Can diet really help endometriosis

[Lovelylovey]

Hey ladies any one changed their diet and noticed a difference with their Endo?

[Busy-Lizzie]

I've found that self management by avoiding dairy, sugar and red meat and reducing or eliminating wheat and increasing intake of fresh fruit and vegetables and oily fish helps immensely...in conjunction with skilled surgical removal of Endo and avoiding environmental exposure to dioxin and xenoestrogens through certain types of plastics, sanitary products and parabens, for example.

I highly recommend Dian Shepperson Mills's book, "Endometriosis: A Key to Healing Through Nutrition", as she herself suffered, and I mean suffered, with Endo and she gives scientific as well as personal and clients' testimonies for nutritional approaches to managing the condition.

She also explains which supplements can be useful while rebalancing nutritional intake.

An absolute gem!

[Lovelylovey in reply to Busy-Lizzie]

Did you dive right into it? Or did it take time?

[Busy-Lizzie in reply to Lovelylovey]

I started self managing my Endo in 2007 after my second operation. I went to an Endo conference in London at the RCOG in conjunction with the SHE Endometriosis Trust (which, sadly, no longer exists) and spoke with others who had been helped by Dian.

I had a few phone consultations with Dian and started out using supplements as well as adjusting my diet. It was gradual, and I will be honest and say that I didn't adhere to it religiously initially , particularly when I went back to study for my 2nd degree and was exhausted, skint and stressed. But by the time I got to near the end of my 2nd year of study and was on long term treatment that was affecting my bone density and so much else I really realised I had to focus more on nutrition, and subsequently also on exercise.

It changed my life and I feel it also enabled me to come off long term treatment and delayed the need for a third operation.

But seek help from a nutritionist, as they look at the whole picture and devise an individualised plan for you, which usually begins with looking and digestion and absorption of nutrients.

[SillyBella]

I took up the low FODMAP diet, which means you don't eat anything that could cause fermentation in your gut. It really helped me. There was a study at Kings College London if you wanted to have a look.

[Lilyjack in reply to SillyBella]

My gyno has just recommended FODMAP to me so I’ve been doing some research ready to start

[KNJR4]

YES!! Read and try different things. I didn’t cut completely, but did greatly reduce red meat, dairy including cheese, and processed carbs. I try to have only organic dairy and try to get my five veg and fruits and day including a nice green cruciferous veg. I take Vit D and Mg supplements. Drink more water!! Sleep more at night, and reduce stress with yoga or other exercise.

Wendy Laidlaw’s Heal Endo Naturally, and Laura Briden’s Period Repair Manual are also good books to read.

You have to take control of your endo. Water, yoga, sleep and mind over matter mantra help me.

[Lovelylovey in reply to KNJR4]

Definitely mind over matter! Seems like that is the biggest hurdle to overcome

[EJBx]

I’ve heard that the Keto diets helps. I started the keto diet a couple of months ago whilst going through induced menopause, so I can’t say that it helped with my endometriosis as I have only had the odd pain whilst going through induced menopause.

However I am terrible at diets and whilst I lost 12lbs in the first week and a half, I didn’t stick to keto religiously or for very long. I have a major sweet tooth and a love for coffee and pizza- so as I didn’t enjoy almond/coconut/soya (you name it!) milk in my coffee, that was something I found difficult as I’m not massively into drinking it black. Keto did allow me to have some 70% chocolate and almonds for a snack though!

I tried to avoid dairy and a sugar a few years back but I just found that shopping dairy free was expensive! I found the same with the keto diet recipes I was following too, my food shops really increased in price!

[Lovelylovey in reply to EJBx]

My supervisor does keto and at first it made her sick and then she lost like 70 pounds 😳 I been reading up on it as well.

[Lilyjack]

FODMAP allows a small amount of milk in tea and coffee you can also have lacto free milk depending on the diet plan you choose.

Check out the complete low FODMAP diet (got mine from amazon) as there are also some fruits and vegetables we should be avoiding.

I did complete dairy free while breastfeeding a dairy allergy child so I’m happy to do dairy free

[Lovelylovey in reply to Lilyjack]

Dairy will be my down fall. I love cheese! But anything to take away pain I’m willing to try

[Lilyjack in reply to Lovelylovey]

Yeah cheese was my biggest miss but obvs I’d do anything for my baby. I have started with gluten-free so I’ve been totally GF for about a week I’ve also cut out legumes at the same time.

It is recommended you give everything you cut out two weeks before trying or omitting something else.

I already know how much dairy I can tolerate. Cheese in a panini I can eat. Large latte or a McFlurry definitely not! Sometimes a whole Camembert is just worth it!

Some things are easier like changing Dairy to non-dairy spread in mash or jackets etc.

I never tried any of the lactose free options (as they still are milk products) but they may be a place to start

[Parvez_66]

Take moringa tea ones a day to relieve some pain.and do some yoga

[Lovelylovey in reply to Parvez_66]

Thank you. I love tea. I actually just brought a tea diffuser.