I few days ago I was chatting with a friend who was recently diagnosed with Endometriosis. Quite frankly, I didn't even know what that was - I could figure out by breaking down the word into its Latin/Greek parts but that didn't help me. So I did what every respectable health care professional does - googled it! Naw - I'm just playing but I did head strait to my books to look it up.
It occurs when endometrial tissue ends up in other parts of the body either due to a surgical intervention for something else (ie a c-section) or from menstrual back flow up the Fallopian tubes into the ovaries. For the most part it only effects women of childbearing age, before puberty or after menopause, women usually will not suffer from symptoms.
Typically, estrogen is given to counteract symptoms such as mood swings, terrible cramping, and heavy and/or irregular flows, but nutrition can play a role as well with daily vigorous exercise for alleviation of symptoms.
Alcohol, beef and ham can worsen symptoms. Women who follow a mainly vegetarian diet usually see the biggest reduction in symptoms either with or without the help of pharmacotherapy as well. 14 servings each of fruit and vegetables per week is recommended. That's 28 servings per week or 4 servings per day. A serving of vegetable is 1 cup raw or 1/2 cup cooked. For fruit 4oz of whole fruit or approx 1/4 cup dried fruit. (Now that you know the serving size that doesn't seem like so much food now does it!) Alcohol, beef and ham should be avoided. Women who switch to a mainly vegetable diet should take an iron supplement or get a multivitamin that contains iron. While iron is available in produce and grains it is a non-heme (not from blood) source and is not as well absorbed, so an iron supplement will be necessary. Also take a Calcium (500mg) with Vit D 2x/day to keep bones from demineralizing. If you discontinue all animal protein you should also take a B12 supplement 2x/wk.
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