Reduce Endometriosis Symptoms Through Diet

Endometriosis is an extremely difficult condition to overcome, but there are some natural ways to get relief from the symptoms. Diet is one of the best natural treatments for endometriosis there is. While not a cure for edometriosis, the right diet helps keep your hormone levels balanced, which in turn reduces pain and inflammation. Fortunately, the diet recommended for women with edometriosis isn't complicated. Here are some guidelines to get you started.

Eat your veggies
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale can help balance your hormone levels. These vegetables contain a chemical known as Indole 3 carbinol, which improves the body's ability to flush out excess estrogen.

The medical journal Human Reproduction reported a study in which researchers found a 40% relative reduction in risk of endometriosis in women who ate the most crunchy vegetables. (Selected food intake and risk of endometriosis. Human Reproduction Vol.19, No. 8. Pp 1755-1759.)

There's also been some evidence that the retinoids in foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, liver, and cantaloup can reduce inflammation related endometriosis. (Regulation and modulation of abnormal immune responses in endometriosis.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Mar; 955:159-73). Another group of natural plant chemicals, flavones, also have a role in keeping estrogen levels in check. To get more flavones, add celery, parsley, and thyme to your meals.

Get more fiber
Including more fiber in your diet is another way to bring down your estrogen levels. Although there's no conclusive evidence yet, some studies have shown that fiber helps the body get rid of excess estrogen, possibly by binding with the estrogen so it's easier to eliminate as waste. If you're thinking getting more fiber means having to down a glass of Metamucil® every day, don't worry. You can get plenty of fiber from apples, pears, and most vegetables as well as whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice and buckwheat.

Choose the right fats
The inflammation and cramping of endometriosis are caused primarily by an excess of a certain prostaglandin, a natural fatty acid. Fortunately, you may be able to balance out your prostaglandin levels by getting more omega-3 fatty acids.

Animal studies have shown omega-3 beneficial in reducing the symptoms of endometriosis and human studies have proven omega-3 can reduce period pain (Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the management of dysmenorrhea in adolescents. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,1996;174:1335-8.) Consider taking omega-3 supplements as a natural treatment for endometriosis.

Rich sources of omega-3 fatty acid are certain types of fish, such as mackerel, salmon, and herring, and oils from olives, flax seeds, evening primrose, safflower, and walnuts. Flaxseed oil is a particularly good choice because the lignans and fiber it contains have been found to help estrogen-related conditions.

Don't let diet worsen your endometriosis
While you're planning your diet for endometriosis pain treatment, there are a few things you'll want to avoid, too. One of the big ones is animal products. By eating less meat and dairy, you'll not only be reducing your intake of potentially harmful fats, but also of estrogen. High fat dairy foods like cheese, butter, and milk are best used sparingly, although cultured low fat dairy products like yogurt and kefir generally won't cause problems.

The same study that discovered a lower risk of endometriosis in women who eat plenty of vegetables also found a 80 to 100 percent higher relative risk of the condition in women who ate red meat and ham. If you choose to eat meat and dairy, look for high quality organic products from animals who weren't given hormone shots.

Soy may seem like a good meat and dairy substitute, but be careful which soy products you buy. The plant estrogens in traditional fermented soy products like tofu, tempeh, and miso may help reduce endometriosis pain, but modern unfermented products like soy milk, cheese, and protein powders can actually make it worse.

Coffee, too, may exacerbate endometriosis. Coffee drinking is linked to increased estrogen production and some research has shown that women who consume more than 5 grams of caffeine a month (about one and a half cups a day) are more likely to have endometriosis. To be on the safe side, try to keep it to one cup a day or less.

Go easy on simple carbohydrates from processed foods like white bread, pasta, candy, and alcohol. Too much can cause insulin spikes, which can further upset your hormonal balance.

Remember, too, that what constitutes the best treatment program for endometriosis pain varies from person to person. You may see an improvement just by getting more fiber or you may want to try a vegan or low-fat vegetarian diet and see if that helps your symptoms.

Along with dietary changes, look into herbal and nutritional supplements, alternative therapies like acupuncture and yoga, or of one of several home remedies like castor oil packs. Combine these natural treatments for endometriosis and you may be able to reduce at least some of your endometriosis pain.