IS A PLANT-BASED DIET GOOD FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS?

Endometriosis can be a serious condition that affects women in their reproductive years. It’s estimated that this condition occurs in one out of every ten women. So can diet have anything to do with it? If so, is a plant-based diet good for endometriosis?

Endometriosis can be a painful condition and result in many other conditions and complications. Women who have this condition can also have IBS, bowel obstruction, ovarian cysts, and fibroids. So it goes without saying that it’s important to watch out for it and treat it if you end up getting diagnosed.

A plant-based diet is good for another common reproductive health issue women face, which is uterine fibroids. But there are also accounts of women using plant-based diets to treat and cure endometriosis. After all, it’s the best diet for preventing diseases and staying healthy.

What is Endometriosis?

The endometrium is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus. When this tissue grows outside the uterus, the condition is called endometriosis. It can appear on the ovaries, bowels, and the pelvis. It’s very rare for the tissue to grow outside of the pelvis area, but there have been cases where it appeared on the lungs and the diaphragm.

The reason why it’s painful and serious is because of the hormonal changes, the tissue inflamed. When it breaks down, it does not get flushed out like the tissue inside the uterus, so it gets trapped inside the pelvic area.

When endometriosis occurs on ovaries, it turns into cysts that are called endometriomas. It can also affect the surrounding healthy tissues in the pelvic area, causing them to scar.

Endometriosis Symptoms

One of the main endometriosis signs is pelvic pain during menstrual periods. While cramps are usual during periods, if you have this condition, the pain can be quite severe. Other symptoms include:

Unusually long-lasting period pain
Abdominal pain
Lower back pain
Excessive bleeding during and in between periods
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Constipation
Difficulty conceiving

Endometriosis Causes

No specific cause of endometriosis has been proven, but doctors and scientists have perspective theories about the underlying causes. The main theory about the cause of this condition is retrograde menstruation.

Retrograde menstruation defines the process where the endometrial cells flow back through the fallopian tubes to the pelvic area rather than flowing out of the body. When those cells reach the pelvic area, they become endometrial tissue and stick to the outside of the uterus and other organs in the pelvic region.

Other theories suggest that it’s caused because of the transformation of peritoneal cells or embryonic cells. Peritoneal cells are located on the inside lining of the abdomen. Again, these are just theories and have not been proven yet.

It’s also possible that the menstrual blood leaks out of the uterus because of a surgical scar left during surgery or C-section. There’s also a possibility that this is an immune disorder, as the immune system does not destroy endometrial cells when they occur outside the uterus.

So who is at risk of endometriosis? There can be multiple factors that may increase a woman’s risk of developing this condition.

Is endometriosis genetic? Yes, it can be as women with other women family members like mother, grandmother, or sister with this condition are at higher risk.

Similarly, girls who get their periods early or have a low body mass index are also at risk. Women who get menopause late may also be at risk. Unusually high levels of estrogen may also lead to this problem.

How is Endometriosis Diagnosed?

The initial diagnosis of this condition involves a physical exam. The doctor might take your medical history and perform a physical exam to feel any cysts or scars outside the uterus area.

Ultrasound is also used for diagnosing endometriosis, but it may not be conclusive in ruling it out. Usually, they perform an abdominal ultrasound or transvaginal ultrasound to look for endometriosis.

Can you see endometriosis on ultrasound? Sometimes, but it’s still difficult to diagnose. The most effective diagnosis can be done through a minor surgery called laparoscopy. With this, the doctor is directly able to see whether there’s endometrial tissue in the pelvic area.

Does Endometriosis Cause Infertility?

Difficulty getting pregnant is one of the symptoms of endometriosis. This condition results in infertility in many women it affects. The endometrium tissue can cause obstructions in the fallopian tube. As a result, the egg is not able to travel from the ovaries to the uterus to pair with the sperm.

While that’s the most common explanation of how endometriosis causes infertility, there are other side effects as well that make it difficult for the affected woman to get pregnant. For instance, it can also damage the egg or the sperm, hampering the process of fertilization.

It’s not a de facto complication of endometriosis, as some women may still be able to conceive. If you do get diagnosed, doctors usually advise not delaying pregnancy as this complication may become inevitable in later stages.

Can Endometriosis Cause Cancer?

Endometriosis may increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Since the risk of ovarian cancer is low, to begin with, the chances of this condition causing cancer are very low. There’s another cancer that’s also associated with endometriosis, the adenocarcinoma. It’s a rare type of cancer that may develop in later stages for someone with a history of endometriosis.

Is a Plant-based Diet Good for Endometriosis?

A plant-based diet may check all the requirements of a diet that reduces the symptoms and helps manage endometriosis. As a result, it can significantly improve the quality of life for women who battle with this complicated condition.

Red Meat, Trans Fat, and Endometriosis

In comparison with a plant-based diet, research has shown that red meat can negatively impact women who have endometriosis. The same research study indicates that fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of this condition in women.

