5 Food Groups That Can Aid Endometriosis Management

Endometriosis affects about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. This condition is associated with intense pain that can interfere with daily life and is accompanied by chronic discomfort. But the good news is that there is a wide range of options that can help you manage endometriosis symptoms.

One of the simplest ways to relieve the condition is changing your diet. Though dietary changes won't cure endometriosis, many women report positive changes by consuming certain foods.

What is endometriosis? Endometriosis is a disorder in which the endometrium grows outside the uterus resulting in irritation. The condition is incredibly painful and in some cases can provoke infertility.

But does diet matter when it comes to treating endometriosis? Yes and no. While it's good to eat some healthy foods to eliminate endometriosis symptoms, a treatment plan from your healthcare provider is always the best course of action.

A specialist will help you determine how to manage your symptoms, or even if it might be beneficial to consider laparoscopic surgery, which is a procedure that involves removing endometrial tissue.

There is still evidence that certain foods can positively affect endometriosis symptoms. Let's look at five food groups that can help you manage the disorder:

These foods are beneficial for women with endometriosis since they're rich in melatonin. In addition to improving your sleep, foods high in melatonin have been shown to improve endometriosis pain significantly. 10 mg of melatonin per day can help you reduce pain levels.

If you don't like melatonin, you can always try taking a supplement. But be sure to check with your healthcare provider before making any diet changes.

Many people know that omega-3 fatty acids play a huge role in helping our bodies combat pain and overall inflammation, which can be especially good for women suffering from endometriosis.

Omega-3 fatty acids also have been shown to lower the risk of endometriosis in the first place.

Other types of seafoods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel, sardines, anchovies, and oysters. If you don't like fish, you can add flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts to your diet.

If you don't like all the products we've mentioned in this paragraph, you can try fish oil supplements. The good news is that fish oil supplements can lead to a reduction of endometrial adhesions.

Green tea contains a magic ingredient called EGCG that has cancer-fighting properties and can also help relieve endometriosis symptoms. EGCG has been shown to shrink tumor cells, therefore green tea is recommended as a beverage for cancer patients.

You can also try antioxidant supplements, soy supplements, and turmeric supplements since they have similar effects.

Probably every healthy diet includes fruits and vegetables. Both are great sources of dietary fiber, which can lower levels of estrogen and help alleviate symptoms of endometriosis.

According to various studies, consuming lots of green veggies lowers your risk of endometriosis. Foods like spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and arugula are great options to incorporate into your diet. Whole fruits are high in essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that help your body fight endometriosis. Plus, they're loaded with antioxidants that can help lower chronic pelvic pain in women with endometriosis.

The low-FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) diet is designed for people with irritable bowel syndrome to relieve symptoms of intestinal discomfort.

It's essential to avoid wheat, rye, legumes, garlic, onions, milk, yogurt, soft cheese, honey, low-calorie sweeteners, and a variety of fruits. Studies have shown that only people with IBS and endometriosis were helped by the Low-FODMAP diet.