I often get asked about my journey with Endometriosis and how I have managed to now live a life that is completely pain and symptom free. One of the first things I recommend is to look at diet and the foods we are eating. Eating, is something we do 3 times a day and it is ultimately sustains our life force so it makes perfect sense that it would have an impact on our health and well-being.
The trouble is, what is considered “healthy” by some is not really healthy for others. We have been told so many different things about foods and what is considered “healthy” that it is almost impossible to know for certain that we are on the right track. The other trouble is that what we eat with Endometriosis is also different from what other women might eat.
I want to dispel some common “healthy” foods which are sometimes recommended with Endometriosis and why I always avoid them.
1. Soy foods
Marketed as the ultimately protein food which is easy to digest and available in various forms! This food group is often recommended for women with Endometriosis as it is said to be able to replace the excess oestrogen’s in the body with these more “natural” oestrogen’s, called isotopes (plant oestrogen’s).
The trouble with soy is the way it has been manufactured. Most soy products contain very high quantities of oestrogen and this will exacerbate the already out of balance oestrogen load happening with Endometriosis. Too much oestrogen creates more cysts and more trouble with Endometriosis. We most certainly don’t want to be adding in anymore than we need to!
I have seen this happen time and time again with Endometriosis and not just from food but also with plants being used in the same manner. Because Endometriosis and poor liver health are closely linked, it is imperative that the focus be shifted away from hormone imbalances.
Endometriosis is a complex disease and hormone imbalance is merely a symptom. Focusing on liver health provides a longer term solution.
2. Flax seeds and flax oil
As women with Endometriosis frequently struggle with digestive health issues, they are often recommended flax seeds to help keep them regular. There is some debate about how much of the flax seeds is theoretically absorbed by the body, however I err on the side of caution with this food as it also contains a high oestrogenic load.
Flax oil is definitely one I would avoid as it would definitely demonstrate oestrogenic activity within the body. I also question whether the transportation and handling of flax seed oil may make this oil rancid before it is even brought home.
3. Agave Syrup
I will be honest, when I discovered Agave Syrup, I jumped on it. Yippee! A new “natural” sweetener which can replace sugar…. sounds good right?
The thing is, there is nothing “natural” about Agave Syrup. This stuff is so commercially manufactured it’s scary!
They use genetically modified enzymes to create Agave Syrup and a whole bunch of other stuff like caustic acid, clarifiers, filtration chemicals and ultimately we are left with a highly refined fructose which is has a higher fructose content than high fructose corn syrup!
The key thing with Endometriosis is to focus on liver health and anything that has a high sugar load like Agave Syrup is going to create more work for the liver, plus potentially create more weight gain.
There are plenty of alternative foods to eat that truly support our bodies and help us successfully manage Endometriosis. Between changing what I eat and using my REACH Technique© I am now living pain and symptom free from endometriosis.
Melissa
Reduce inflammation naturally