Another research study, published in Oxford, suggests that endometriosis is more prevalent in women with a diet rich in trans fats. The study used data stretching over 12 years and suggests that the risk can be reduced by avoiding trans fats or unhealthy fats. A plant-based diet is inherently devoid of these trans fats, as it’s rich in whole foods and free from animal products.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Plant-based Foods

The most important aspect of plant-based foods in mitigating endometriosis is their anti-inflammatory effect. This condition is marked by inflammation caused by the hormonal changes during menstrual periods. As a result, it causes pain in the pelvic area where the tissue build-up is. It’s possible to reduce that inflammation and pain through anti-inflammatory foods.

One study from the Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorder looked at the relation between diet and inflammation in endometriosis. It emphasized that anti-inflammatory components in foods can reduce inflammation and pain.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that plant-based foods can reduce the severe pain that comes with endometriosis. It can also slow the progression of the disease, preventing any complications.

The phytoestrogens in plant-based foods, mainly vegetables and fruits, contain isoflavones that fight inflammation. Women consuming a diet rich inflammation-fighting foods will easily prevent inflammation and get their life back on track.

The same study about inflammation suggests that a polyphenol called resveratrol, found in grapes and berries, can reduce the size of lesions caused by endometriosis. This inference came from a study performed on mice, but it’s promising for women suffering from this disease.

What to Eat and What to Avoid in Endometriosis?

It helps immensely to know which foods can benefit in suppressing the symptoms of endometriosis. The transition can be difficult, especially if you’re moving from a traditional Western diet with meat and processed foods. However, it will be worth the effort because you’re going to reduce the horrendous pain of periods with endometriosis.

Generally speaking, you want to consume a well-balanced and nutrient diet, which plant-based foods make it easy to achieve. You have to tweak your diet to include foods that have anti-inflammatory effects. It also helps to eat foods that promote better gut health, so you can avoid bowel-related symptoms of the disease.

Here’s what you should add more to your diet:

High Fiber Foods

High-fiber foods like whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits will help in multiple ways. They will provide you with ample energy to feel filled and to kick away fatigue. They will also help with inflammation and keeping the flora in your colon healthy.

Antioxidants

You want to get as many antioxidants as possible to fight the inflammation and reduce the pain. Colorful fruits and vegetables are your go-to when it comes to getting all those polyphenols and phytoestrogens.

Iron-Rich Foods

Although uncommon, iron deficiency is possible as a side-effect of endometriosis. An animal study showed that iron could deplete as a result of this condition, which would require adding more iron in the diet. Leafy greens are extremely rich in iron and can provide you ample amounts to steer off any deficiencies.

Essential Fatty Acids

Not all fat is bad for women with endometriosis. Essential fatty acids can help with the treatment of the condition. You can find these essential fatty acids in fish. Certain plant-based foods are also rich in these healthy fatty acids, as well. These include walnuts, chia seeds, and flax seeds.

Seaweed

Seaweed can help immensely in the treatment of endometriosis. As this video from NutritionFacts.org shows, seaweed contains certain fibers that you just cannot find in regular vegetables. Moreover, it’s instrumental in suppressing excess estrogen production, which can exacerbate the symptoms of this reproductive condition.

Foods to Avoid

You’ll already be avoiding red meat and harmful fatty acids with a plant-based diet that can hamper treatment for endometriosis. Cut down on processed foods and stick to those that are whole-foods and plant-based.

One European study found that a gluten-free diet helped reduce the pain in women with endometriosis. Seventy-five percent of patients in this study reported notable change in their pain by cutting off gluten in their diet. So this is something to consider to reduce the pain quickly.

Is Endometriosis Curable?

Endometriosis is not curable per se, but many treatments are available that can reduce the symptoms and improve your condition. The main thing to tackle is pain, which can even cause depression over time if left untreated. While medication is one option, it would be more sustainable to manage the pain and other symptoms through lifestyle changes.

The biggest inspiration in this regard is Jessica Murnane of One Part Plant, who successfully avoided hysterectomy with a switch to a whole-food plant-based diet. She would get the cysts removed through surgery, and it came to the point that her only option was a hysterectomy, but she decided to give the plant-based diet a chance.

While she still has the condition, she reports that her life is much better now as she’s not in so much pain anymore. She stresses the need to adopt a whole-food plant-based approach and taking things slow. She talks about her plant-based journey in her book One Part Plant.

If her example is anything to go by it is that even if the disease is incurable, it’s not the end of the world. With healthy changes, it’s very much possible to bring it to a point where it’s no longer a bother. Plus, you can also help to avoid surgery by making these healthy changes.

Wrap Up

Is a plant-based diet good for endometriosis? Yes, but let’s be honest that this disease is very under-researched. There’s clearly a need for more research and experiments, especially with the effects of a plant-based diet. With more scientific data, it will become even clearer, and more women would want to make the change.

When we say one in ten women goes through this pain, we’re talking about 10% of the adult female population. That’s millions of women suffering all the time. But there’s hope with a plant-based diet that helps reduce pain, manage symptoms, and get your life back to what it was like before the diagnosis.