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Food can be a potent tool for health. And while never a replacement for your Doctor's care, the proper diet can be an essential complementary treatment for chronic diseases. Today, we'll walk through which foods can help or harm remission in a condition that affects 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years: Endometriosis.

"The body functions as a connected system with intertwining function and structure," says Pouran Alizadeh, DO, an OB/Gyn for SCL Health Medical Group - Superior. "The food we ingest has an effect on how our body operates and the symptoms that we feel."

ENDO 101

Typically, the endometrium, or tissue that lines the uterus, stays exactly where it should be. But in women with Endo, a tissue that mimics that lining grows on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other areas where it doesn't belong. This can cause extreme pain, cramping, bleeding, stomach issues, and even infertility.

THE ENDOMETRIOSIS DIET

Right now, there's no cure for Endometriosis. But a diet designed to reduce inflammation, soothe an overactive immune system, and improve pain response can be vital for managing symptoms. Let's break down the best and worst food for keeping Endo pain at bay.

FILL YOUR PLATE

• Omega 3s: Foods like salmon, tree nuts, and extra virgin olive oil are rich in healthy fatty acids that fight inflammation and reduce pain. Consider a fish oil supplement or a tablespoon of cold-pressed veggie oil as part of your daily Endo care plan.
• Veggies with B Vitamins: Your liver needs B vitamins to break down estrogen into its excretable form. Get your fill with cruciferous veggies like brussels sprouts, broccoli, kale, cabbage, and cauliflower. Not only can these veggies help filter out hormones, but their high magnesium content can also soothe the uterine and intestinal muscles.
• Iron-Rich Foods: one symptom of Endo is heavy bleeding, which means lost iron. To avoid anemia or an iron deficiency, replenish your supply with both iron-rich proteins like eggs, meat, and fish and iron-rich plants like beetroot, dried apricots, and green leafy veggies.

CROSS THESE OFF YOUR SHOPPING LIST

• Trans Fats: Trans fats are best kept to a minimum in any diet, but for women with Endo, limiting fried, processed, and fast foods are vital as they have been shown to increase estrogen, the hormone responsible for worsening symptoms. Avoiding these fats could be critical for prevention, too, as one study found that women who ate the highest amounts of trans fats had a 48% increased risk of the disease.
• Red Meat: Red meat, and mainly processed red meat, has also been associated with higher levels of estrogen and inflammation. Since Endo is an estrogen-dependent condition, reducing your red meat consumption may lower your risk and ease symptoms.
• High FODMAP Foods: Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, or FODMAPs, is nutritionists speak for foods that are hard for our small intestine to absorb and cause digestive problems. Avoiding common high FODMAP foods like garlic, onions, legumes, sweeteners, wheat, and some fruits and veggies can de-stress the gut and ease discomfort during a flare.

Bottom Line:

Dietary changes can be a powerful tool in managing Endometriosis, but finding the meal plan that works best for you can require a little trial and error. Take note of which foods upset your digestion and if it causes an immune response, avoid it.