Diet

[Leah12]

Hi, does anyone recommend best diet to help control endometriosis and cysts on ovaries

Thanks

[Littlepeax]

Something I posted a few months ago; please see below, might be useful for you xx

After following the AIP diet (thanks to seeing a recommendation on here) I am happy to report that my endo pain with my period is almost pain free this month! I usually have the worst period pains in the world but this month after being on this diet for 4 weeks I have noticed a massive difference so thank you health unlocked! I have had two surgeries to help with my endo pain but unfortunately the pain comes back after several months. The main thing you can do is to control what you put into your body. Certain foods cause inflammation in the body which hugely effects endometriosis. It is not an easy diet to follow, but boy is it worth it! I have not taken any painkillers this month (I usually take so many ibuprofen) I have more energy and I am pain free 😊 for further details please look into the AIP diet (Autoimmune Protocol) unfortunately I have never been told to alter/change my diet by any doctor despite seeing many for my endometriosis. Doctors do not know alot when it comes to diet/nutrition and they usually prefer to go down the medication or surgery route which is a huge shame as I have learnt that your diet can effect so much. Most people just like the easy option which isnt always the best. My stomach is dramatically less bloated, I am pain free for the first time in 15 years and I am also sleeping better. Good luck guys x

[Leah12 in reply to Littlepeax]

Thank you so much! Will definitely look into this ! Xx

[Littlepeax in reply to Leah12]

Welcome 😊 you have to cut out certain foods that may cause inflammation then when you gradually introduce them back into your diet you will see what cause pain etc. For me its bread and potatoes, spicey food and a few others. Stay clear of nightshades too as they cause inflammation. I now have sweet potatoes lots of vegetables and organic meat. Makes a huge difference, my periods are honestly pain free. I'm still in shock how much it makes a difference x

[3caramel7]

The official line is that there is no proof/trials that demonstrate that altering your diet affects your Endo. However unscientific straw polls have demonstrated that people's Endo symptoms have improved with a change in diet. Endo is an individual's disease with its individual quirks. So what may affect one person may not affect somebody else's. So it is most important that you keep notes and try not to be overly drastic in cutting out certain food groups. I am not necessarily suggesting but its worth considering looking at caffeine, alcohol and being gluten free where ive heard people have had some success. Good luck!

[Leah12 in reply to 3caramel7]

Thank you for your reply! Definitely will look into this! I’ve researched a lot to but it’s always good to hear people’s opinions and what works for them! Thank you xx

[Thecraftyadder]

I answered this question for someone else so here's a copy of my reply.

I work in dietetics so have a bit of knowledge of different diets in general but I'm not a registered health professional so this reply is based on my personal experiences

There is lots of conflicting advice out there but the main thing to remember is changing your diet is about managing your symptoms, it won't 'cure' endometriosis in anyway and different things work for different people.

I'll summerise the main ideas:

No A1 Caesin dairy (cow's milk dairy products). This type of milk is inflammatory. You may be ok the A2 type which includes goats, sheep and buffalo milk products. You need to test how you feel on them.

No gluten. Again it's inflammatory and a lot of us endo girls react badly to it. You can exclude it for 6 wks see how you feel and then reintroduce it to check for a reaction. Be wary of the high sugar in some gluten free stuff though.

No or very limited Soy products as these may encourage estrogen production which feeds endometriosis growth.

Many find excluding caffine and red meat good as well.

Limit your refined sugar intake. Sugar feeds bloating and gut problems. If you have a sweet tooth start reducing it down. Your taste buds do adapt.

Try and up your omega 3 intake which is found in oily fish, avocado, coconut oil, olive oil, chia seeds and macadamia nuts. You can take a supplement of this if you choose. It's helps fight inflammation.

As much as your circumstances and budget allow try to include lots of fruit and veg in your diet as they have lots of vitamins and nutrients we need. Especially as our immune system gets effected by endometriosis.

They are the main principles to work on. There are many extream diets out there and it can be overwhelming. Don't try and change everything at once. The first two are the biggest for many people. If you have a lot of bowel issues you might find the low fodmap diet useful which was developed to help people with IBS. It's best done with a dietitian over seeing. You could ask for a referral to one from your GP if it seems appropriate.

I still suffer pain despite the diet but my immune system is better than it used to be and I have bowel control (which I didn't before). So it's helped me to manage better

Hopefully that gives you some pointers but feel free to ask any questions.