I’ve lived most of my life with severe pelvic pain due to endometriosis (a chronic inflammatory condition of the uterus). Doctors always told me the only solution was to take birth control or have an invasive surgery, while also saying I might never be able to get pregnant (my daughter is now 4).
After years spent not getting the answers I needed, I turned to holistic wellness for some support. It was then I realized that I could not only have a normal life and manage my pain (for the most part), but I could also do so on my own, and without birth control.
Along the way I’ve been able to get pregnant, and learn some tips and tricks for balancing my endometriosis through nutrition and naturopathic supplementation.
These are things that have worked for me, and while I can’t promise they will work for you, am hopeful that they can.
- Eat iron rich foods. Lots of dark leafy greens, broccoli, etc. I try to eat some sort of dark green every day, usually in my smoothies. I also take an iron supplement twice a week for an extra boost, because I have always been borderline anemic.
- Get plenty of fiber: whole grains, fruits, legumes, etc. Fiber is your friend. It helps flush out toxins in your body and also an important element for keeping you satiated (feeling full).
- Load up on antioxidant rich foods: aka eat the rainbow! It is true the more colorful your plate the more nutritious.
- Fatty acids are your friend: salmon, walnuts, flax, etc. If you aren’t able to get those in your diet, take an omega 3 fish oil supplement.
- Avoid dairy & gluten: they are inflammatory and therefor worsen any endometriosis symptoms. This was a game changer for me, especially the dairy. Once I cut out dairy from my diet, my inflammation was greatly reduced. My bloating went away, I had more energy and my skin cleared up too!
- Limit caffeine & alcohol: too much of these also can increase your body’s inflammatory response. I’ve switched to matcha (1 a day) and try to limit my alcohol intake to approx 1-2 drinks every week, at the maximum.
- Make movement part of your daily life: I’ve found that my symptoms are managed the best when I am doing low impact workouts approx 3-4 times a week. I rotate between yoga and Barre3, and then on my off days just try to stay active by walking or paddleboarding in the summer.
- See your naturopath to dial in your nutritional supplementation: no matter how healthy you eat, most if us can still benefit from additional vitamins and minerals. I cannot stress this one enough! We are not meant to do things alone.
Hope this can help some of you, my DM’s are always open if you want to chat or hear more about my personal experiences.
Eat and be well!
Coconut Kate
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