endo and diets: has anyone ever friend a... - Endometriosis UK

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endo and diets

Comedykid profile image
23 Replies

has anyone ever friend a Keto diet or lower carb diet to help their endometriosis or found anything else that has helped. I don’t what to lose weight so wouldn’t be using it for that more just to help with symptoms etc.

I was speaking to someone who has used it for their endo and they said it was the best thing they had ever done and it really helped so I was curious as to what other peoples experiences were as well :)

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Comedykid profile image
Comedykid
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23 Replies
Tangoandmax profile image
Tangoandmax

Hello, I found that an anti inflammatory diet helps!

Comedykid profile image
Comedykid in reply to Tangoandmax

Thank you, what sort of thing do you incorporate for an anti inflammatory diet if you don’t mind me asking

Tangoandmax profile image
Tangoandmax

I used this initially and then ended up mostly following a Mediterranean diet.

bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide...

Comedykid profile image
Comedykid in reply to Tangoandmax

Thank you I will have a look. I just wonder whether some of my bloat etc is due to my diet and blood sugar levels and my pain is exacerbated because of it as well

Tangoandmax profile image
Tangoandmax in reply to Comedykid

I do think there is something in diet. I have bowel problems due to deep infiltrating endo so, I assumed the kinder I am to my digestive system the better.

Does no harm giving anything a try though! Hopefully it helps for you!

Comedykid profile image
Comedykid in reply to Tangoandmax

I have it on my appendix and ligaments. Thank you for this it does make sense being kinder to the bowel helps :)

Scoutybob profile image
Scoutybob

I absolutely think diet can make a huge difference. I'm reading Heal Endo and she talks a lot to do with the importance of good nutrition and maintaining stable blood sugar levels that makes a lot of sense. Last September was the absolute peak of my symptoms and triggered me going to the doctors (since found out I have severe endo, frozen pelvis and bowel involvement). I cut out gluten as my biggest change after reading studies to do with this. I think that change has then forced me to improve my overall diet and I'm really trying to concentrate on nutrition - plenty of protein, lots of fresh veg and basically very 'clean' and not processed. Month on month I've seen more and more improvement to the point where my last period was almost pain free which I can't believe. I still had flu like symptoms and fatigue but no pain and my bloating has completely resolved and that was unbearable. It's taken time but my diet is the only change I've made.

Sunset-lady profile image
Sunset-lady

I do think keto helps massively but I think it's down to low carb rather than high fat. I found the DUKAN diet very good. Anything low carb and non ultra processed food massively helps me. Cutting out alcohol also helped me - probably the single most important thing I've done. Exercising loads also helps- walking is great. If I drink too much caffeine I'm ill. In fact I used to get dreadful cramp just Smelling coffee! My body would react so badly. You will learn what you can or can't have. I have no pain now and I know it's my diet that has done this. When I have a flare up it's always connected to my diet now. I'm 51 and on zoladex x

EndoCoeliac_Woman profile image
EndoCoeliac_Woman in reply to Sunset-lady

Well I believe that high (healthy) fat are actually important because EPA and DHA mediate inflammatory response and modulate hormon production. So it is important to eat fatty fish, avocados and nuts. But I agree on coffee, that exacerbate intenstinal motility increasing cramping in endo women. And alcol which is proinflammatory. Do not belive to those that say wine is good because it is antioxidant. Antioxidant capacity is tested in lab but all studies conducted in humans show no significant effect

Sunset-lady profile image
Sunset-lady in reply to EndoCoeliac_Woman

Thanks, I agree on good fats x it's the amount of bacon eaten I the keto community that bothers me 😀

EndoCoeliac_Woman profile image
EndoCoeliac_Woman in reply to Sunset-lady

Ahaha well yes, bacon is definitely not advised 😂

I am not 100% sure on keto. I am coeliac so of course I cut gluten, but if you're not intolerant or sensitive there is no need. What is very important is to reduce (possibly eliminate during flares) is sugars, because they cause insulin spikes and insulin is involved in inflammation. Processed food is also very bad. I eat super clean because I'm a personal trainer and former athlete, and I ve been on a diet done by specilists for many years. So I kinda know how to balance meals across micronutrients and which supplements an help with endo. I can tell you that if I eat rubbish on a single meal I feel bloated and in pain right after and lasts at least one day. I'm trying to manage symptoms without the pill and the diet helps. So I really suggest to give it a try. A very useful instagram profile giving info on that is endo.fertility.dietician. I really like her, she explains what to take and why.Good luck!

