Diet Strategies For Controlling Endometriosis

Controlling endometriosis effectively can be achieved by using
drug therapy, but a lot of women are turning to good nutrition
as a way to supplement treatment and build a stronger and
healthier body.

While treatment and results vary, there are many women who
report improvement and reduced severity of symptoms by simply
changing their diet.

But before you scour the supermarket for the right foods and
supplements, here are some things you should know.

No food or diet regimen is a cure for endometriosis:

Some researchers think that too much estrogen causes all the
trouble, while others believe a weak immune system is to blame.
Whatever may be the real cause, it is important for women to
stick to a well rounded diet and nutrition program to ensure a
truly healthy body that can efficiently regulate hormones,
sustain the immune system and control symptoms of endometriosis.

Using diet and nutrition to control endometriosis symptoms:

Ralph Golan, M.D., author of Optimal Wellness, suggests a diet
of whole foods. He also recommends women stay away from fats,
salt, sugar, dairy products and caffeine. These types of food
deplete the body's store of B vitamins and can prevent the liver
from functioning properly. The liver is essential for regulating
the body's hormones and B vitamins to help lower levels of
estrogen.

Another change to diet that might be an effective way of
controlling endometriosis is to cut down on red meat and meat
products. Hormones are often given to animals that are raised
and slaughtered commercially, not to mention the saturated fats
that are found in meat.

Naturopathic physician Barbara Silbert of Massachusetts
suggests replacing meat with soy products such as tofu and miso,
and including foods that are rich in fiber in the diet. Soy
products contain compounds that regulate levels of estrogen in
the body and a high fiber diet helps ease any pain from bowel
movements if endometrial tissue affects the area.

Keep reading for more tips on how to control endometriosis
symptoms and sign up for the free newsletter below to discover
risk factors for endometriosis and other ways to manage symptoms
effectively.

Use B vitamins:

One of the keys to controlling endometriosis is to target a
suspected culprit of the condition and that is excess estrogen.
B vitamins are known to regulate estrogen and help alleviate
symptoms associated with endometriosis and other conditions such
as PMS and fibrosystic breast syndrome.

B vitamins, specifically Vitamin B6, riboflavin and thiamin
have been found to be effective in controlling recurrent
endometriosis. These are being promoted as supplements to
medical therapy. Some experts suggest that women suffering from
endometriosis take more than the recommended daily values for B
vitamins to ensure efficacy. You should speak with your own
personal doctor before you begin taking any vitamins and
suppliments, to be sure this is right for you.

Natural sources of B vitamins are the simple way to include
this nutrient in the diet. Some rich sources include:
• fish
• legumes
• rice
• pasta
• whole-grain bread and cereals
• leafy vegetables.

Using antioxidants:

Known antioxidants such as beta-carotene, selenium, Vitamin C
and Vitamin E are effective in preventing tissue damage. They
also help improve the immune system, reduce cramps and bleeding
during menstruation. These supplements, when combined with
changes in diet, can help to control endometriosis and the
chronic pain associated with it. Antioxidants can also be found
in other natural sources.

Some good sources of antioxidants are
• spinach
• broccoli
• celery
• cantaloupe
• cucumbers
• almonds
• safflower oil and sunflower oil.

Now you have some easy, all natural suggestions you might use
to help in controlling endometriosis for you. Be sure to speak
with your own doctor about your unique health situation so that
you can make the right choices for

About The Author: Sign up for Shelley Ross' free Endometriosis
newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help
you discover more about controlling endometriosis at
http://www.treatendometriosis.com?source=is

Please use the HTML version of this article at:
http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=149245