Endometriosis Diet - What Foods to Eat And Avoid

Table of Content

• Symptoms of Endometriosis

• Causes of Endometriosis

• Can Diet Improve Symptoms of Endometriosis?

• Foods to avoid with Endometriosis

• Foods to eat with Endometriosis

• Take-Home Points

• FAQ on Endometriosis Diet

Introduction

Endometriosis is a disorder where the tissues similar to the inner lining of the uterus called endometrium, grow onto the ovaries, fallopian tubes and pelvis. This behaves like a normal internal lining of the uterus which breaks down and grows again after each menstrual cycle, causing enormous pain during periods. Endometriosis can be so severe that it can cause issues during sexual intercourse and pregnancy. But treatments and an endometriosis diet can help you manage the symptoms and complications. 

Symptoms of Endometriosis

These are some of the common symptoms of endometriosis, 

• Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) 

• Pain with intercourse 

• Pain with bowel movements or urination 

• Excessive bleeding 

• Infertility

Causes of Endometriosis

When you have endometriosis, the inner lining of the uterus grows in the wrong places. When those tissues develop outside your uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic cavity, you would experience enormous pain due to increased inflammation and adhesions during periods. Though endometriosis is understood, the cause is yet unknown. 

Can Diet Improve Symptoms of Endometriosis?

Your diet can influence the way your body fights inflammation and also the oestrogen balance. Both inflammation and oestrogen when increased off limits can worsen the symptoms of endometriosis. So knowing the endometriosis diet can help you cope with it. 

Foods to avoid with Endometriosis

These are some of the foods that can worsen the symptoms of pain during endometriosis by boosting oestrogen levels and inflammation. They are, 

1. Alcohol 

Wine or beer can hurt your endometriosis and can make your symptoms worse. In the case of having an alcohol limit of almost one or two drinks per week. 

2. Caffeine 

Have coffees that are decaffeinated or have minimum caffeine. 

3. Fatty Meat 

Red meats like lamb or veal are filled with saturated fats and it is best to limit them in your diet. 

4. Processed Foods 

Processed foods like savouries, chips, cakes and biscuits are filled with pro-inflammatory ingredients such as sugar, trans fats and saturated fats. It's better to avoid processed foods for one and all. 

5. Sugary Drinks 

Fruit juices, energy drinks or soda can worsen inflammation and pain associated with endometriosis.

Foods to eat with Endometriosis

Foods that can reduce inflammation and oestrogen would help you with endometriosis. These are,

• Oranges

• Beans

• Lentils

• Chickpeas

• Brown rice

• Salmon

• Sardines

• Tuna

• Chicken

• Turkey

• Oysters

• Crab 

• Lobster

• Walnuts

• Chia seeds

• Flax seed

• Flaxseed oil

• Canola oil

• Safflower oil 

• Olive oil

• Peanut butter

• Avocados

• Dark lettuce

• Kale

• Spinach

• Almonds

• Pumpkin seeds

Take-Home Points 

• Endometriosis is a condition where the tissues similar to the inner lining of the uterus grow out in the abdomen and pelvic region, often causing painful periods and inflammation around. 

• Foods like alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods, processed foods and sugary drinks hurt endometriosis.

• An endometriosis diet should consist of fresh fruits, vegetables, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and fatty fish to help in managing the symptoms of endometriosis.