Nutrition

Chronic abdominal complaints including abdominal pain, bloating and alterations in bowel habit are common in endometriosis. Every woman may experience such complaints differently and they may often have a major impact on quality of life. A good diet may well help to reduce such abdominal complaints. Appropriate nutrition supports both medical and surgical treatments for endometriosis.

Process in dietetics in endometriosis

As a dietician, my mission is to contribute to the reduction of abdominal complaints with correct nutritional advice and thereby to improve your quality of life. Since every woman is unique, such nutritional advice is tailor-made to the needs of each.

For women with abdominal complaints, a regular diet with an adequate intake of fibre and fluid are essential. Also the amounts of FODMaPs in one’s diet have a great influence. In many ways, the bowel symptoms caused by endometriosis mirror those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for which the low FODMap diet was originally developed in Australia. Many scientific studies have now been published on the low FODMaP diet and these show that about 80% of women have a clear reduction in their intestinal complaints using this diet.

The diet which I recommend for women with endometriosis is largely consistent with the low FODMaP diet. The FODMaP- restricted diet is not for weight loss but rather to help identify those foods which cause or exacerbate complaints.

An adequate diet is important for the maintenance of good health and this is even more important if one is due to have or has had surgery. A diet sufficient in proteins, minerals etc. is essential for optimal recovery and healing.

Working together with you, I look for the right balance and options taking into account your various complaints, medical history, stage of life, dietary habits, wishes and expectations.

Endometriosis information related to Desire for children and infertility