A list of foods to eat and avoid to combat endometriosis

A list of foods to eat and avoid to combat endometriosis

Overview

Heavy menstrual bleeding followed by pain and nausea isn’t just distressing when it interferes with your day-to-day life. They can also be a reason for any underlying condition that you are developing, like endometriosis. A painful, chronic, and non-cancerous condition in which the tissue resembling the uterus lining known as endometrial cells grows outside the uterus. The tissues that line up, break, and shed are known as the endometrial.

Known colloquially as "chocolate cyst endometriosis," it affects approximately one in every ten women during their reproductive years. It is often considered to be a painful disorder primarily taking place in the pelvic area. The symptoms of the said conditions are:

  1. Pelvic pain

  1. Increased pain during periods

  1. Pain during and after intercourse

  1. Fatigue

  1. Diarrhoea

  1. Bloating

  1. Constipation

  1. Low back pain

  1. Severe cramping

  1. Heavy bleeding during the menstrual cycle

The condition includes severe painful symptoms that interfere with the day-to-day routine of an infected woman. It is also said to be influenced by lifestyle, diet, and hormones. To survive it and make the pain less severe, Dr. Elsa, one of the Top Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Dubai, shares some tips to combat it with a regular diet, changes in lifestyle, and others.

 

How does food affect endometriosis?

Inflammation and excessive estrogen levels can make endometriosis symptoms worse. And these factors can be influenced by your diet.

“"Food plays an important role in assisting your body's fight against inflammation and estrogen balance," estrogen. "Many people find that the right diet can significantly reduce endometriosis symptoms."

Fiber helps remove excess estrogen

You can incerase  your fiber by eating more:

  • Eat Natural Fruits and vegetables, and avoid juice.

  • Ground flaxseed Powder, which can be used into smoothies or baked foods.

  • Eat Legumes, like beans, lentils and chickpeas.

  • Eat Vegetables.

  • Whole grains, Brown rice and whole-wheat pasta are examples of entire grains.

while increasing your fiber intake gradually. “Adding a lot of fiber at once can cause bloating, gas and digestive discomfort,”  “To raise your fiber intake slowly and drink plenty of water to minimise these side effects. In Ground flaxseed is highly fiber, so don’t eat more than 3 tablespoons per day.

Fats that fight inflammation

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition, so high inflammation makes symptoms worse. Omega-3 fats can reduce inflammation from endometriosis. omega-3s include:

  • Fatty fish

  • Plant oils, flaxseed oil , canola oil.

  • Nuts and seeds

Monounsaturated fats also have anti-inflammatory power. They can be found in:

  • Avocadoes.

  • Nuts and seeds.

  • Olive oil.

  • Peanut butter.

  • Safflower oil.

Minerals that can help relax muscles and regulate your cycle

If you have endometriosis, make sure you’re also taking magnesium and zinc.

“Magnesium helps with menstrual cramps, Magnesium-rich foods found in:

  • Dark chocolate 

  • Leafy greens, such as  arugula, dark lettuce, kale and spinach.

  • Legumes, like as black beans and edamame.

  • Nuts and seeds,  almonds and pumpkin seeds.

Foods to avoid with endometriosis

Certain foods can worsen endometriosis pain by boosting inflammation or estrogen levels. Limit or avoid:

  • Alcohol: Wine, beer and spirits can make endometriosis symptoms worse.

  • Caffeine: Limit your daily caffeine to 400 milligrams or less. 

  • Fatty meat: Some red meat is good, but intake to 10% of your daily calories.

  • Sugary drinks: Fruit juices, sodas and energy drinks are  high in sugar, which makes inflammation worse. Drink less than 26 grams of sugar each day.

 

How are diet and endometriosis connected to each other?

In your body, food plays an essential role that helps your body fight inflammation and balance estrogen. As inflammation and high estrogen levels make the symptoms worse, it is said to find a perfect diet that can reduce the endometriosis symptoms.

As per a little research and reports, it is suggested that women who followed a healthy eating routine, ate more vegetables, and increased the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids were protected from the symptoms of endometriosis.

What foods to eat in endometriosis?

Since the exact cause of endometriosis is not yet known, women suffering from the condition are only advised to adhere to a diet rich in nutrition. Make and follow a diet that includes all the five groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, and grains.

  1. Include leafy green vegetables like arugula, dark lettuce, kale, and spinach. Fruits in your diet. 

  2.  include oranges, berries, and others rich in vitamins in your diet.

  1. Include fibers to remove the excess estrogen. Eat ground flaxseed, lentils, beans, and whole grains in your diet.

  1. Include fat to fight the inflammation. Eat foods that are rich in omega 3, like fatty fish, tuna, salmon, nuts, and plant oils in your diet.

  1. Include minerals to help relax your muscles and regulate the cycle. Eat dark chocolate, leafy greens, black beans, nuts, seeds, almonds, and pumpkin seeds in your diet.

Foods to avoid if you have Endometriosis

Certain choices in food items and lifestyles can influence the progression of the condition of endometriosis. To best manage it, there are some food items that you need to avoid eating:

  1. Alcohol: Cut off the consumption of alcoholic drinks like wine, beer, spirits, and others as they make the symptoms of endometriosis worse. To take something at most, have one or two drinks per week.

  2. Caffeine: Depending on the basis of how the coffee is brewed, lower the consumption of caffeine. Limit your daily coffee consumption to 400 milligrams, or even less.

  3. Processed food items: Packed food items are the home of pro-inflammatory ingredients like added sugar, trans fat, saturated fat, and many other things. Avoid the consumption of processed food items and opt for freshly made meals.

  4. Sugary drinks: Consumption of sugar makes things worse in the case of endometriosis. It is advised to avoid sugary drinks, sodas, or any energy drink that includes sugar in it. Cut down on your consumption and aim for 26 grams of sugar each day.

Even though there is no reason for the cause of the condition and no proper treatment for the same, All you can do is make food your medicine and try changing your diet. For further discussion and support, meet with a dietician and a doctor to best plan and manage the condition. For women residing in the area of Dubai, you can contact us at New Concept Clinic, offering the best Endometriosis Treatment in Dubai.