While the omega-3 content of each fish varies widely, based on what the fish has eaten, consuming a standard piece of salmon 2-3 times per week is enough to meet the recommended intake. The average intakes recently were assessed at less than 50% of recommended amounts (11). The recommended ratio is suggested around 2:1, therefore Australians are nowhere near meeting the recommended intake of the anti-inflammatory Omega 3’s. The current standard Australian diet tends to be higher in Omega 6’s relative to Omega 3’s in approximately an 8:1 ratio. Other studies suggest what is more important is the ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6’s oils to reduce inflammation (10). Few studies have looked at the direct effect of fish alone on endometriosis symptoms, however, some researchers suggest that women with endometriosis consume lower levels of Omega 3’s and vegetables 7 and those with higher levels of Omega 3 in their blood have decreased risk of endometriosis (8,9). They may also play a role in the survival and growth of endometrial implants, although so far this has primarily only been demonstrated in animal research (5,6). (4) Some prostaglandins can be elevated in the abdominal fluid of women suffering endometriosis and contribute to the mechanism of pain (5). Omega three oils found in fish, seafood and some seeds seem to decrease inflammatory, hormone-like-substances (prostaglandins). Given that women with endometriosis demonstrate a state of chronic inflammation, dietary factors that reduce inflammation may mitigate some risk or severity of endometriosis. Restriction of such a high number of healthy foods however long term is problematic and patients are usually instructed to keep a diet diary and continue removing only the foods that cause an issue while reintroducing all other non-reactive foods long-term.Īnti-inflammatory: while there is no universal anti-inflammatory diet for endometriosis, there are certain components of the diet that can support an anti inflammatory trajectory and can be utilised to construct a modifiable diet. When these molecules are removed or reduced in the diet, it offers some improvements for women who have concurrent Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) with endometriosis (3). Some key diets that have started to be explored with Endometriosis include:įODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols) are fermentable carbohydrate molecules in certain foods such as dairy, wheat, rye and certain fruit and vegetables such as apples, pears, peaches, watermelon, onion, garlic, mushrooms, etc.
What research around diet and endometriosis can show us more clearly is how symptoms may improve or reduce by the addition or removal of some key elements within a diet. Further research is needed in this space! Therapeutic use
Therefore when discussing prevention, we must discuss it in the context of there being no definitive data at present and there are no clear correlations between specific foods and the risk of endometriosis. Even then, without studying every component of each food item within the specific diet, it is difficult to know which part of it is having the preventative effect. Researchers can adjust for some of these factors when they design the studies. With no current reliable diagnostic blood tests, it means subjects have to undergo laparoscopy (as the gold standard diagnostic tool) to ensure they truly are disease free, which isn’t ideal as it is invasive and costly.Īlternatively women who have already been diagnosed with endometriosis can be assessed for disease progression whilst following a specific diet, however this can also be problematic as asking patients to recall retrospectively what they ate over long periods of time is challenging.
ENDOMETRIOSIS MEAL PLAN FREE
There are several issues with obtaining meaningful data from research surrounding a preventative diet.įor true prevention, researchers need an endometriosis free population as a control group. When we think of diet and endometriosis there are two key areas we focus on, prevention and therapeutic use. In addition the severity of the pain does not always reflect the severity of the disease.
(1) Symptoms can range from mild pelvic pain through to debilitating painful periods and infertility, although these, and additional symptoms are different for every woman. It is a complex disease with multifactorial considerations and when we talk about diet and endometriosis, simplicity is not a word we think of either.Įndometriosis is a hormone-dependant, inflammatory, gynaecological condition which affects an estimated 176 million individuals around the world. However there is nothing simple about endometriosis. If we were to answer this question simply the answer would be no.
Member of Endometriosis Australia’s Clinical Advisory Committee
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