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Endometriosis and Nutrition

Endometriosis Symptoms

Endometriosis symptoms can be aggravated by many factors such as stress, exhaustion, nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalance. It can be common with endometriosis to also have symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to be more sensitive to various foods. There are certain foods that are more likely to cause IBS symptoms (bloating, gas and abdominal pain), which can be very uncomfortable and hard to live with. The most commonly experienced symptoms are:

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  • Abdominal bloating/distension

  • Diarrhoea with your period (or increased frequency of bowel movements)

  • Pain with bowel movements/rectal pain

  • Altered bowel habits - constipation/diarrhoea fluctuations

  • Lower back pain

  • Abdominal cramping

  • Excess wind (pain when passing wind)

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If you are experiencing symptoms like IBS, it is important not to ‘self-diagnose’. So before you start eliminating foods, I recommend that you have a talk with your doctor and arrange to have some allergy tests, to investigate/rule out other conditions like Coeliac disease or Crohns disease. 

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It is possible to relieve some IBS symptoms, by removing food triggers and making some dietary changes. This can also help you to reduce some inflammation, improve your immunity, and holistically improve your overall health. 

FODMAPs

 

Some of the most common food sources to trigger IBS symptoms are foods high in FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols).  FODMAPs are sugars that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine; so when they reach the large intestine they produce gas and attract water, causing bloating and discomfort.  

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It can be useful to make a diary, to keep a record of foods eaten/activities/pain/and any other symptoms. This makes it easier to keep track of what you have been experiencing each month. It can also help to ascertain if a certain food is triggering your symptoms, or if it's something else. It is also a helpful tool to show your doctors, so they can gain an understanding of what is happening on a monthly basis with your symptoms.

 

The FODMAPs found in everyday foods are:

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  • Frutose (fruits, honey, apples, high fructose corn syrup, etc)

  • Lactose (dairy)

  • Fructans (wheat, garlic, onion, inulin, etc)

  • Galactans (legumes such as beans, lentils, soybeans, etc)

  • Polyols (sweeteners containing mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and stone fruits such as avocado, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, etc).  

 

For more information about FODMAP foods and guidelines, here are some useful links:

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www.gesa.org.au/consumer.asp?id=190

www.med.monash.edu/cecs/gastro/fodmap/low-high.html

www.fodmap.com

Colorful Fruits

Gluten Free Diet

 

Another common problem is not properly digesting Gluten and Fructans found in wheat, which can also contribute to inflammation and bloating symptoms. A gluten-free diet can be beneficial to try to reduce some of these symptoms. There has been research showing that a gluten-free diet led to dramatic pelvic pain reduction in women suffering with endometriosis. It has also been found in numerous research studies, that gluten has been shown to disrupt hormones. Common hormonal-based diseases influenced by gluten are: PMS, Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility, Endometriosis, Hypothyroidism, and Diabetes (type 1 and type II).

 

Gluten has been shown to influence hormonal balance in the following ways:

 

  • Gluten can cause malabsorption of vitamins, minerals and fats which are required for hormonal balance, blood sugar balance, healthy thyroid function and stress hormone balance

  • Gluten can cause leaky gut and inflammation to cells lining the gut wall, which contributes to malabsorption and immune dysfunction

  • Gluten intolerance can create immune dysfunction and autoimmune reactions in the body

 

So if you have endometriosis, and you have problems with constant bloating, abdominal discomfort, bowel changes, and pain, it is critical to seek proper medical advise and be checked by your doctor. They will need to screen for other conditions before you start a gluten-free diet, as your tests will not get the correct results if you start to eliminate gluten before testing.

 

Unfortunately, there is no specific blood test to diagnose gluten sensitivity or intolerance. They can test for other serious diseases like Coeliac, Crohns, inflammatory bowel disease and bowel cancer. This can be a bit frustrating, but once you have ruled out other more serious conditions, you can start trying to manage your symptoms by altering your diet.

 

Most people do find some reduction of their symptoms by restricting gluten, wheat and high FODMAP foods. It is important to work with a nutritionist to help you plan healthy, well-balanced meals while you are eliminating foods from your diet, so that you maintain a balanced intake of nutrients. Your nutritionist can advise you on supplements, vitamins and minerals needed, and can also prescribe the correct supplements for healing your gut lining, balancing your hormones, and reducing inflammation. 

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