A healthy diet is key to managing reproductive health problems such as ovarian cysts, fibroids and endometriosis, among others. Let us see the top 10 foods to avoid with endometriosis in this article.

Endometriosis is a debilitating condition that affects females of reproductive age. In the United States alone, 1 in 10 women are affected by endometriosis in their child bearing years. 

In women with endometriosis, the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus in areas such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and tissues around the pelvis. Symptoms of endometriosis include: 

• Heavy bleeding during periods 
• Spotting between periods 
• Excruciating menstrual cramps 
• Pelvic pain 
• Fatigue 
• Constipation
• Diarrhea 
• Pain during bowel movements and urination
• Lower back pain

These symptoms worsen during menstruation. If untreated, endometriosis can lead to infertility. 

One of the ways to help manage and reduce endometriosis, as with other reproductive issues such as PCOS, ovarian cysts and fibroids is to eliminate certain foods in the diet. [Must Read: Top 9 Foods to Eat when you Have Endometriosis] Some foods cause inflammation, cause hormonal imbalances and contribute to poor reproductive health – all of which aggravate endometriosis and its symptoms. 

Below, I’m going to share with you the top 10 foods to avoid with endometriosis: 

Top 10 Foods to Avoid with Endometriosis 

Below are the top 10 foods to avoid with endometriosis: 

1.    Soy 

One of the top 10 foods to avoid with endometriosis is soy! Avoid soy milk and any products that contain soy including soy lecithin as an ingredient found in cookies, chocolate, pastries, etc. This is because soy is high in phytoestrogens that are plant-based hormones. What phytoestrogens do is they mimic estrogen in the body. 

Women with endometriosis are already estrogen dominant which means they have too much estrogen in the body which causes endometriosis and its symptoms. Eating soy will further disrupt your hormone balance, which irritates endometriosis. 

 2.    Dairy

Dairy should be avoided by women with endometriosis because most of it contains added estrogen which causes estrogen levels to rise. Being estrogen dominant, extra estrogen will throw your body out of wack in the hormones department. Too much estrogen will make endometriosis worse. 

You can consume organic free-range milk that is got from grass-fed cows instead of factory cows. Or, opt for dairy-free milk to be on the safer side.

 3.    Processed Foods 

Avoid processed foods because they contain artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, soy lecithin, trans fat and even added hormones that can mess up with your hormones, increase estrogen and irritate endometriosis. 

 4.    Caffeine 

Did you know that too much consumption of caffeine increases estrogen levels in the body? It also interferes with the production of progesterone which is a hormone needed to counteract the effects of estrogen.  

Caffeine also prevents the liver from functioning to its fullest, such as detoxifying toxins and removing excess estrogen from the body. 

Try to replace coffee with ginger tea, detox waters, apple cider vinegar drinks, or a hot cocoa drink. 

 5.    Alcohol

Stay away from alcohol to heal endometriosis naturally. Alcohol causes high inflammation in the body, which worsens endometriosis. It also contains yeast and gluten which you should avoid to improve your symptoms. 

 6.    Red Meat 

Just like with uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts, women with endometriosis should try to avoid consuming high amounts of red meat. It includes meat from four-legged animals including beef, lamb, mutton and pork.

This research shows that women face an increased risk of developing endometriosis with a high red meat intake. 

7.    Trans Fat 

Also known as trans fatty acids, trans fat is a substance made from the chemical process of hydrogenation of oils. It is found in food such as doughnuts, cookies, crackers and cakes, etc. Trans fat is a type of saturated fats.

Women with endometriosis should avoid foods with trans-fat because it increases estrogen levels in the body, which aggravates endometriosis. Research even shows that women who consumed more trans fat have higher risks of endometriosis. 

Research even shows that women who consumed more trans fat have higher risks of endometriosis. 

Instead of foods with trans fat, reach for foods with healthy fat such as almonds, cashews, avocados, etc.

 8.    Refined White Sugar 

Eating a lot of refined sugar can create an acidic environment in your body. An acidic environment increases inflammation in the body. Too much acidity is one of the root causes of many ailments including reproductive problems such as endometriosis. 

Reach for raw sugar, agave, maple syrup and organic natural sweeteners instead of refined white sugar.

9.    High FODMAP Foods 

FODMAPS are types of carbohydrates that are found in certain foods such as wheat, beans, etc. They are short chain carbs that are resistant to digestion, which means people with sensitive stomachs, autoimmune diseases, etc can have aggravated symptoms on consuming them.

High FODMAP foods include legumes, wheat, dairy, vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, certain fruits including cherries, dates & canned fruits, other grains such as barley& rye, and beverages such as wine, soft drinks, and others. 

This study found that people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and endometriosis had improvements in their symptoms by consuming a low FOODMAP diet. 

10. Gluten 

Going gluten-free is a tough challenge for most of us whose staple food is wheat including bread and pasta. However, when you have conditions such as fibroids and ovarian cysts, cutting gluten out of your diet can help you heal better. 

This research involving 207 female participants with endometriosis shows that 75% of them had a decrease in pain after removing gluten from their diet. 

 Must Read:

• 10 Effective Natural Remedies for Endometriosis
• 6 Healing Teas to Drink with Endometriosis
• 3 Great Smoothies for Endometriosis
• Top 3 Juicing Recipes You Should Try for Endometriosis
• 10 Helpful Herbs for Endometriosis
• List of 5 Best Natural Supplements for Endometriosis
• What to Eat when if you Have Endometriosis