Is there a strict Endo diet I can follow and what food or food groups must I avoid?

[Hope2heal]

[classiebird]

Oh good question!!!

There is an endo diet google it but its hard core. Basically you need to be a teetotal caffeine free vegan and avoid soya. I read one dr say that with the amount of foods you need to avoid on the diet you will see improvements cos you are most definitely gonna cut out something your intolerant to.

My advice is to cut out food groups for a week and see what happens. Start with gluten its probably the major one most people are intolerant too.

Women with endo do seem to have higher rates of food intolerance and if you have ibs symptoms then it probably is something your eating.

For me its gluten. I don't avoid it like the plague I still have some cheat days like you would on any diet but most days are gluten free days.

Good luck

[jujubaby]

hi, I totally agree with the above,ive cut out wheat,gluten,dairy and take agnus castus tablets.i feel a lot better and have more energy,give it ago girl.

[CurlyWurlyAmy]

Alcohol really aggrivates my Endo pain. So much so that since my lap i cant even have a small white wine spritzer without wanting to roll around the floor clutching my tummy in pain x

[foxyloxy]

Hi, I have given up gluten, dairy, caffeine inc chocolate. I have a bladder problem unfortunately too so avoid citrus. There are some excellent alternatives, try and avoid soya though! Most stores sell dairy/gluten free products including some very good health shops, the products are more expensive but it is definately worth is. I do not buy processed/packaged foods any more and buy organic meat etc... when possible and include loads of fresh vegetables and fruit that I can eat. I noticed a difference with my bladder symptoms a few weeks in, it is definately worth trying. Good idea to keep a diary also and keep a list of foods that may/may not irritate you. I had laproscopy several months ago and am 1/2 way through zoladex injections and am determined to get as well as I can, good luck.

[Rufio]

There are quite a few supporters of the endo diet, me included, who feel it makes a huge difference to symptoms. It's strict and can be a bit overwhelming at first but the way I saw it, anything was worth a go. This tells you a bit about it:

endo-resolved.com/diet.html

and there is a book by Carolyn Levett that goes along with it as well as other books.

It's all a bit trial and error as people find different foods affect them and their symptoms differently.

Good luck!

[Hope2heal]

Thank u so much ladies!I can't explain how good it feels to have ur advice and support-its been lonely in the way that I don't know anyone else with endo!so no one really understands...I'm starting diet tomo!will keep u all posted

[stephchad]

Yep! Go and buy -Receipes for the Endometriosis Diet - By Carolyn Levett off amazon. Its brilliant and it really does help with lessening the symptoms (especially for recto-vaginal endo).

[stephchad]

Estrogen is what feeds your endometriosis, so by stopping your body from producing estrogen, you start starving the endometriosis, and this eventually leads to the growths breaking down. The things you eat can also contain phytoestrogens (plant based estrogen) and / or xenoestrogens (chemical based estrogen). Both of these which are consumed daily, are identified and used by your body as estrogen, and obviously this is why even when you take hormones, you will still suffer, because although you may have stopped your own hormones, you are still consuming them.

Xenoestrogens are found in non-organic foods and in mainline cosmetics etc, so a simple change to buying organic, or growing your own fruit and veg is a good start. Change from normal household products to Ecover (for example), which can be found in most stores, and change your cosmetics to Lush (for example).

Identify what foods contain phytoestrogens, such as tea, coffee and alcohol (raises the level of estradiol), chocolate, non fermented soy products, fizzy drinks.

Also, with endometriosis in the body, leaving your body in a state of inflammation, by elimination of acidic (inflammatory) foods, you can diminish your symptoms further, such as meat, dairy (not including live natural yogurt), hydrogenated fats, fried foods and margarine. Some also find it beneficial to stop or limit foods from the nightshade family, such as potatos, tomatos, corgette, aubergines and peppers.

For sufferers with Endo in the recto-vaginal area, really boosting your diet with LOTS of fruit and veg and PLENTY of water really helps to maintain regularity and thus lessens the pain.

[Hope2heal in reply to stephchad]

I know u ladies posted this ages ago -but do any of u have severe endo and use the diet and alt therapies /meds instead if drugs/surgery and if so what have you found?