Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue lining in the uterus implants itself out of the uterus on the bladder, bowels, or ovaries. Endometriosis is sensitive to the fluctuations of estrogen that happen through the menstrual cycle and brings with it a host of unwelcome symptoms. Here are my top tips to implement now…
Dietary Changes
Dietary changes will make the quickest and biggest difference! This is a really good starting place. Let me share with you more about dietary changes…
Foods to limit or avoid:
- Gluten: Some people find that when they cut out wheat and gluten, their pain from endometriosis decreases significantly. There was a study done where 80% of women who cut out wheat had less pain than they had experienced before.
- Dairy: Dairy products tend to be congesting. Do not consume dairy products more than twice a week. Non-organic dairy contains hormones and concentrated compounds that mimic estrogen in the body within the dairy because of its fat content. Estrogen stimulates endometrial growth. Consider dairy alternatives such as almond or cashew milk.
- Red meat: There was a study done in 2004 in Human Reproduction published — 504 women had endometriosis, 504 women did not — they found that the women who ate beef or red meat often (up to seven times per week) were 100% more likely to have endometriosis that those who ate red meat less than twice a week. Statistics for pork were even higher. Alternatives for protein: organic fish, cage-free chicken, beans, nuts, legumes…
- Non-organic foods: Chemicals that are sprayed onto vegetables/fruits and animal feeds have pesticides that mimic hormones in the body. These xenohormones are going to cause excess estrogen by mimicking our good estrogen. They are known to cause additional growth of endometriosis. Eat as organic as possible!
Foods to consume:
- Vegetables: The same study I shared above about eating red meat shared also that women who were eating at least thirteen vegetables per week (about twice per day) were 70% less likely to have endometriosis than those who ate fewer vegetables than that.
Make sure to eat dark leafy greens each day!
- Fruit: In addition, women who ate fresh fruit fourteen times per week (twice per day) were 40% less likely to have endometriosis than those who ate less fruit than that.
The 21 Fertility Diet Challenge is a super easy way meet the daily suggested servings
of vegetables and fruits! - Fiber: If you are meeting this minimum for vegetables and fruits, the fiber is going to naturally be there. Fiber is important and is going to help the body rid itself of the excess estrogen causing/stimulating growth of more endometrial tissue. Great sources of fiber: Swiss chard, beans, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, fruit like apples, whole grains, broccoli.
Fertility Supplements to consider:
- Systemic Enzyme Therapy
- DIM
- Natural Progesterone Cream
Fertility Herbs to consider:
- Goldenseal Root
- Jamaican Dogwood
- Wild Yam
- Cramp Bark
- Peony Root
Additional resources for endometriosis infertility are:
5 Steps to Reversing Endometriosis Infertility
Understanding the Different Stages of Endometriosis
The Best Natural Alternative Therapies for Endometriosis
Study: Endometriosis Linked to Red Meat
