and D. They contain antioxidants, polyphenols and anthocyanins, which strengthen the immune system and have anti-inflammatory effects, as well as eliminate pain. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, pomelos, papayas or lemons, are a rich source of vitamin C and beta-cryptoxanthin, so they should be included in the diet to reduce symptoms and support the immune system.

It is also worth reaching for vegetables that have anti-inflammatory effects, such as: cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage (regardless of the variety), peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, carrots, eggplant, olives, spinach, beans or kale. According to Dominika Gier, a doctor of health sciences and a medical dietitian, their consumption improves the functioning of detoxification enzymes by 35%. Don't be afraid to eat other gifts of nature. This is the basis of healthy nutrition at any age, regardless of the severity of the ailments!

Selenium and zinc

Selenium and zinc affect the immune system, which plays a major role in reducing the symptoms of endometriosis. Where can you find them? Zinc is rich in pumpkin seeds, lean meat and milk, egg yolk, whole grain products (such as groats and flakes), nuts, fish and seafood. Selenium is abundant in whole grain products (such as wheat bran), fish (such as salmon and tuna), nuts (Brazil nuts have the most selenium, just one Brazil nut covers your daily requirement for this element!), legumes, cruciferous vegetables and egg yolk. Sounds delicious? And it also relieves pain and minimizes symptoms. Just remember that regularity is the key :)

What acid!

We underestimate the role of fatty acids in our diet, and where there is infertility or a risk of infertility, they should be included without fail. However, it is important that these are the “good” fats, i.e. those containing omega-3 acids, which alleviate pain and symptoms of endometriosis. An important element of endometriosis diet therapy is therefore oily sea fish and seafood, to a lesser extent linseed oil, linseed, chia seeds, nuts, rapeseed oil, evening primrose oil or hemp oil, preferably containing omega-3 and omega-6 acids in a ratio of 19% and 59%.

Fiber and milk?

For people with endometriosis, fiber-rich foods are very valuable because they speed up intestinal peristalsis and increase estrogen secretion. In addition, they reduce the bioavailability of these hormones, which gives you a chance to reduce the risk of endometriosis and treat infertility. Introduce products such as groats, dark bread, dark rice, and fruits and vegetables with high fiber content (pear, apple, banana, avocado, carrot, or beetroot) into your diet.

You can read more about infertility and endometriosis in our article here .

People undergoing endometriosis treatment should also make sure to include... milk in their diet! Studies conducted in 2011 (Trabert, Peters, de Roos et al.) have shown that dairy products consumed in amounts exceeding two portions per day reduce the risk of developing endometriosis. Therefore, yogurts and kefirs should be introduced into the diet, which have a positive effect on intestinal peristalsis, and consequently - minimize pain from the digestive tract. Interestingly, the risk of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis in adulthood was lower by 32% in people who consumed more than 4 portions of dairy products during puberty, compared to people who consumed 1 portion per day or less!

The Iron Rule

Adequate iron intake in the diet is a dietary must-have 😊 People with endometriosis are prone to heavy bleeding during menstruation, which is associated with the risk of anemia resulting from iron deficiency. This, in turn, can cause fatigue. Therefore, you should eat - in addition to the previously mentioned vegetables and fruits - spinach, eggs, beans or brown rice, as well as a large amount of walnuts.

What products to avoid?

The negative effects are primarily caused by trans fats, which wreak havoc in the body, have a negative impact on the treatment of infertility and endometriosis, and cause its symptoms to worsen. Studies have shown that their consumption is associated with a 48% increased risk of endometriosis diagnosis (Missmer, Chavarro, Malspeis et al., 2010). They are found in processed products with the periodic table in their composition, mainly fast food, as well as in cookies and salty snacks. Palm oil and fried foods should also be avoided.

It is also necessary to control the consumption of meat, especially red meat. Why? A large amount of red meat in the diet stimulates the production of prostaglandins in the body, which leads to an exacerbation of inflammation and pain. It is healthier to taste delicate poultry 😊

It is also worth avoiding alcohol, sugar, soy products and gluten, which irritate the intestines.

A healthy diet is in our hands

Endometriosis treatment is lifelong. It is absolutely essential that the diet of the sick person is rich in vitamins, the right amount of fiber, selenium, zinc and omega-3 fatty acids. Vegetables and fruits are also key, the consumption of which reduces the severity of the disease symptoms and improves well-being. However, trans fats and red meat should be excluded from the diet.

You should not give up on this type of diet after laparoscopy. It can also be used by people with adenomyosis. The subject of the disease itself, as well as the frequently occurring infertility, is inexhaustible and should be discussed. As a psychologist and clinical dietitian, I would like to help each of you, so you can write to me for a sample menu suitable for endometriosis. Cheers!