“Nutrition and Endometriosis: The Best Diet for Pain Management and Quality of Life”

Endometriosis is a chronic, hormone-related inflammation in women of childbearing age. The causes and factors leading to the appearance of the disease as well as the pathogenesis (mechanism of production and evolution) of endometriosis are still not fully understood.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic, progressive disease in which endometrial-like cells develop anywhere outside the uterus, usually in the pelvic area, but in rare cases it can spread to other areas of the body.

Endometriosis symptoms

Symptoms include: pain during menstruation, pain during intercourse, pain in the abdomen, pelvic cramps, incomplete urination, heavy periods, fatigue, and infertility or problems conceiving.

The treatment approach for this condition is through lifestyle changes, exercise, diet, pain therapy, hormone therapy and surgery.
Dr. Cristina Toader, diabetes, nutrition and metabolic disease primary physician from the Smart Nutrition Clinic, explained to us in the following lines the role that nutrition plays in the treatment of endometriosis.

Nutrition plays a therapeutic role in many ailments

For many conditions classified as lifestyle diseases, the link between nutrition and pathogenesis has already been researched and proven. If you have endometriosis it is very important to think about your lifestyle and diet. Although the studies are contradictory vis a vis the impact on the evolution of the disease, the same is not the case when we think about the quality of life and the reduction of pain. The researchers concluded that the Mediterranean diet is the best because of its anti-inflammatory effects. The consumption of certain foods can generate effects in both directions, decrease or increase the symptomatology depending on each individual.

Nutrition in endometriosis

In general, for patients with endometriosis, it is recommended to exclude or limit as much as possible the following foods: processed foods, fast food, fatty meat (and red meat or limit it to two low-fat portions per week), gluten, saturated fat, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, sugar. Instead, it is recommended to consume fiber, vegetables, whole grains, brown rice, fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, tuna, chia seeds, green leafy vegetables, fruits, olive oil.

Some people with endometriosis find that a gluten-free and/or dairy-free diet helps them feel better, but it also depends on the person.

Dairy products and sugar are among the hardest to remove from the diet, especially since the vast majority of patients use them. Basically they should be avoided as they cause inflammation and can worsen endometriosis symptoms. Milk substitutes can be: rice, coconut, almond, hemp seed, cashew or oat milk. But pay attention to the concentration of carrageenan in coconut milk (it causes inflammation). I would exclude soy milk from here due to the increased content of phytoestrogens and affecting the absorption of essential nutrients from food.

It is recommended to introduce whole grains due to the harmful effect of phytic acid in wheat. The gluten-free diet has helped many patients reduce pain and inflammation.

Dairy products and meat contain arachidonic acid that increases the production of prostaglandins responsible for inflammation, pain, can increase muscle contraction and vasoconstriction, increasing pain during menstruation, cramps, the development of endometrial tissue in other areas. The high amount of saturated fat from dairy and red meat is another factor in increasing estrogen production. If you are thinking about calcium deficiency, you should know that there are other good sources, such as: broccoli, green leafy vegetables, almonds, asparagus. In addition, there are supplements that contain optimal amounts of calcium and other minerals.

Sugar is the main food that harms not only patients with endometriosis, but also other people, knowing all the harmful effects: increasing the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, the pro-inflammatory effect, increasing the risk of cancer.

Alternatives: maple syrup, organic raw honey, stevia, dates, sugar from coconut flowers. Do not use aspartame (it forms methanol and formaldehyde in the body, which have harmful effects), concentrated fruit juice, saccharin (it is a weak carcinogen), fructose (it is highly refined, made from sugar and may contain corn).

Instead of coffee, you can use maca tea, turmeric tea or turmeric latte (a drink with an energizing, anti-inflammatory and beneficial effect), dandelion tea, Indian basil-tulsi tea.

In general, endometriosis is a complex disease with manifestations in the genital system, but also in the digestive system, with disturbances in intestinal transit, some patients may experience bloating, endometriosis nodules in the colon, therefore certain foods can be harmful.

With integrated, patient-centered management, endometriosis can be controlled, and patients can have a very good quality of life, if all therapeutic factors are addressed: diet, exercise, pain therapy, hormone therapy, and surgical therapy, where appropriate. the case.