Can diet changes help endometriosis?

J R SIKDER

If you’re unfamiliar with “endometriosis,” let me give you a brief definition tounderstand better what I’m talking about.

Endometriosis is a long-term condition in which tissue similar to the womb’s lining grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

The pain in your lower abdomen or back (pelvic pain) is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis.

Endometriosis can be treated with pain medication, hormone therapy, and surgery to remove the affected tissue.The cause of endometriosis is unknown. However, your genes or an immune system problem could be the cause.

Endometriosis affects about one in ten women and is a common source of discomfort, infertility, and depression. Unless you take medication or have surgery, the only way to know if you have it is to get it diagnosed. On the other hand, some women claim that eating or avoiding certain foods can help reduce their symptoms. What is the reality?

You may question if changing your way of life can help if you have endometriosis, which causes excruciatingly painful periods and makes it difficult to become pregnant. Surgery and hormone medicine are currently used to address the problem, both of which are invasive and have unpleasant side effects. As a result, many people with endometriosis turn to unconventional treatments like acupuncture and avoid certain foods searching for a cure.

People with endometriosis had written numerous web blogs claiming that their symptoms disappeared when they changed their diets. Those dealing with the devastation of pain and infertility will find encouragement in such stories, but are these tales too fantastic to be true?

Some research has recently begun to demonstrate a possible link between endometriosis and food. This type of research focuses on how nutrition can help alleviate the symptoms of endometriosis rather than treating the disease itself.”

Low FODMAP

IBS, which can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation or diarrhoea in women with endometriosis, may benefit from a diet change, says some dietitians.

A recent study showsthat 72% of women with endometriosis and IBS said their symptoms improved after a low-FODMAP diet in the UK.

This is a massive breakthrough for women who suffer from other conditions related to their endometriosis. As a result, women can significantly improve their quality of life and reduce the burden of their conditions through dietary management.

The downsides of diet changes

The true matter is the low-FODMAP diet is highly restrictive. There’s no way a dietitian will recommend it to every woman with endometriosis.

A qualified dietitian should be sought out first if someone with endometriosis is looking to change their diet, as they will be able to provide the most recent credible, evidence-based information.” Nutritional deficiencies and other adverse side effects, such as rapid weight loss or gain,” could occur if this isn’t done.

Going gluten-free

A gluten-free diet may help alleviate the symptoms of some women. But should Georgina follow in her footsteps? Unfortunately, according to the dietitian, this is not always the case. Certain foods have helped some women’s symptoms, but that doesn’t mean they will help everyone.

A research report shows that In 2012 found that 75% of patients with severe endometriosis improved after following a gluten-free diet for a year. Unfortunately, only a handful of women were enrolled in the study. Before we can say whether or not cutting out wheat is beneficial in this situation, we need to conduct more research.

Every woman has a different set of dietary needs, making it difficult to prescribe a universal diet for those dealing with endometriosis. However, for your health, it’s critical not to restrict certain food groups or nutrients, such as gluten, unless you have been medically diagnosed as having an intolerance or condition like coeliac disease.

How to eat well with endometriosis

Field professional advises a balanced diet of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, with women aiming for 2,000 calories a day, is a basis for this recommendation. In addition, women should consult a dietician if they are looking to gain or lose weight.”

If you have endometriosis, don’t forget that eating a healthy diet is always good. Obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease can all be prevented with a well-balanced diet.

Dietitian recommends taking 400 mg of folic acid a day for women trying to get pregnant. It’s also good to consume foods high in folates like spinach, kale, and broccoli.

As they point out, “following a good nutrition plan can help regulate ovulation cycles affected by weight, improve the health of a woman’s eggs, and improve the success of assisted reproduction therapies such as IVF treatment.”

Conclusion

There is currently no cure for endometriosis, so treatments are focused on relieving your symptoms instead.

These include:

  • painkillers
  • hormone treatment (such as the combined oral contraceptive pill)
  • surgery to remove the tissue (a laparoscopy)
  • surgery to remove organs affected by the endometriosis, such as the womb (

hysterectomy).

A general anaesthetic will be used for surgery so you fall asleep and do not feel anything during the procedure.

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