Comedykid profile image
Comedykid in reply to EndoCoeliac_Woman

Thank you, I was thinking of looking into the anti inflammatory diet and seeing how that helps and just focussing on clean foods - I find that having things like rice and wraps don’t fill me and actually make me hungrier as they spike my blood sugar levels too much

KezMurr profile image
KezMurr

Hello! I highly recommend listening or reading to the 'How Not to Die' book by Dr. McGregor. It's a whole foods plant based diet, extremely healthy and anti inflammatory, although I view it now as a lifestyle not a diet. It's based on scientific research studies regarding diet. It dramatically helped with my endo pain and general mental health. I feel happy and full of energy most days! Massive change. I've also noticed my insane bloating from endo has decreased loads too and I've only been on it about 5 weeks. Everything we choose to put in our mouth matters, food is key... anti inflammatory condition or not. Highly recommended :) book is on audible. Xx

JOSANDY40 profile image
JOSANDY40

From my experience with a serious form of Endometriosis, with allergies and Asthma. The body is struggling with this disease to cope with body functions so food needs easy to digest, getting the best benefits.Soluble fiber though fiber is very important, easier to digest, foods high in vitamins, anti cancer, anti estrogen and anti inflammatory and less sugar but not using sweetners. Myself lactose and no gluten. Chilli or some spices maybe difficult. Foods that cause you gas like onions or fizzy drinks.

Inflammation, digestion, bowel Endo and low transition adds up to increased pain. The bowel struggling to deal with gluten and lactose. Approaching a period, a large meal, staying static due to pain maybe in bed too long. Movement maybe a short brisk walk, floor stretches, take anti inflammatory painkiller before, the same with sex!

Fennel Tea is a antispasmodic doesn't taste that nice but great at night when you can't sleep.

Belladonna great for those lower pains especially when .

The TENS machine on probably the backpain setting, electrodes on sides at hip level. Setting as just a tiny tickle then turn perhaps down 1 or 2.

Tatimati profile image
Tatimati

I am second week on this diet. I had a surgery 2 months ago and ultrasound didn’t show a good result after, so I decided to try with this keto diet and after periods I will do an ultrasound again to understand how diet helps also on new hormones.

pinkie25 profile image
pinkie25

sugar is known to cause inflammation and make it worse and carbs break down into sugar. Mums always telling me I should eat less sugar and carbs but I like sugar too much so it would be really hard for me to eat less of it. Sugar is also known to feed cancer and endometriosis is similar to cancer in the sense of how it grows and spreads.

LME5 profile image
LME5

Defo helped me! Cutting out or reducing gluten/wheat/grains, starchy foods (think potatoes), dairy (I'm intolerant to cow's milk anyway), sugar and processed foods. Increasing my intake of lean meats, good fats, veggies and more nutritious carbs like quinoa. And supplementing religiously with omega 3, curcumin (or turmeric), magnesium (glycinate and malate), vitamin D3 and K2, B Complex vitamin and vitamin C. All of that plus strength training / exercise 5 times per week has helped me get off hormonal treatment and manage my endo naturally. I've also tried low-fodmap and candida diets which have super helpful for gut/ gastrointestinal health too. Hope that helps :)

Comedykid profile image
Comedykid

thank you this is helpful, what sort of more nutritious carbs did you use?

Also did you do a supplement for all those vitamins and minerals or get them from foods?

I have been on an anti-inflammatory diet for 10 months and honeslty it has changed my life. it has removed my endo pain completely, which is amazing considering I am stage 4. Highly reccommend trying it. In regards keto I was on it alongside anti-inflammatory from November through to February this year. It seemed to help with endo as well, certainly helped to shift the pounds! I mainly went on it because I was starting ivf and needed to shift the pounds. Unfortunately both the eggs that were collected died so i never got to transfer. Unfortunately it seems the endo has impacted my egg quality. Now hoping to getting surgery soon to remove the endo purely for fertility reasons.

Comedykid profile image
Comedykid in reply to Behind_Hazel_Eyes

Thank you for this, on anti inflammatory diet what carbs were you able to have?

Im really sorry about your eggs and hope the surgery is beneficial :)

Behind_Hazel_Eyes profile image
Behind_Hazel_Eyes in reply to Comedykid

Usually things not too heavily processed like brown rice or potatoes, occaionally I would have gluten free bread. i usually would have a portion of chips at the weekend as a treat. I try to stay below 120 grams of carbs a day. This means I many not be able to have carbs in every meal. For example if I know I will be have rice or potatoes at dinner, at breakfast I may have a veggie omelette. It's manageable. I would usually try to have things that were lower in carbs, so keto friendly.

Shisaya_Messi profile image
Shisaya_Messi

Hi. I have stage 4 endometriosis, deep infiltrating and aggressive. I had a surgery done back in 2018 and then 2019 found out I have a cyst again etc.

I have been on the keto lifestyle and it's the best things I've done. My cyst went smaller and I also don't have pain when I menstruate.

Since last November I switched to keto carnivore, best thing ever!!

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