Endometriosis Diet

Can An Endometriosis Diet Plan Help Endometriosis Treatments?

What we eat greatly affects our body’s health and capacity to deal with infections or diseases. In dealing with endometriosis symptoms, certain dietary modifications are excellent.

Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial cells from the uterine lining get misplaced into other areas of the body. These cells gets embedded in areas other than the uterus, and can be found in the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, or at very rare instances, in the intestines and liver.

There are several foods which you can take to help clear endometriosis symptoms.  There are also the bad guys – foods which can exacerbate or worsen these symptoms. This article will tell you what specific food choices are important for improving endometriosis and what foods are to be avoided.

The aim of the endometriosis diet plan is to consume foods that help lower the levels of prostaglandins. With their presence, estrogen levels spike up, causing painful menstrual cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. And since endometriosis is a problem associated with inflammatory responses, the best and ideal diet is to follow an all plant-based diet. Our aim is to reduce inflammation – and plant sources prove to be more effective than animal sources in achieving this.

Endometriosis Diet Plan – Foods to eat more of:

Omega – 3 fatty acids. Since our aim is to decrease levels of prostaglandins in the body, increased intake of foods sources rich in omega-3 is the way to do it. Omega – 3 fatty acids are part of the “good fats” which help block “bad fats” in the body. This is particularly important because bad fats may increase the levels of prostaglandins, thus increasing estrogen and its associated endometriosis symptoms. Good sources of omega- 3 include fatty fishes such as salmon and sardines. In plant sources, they can be extracted from evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil, and walnut oil.

Foods which contain high levels of phytoestrogens help block estrogen receptors so that the excess estrogen in the body cannot lock-in with them and cause difficulties. Sources include peas, beans, pulses, red and purple berries, apples, garlic, parsley, fennel, celery, carrots and nuts.

Vitamins and minerals are both very important in promoting the health and overall well being of every person. Specific vitamins needed to help relieve the debilitating symptoms of fertility are magnesium, zinc, calcium, iron, B vitamins, vitamins C, A, and E. good sources of these nutrients are: broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, milk, shellfish, and lean organ meats.

 Endometriosis Diet Plan – Foods to avoid:

Sugar. It is a good idea to limit intake of chocolate, sweeteners, drinks, and honey to a minimum because their high sugar levels promote the inflammatory pain associated with endometriosis by producing a more acidic environment.

Wheat. Wheat contains several components which can actually aggravate symptoms of endometriosis. Phytic acid and gluten are responsible for this. Sensitivity to either of the two causes very painful cramps which may or may not coincide with menstruation.

Soy products.  Like wheat, soy contains phytic acid – and is found in considerably higher amounts than wheat. Soy related products such as soymilk, granola, pasta, soy sauce, etc., should be avoided.

Caffeine. Aside from being popularly known as an overall fertility buster, caffeine found in teas, coffee, and soda have been found to promote the rise of estrogen levels in the body. This can pain symptoms of endometriosis.

Alcohol. The presence of alcohol in the body inhibits the absorption of essential vitamins. Because of this, the liver works double time in order to eliminate alcohol, thus preventing its job to reabsorb excess estrogen in the body.

Dairy products. These have the same effects of soy to endometriosis symptoms. Avoid dairy products such as milks and chesses.

Red meat. Red meats that are not grown organically may contain high levels of growth hormones and estrogen. These extra hormones promote further imbalance inside the body. To be safe, you can take your protein sources from plant sources such as legumes, beans, nuts and grains. They contain protein in considerably lesser amounts, but pose a small risk in passing on unwanted hormones to the woman.

Saturated fats and oil, refined carbohydrates. These two are responsible for the increase of prostaglandins and depletion of nutritional stores. Avoid fried foods, fast foods, junk foods, white breads, and commercially baked goods.

Additives and preservatives. Steer clear from frozen, packaged, and pre-packed foods as they may contain high levels of harmful chemicals which can affect symptoms of endometriosis.

Always remember that the effects of changing your diet may not be seen immediately. Just keep in mind that the long term benefits of making dietary changes go a very long way.