How to Take Charge of Endometriosis..
Some of my readers may know my past history with endometriosis, but since this month marks March into Yellow, a challenge to help raise awareness of this condition, I really felt it was my duty to share more about what helped me live with endometriosis.
Do you know 10 women? I bet you do, and that means you probably know someone with endometriosis. Excruciatingly painful periods, back pain, heavy bleeding, bowel and bladder issues, tiredness mood changes and even infertility are all symptoms that can come along with endometriosis. The condition occurs when the tissue that is similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it in other parts of the body. There is no cure for endometriosis, and it can only be correctly diagnosed through surgery intervention.
I’m no stranger to all the facts above on this condition. This is why I took matters into my own hands and began taking small steps to change my lifestyle. However I’ve learnt that health is not just about what you put into your mouth, it’s also a combination of self-care, exercise, limiting exposure to toxins and spirituality. I’ve listed my top tips for you that helped me battle endometriosis and I can only hope that these may help other women too.
Avoiding Dairy, Gluten & Refined Sugar
Research has shown that dairy is a highly inflammatory food and many people, including myself, react to it. It’s important that you make your own mind up about consuming dairy. Try going without it for a few weeks to see if you have any improvements. If you decide you would like to re-introduce dairy, I recommend you do so in small amounts and choose full fat, grass fed, organic options. Avoid low fat and skim dairy products as they have been heavily processed, have had the fat-soluble vitamins removed and are high in sugar.
Many people also suffer from gluten intolerance, myself included. I find that when I eat foods containing gluten I feel fatigued, bloated and have terrible brain fog. A great way to see if you have an intolerance is to do the elimination diet where you cut out the food you think is a problem for 3-4 weeks and then reintroduce it and see if you have any issues.
Refined sugar is another big one that can cause lethargy and bloating, as well as being detrimental to your health. If you think sugar may be an issue for you try avoiding corn syrup, fructose, fruit sugar, glucose syrup, honey, malt syrup, maple syrup, molasses and sucrose. My eBook has more resources on a healthy balanced diet.
Reducing Stress
Stress affects the body in a number of ways and unfortunately our hormonal balance is one of them. One of the biggest changes I made was looking after myself through self-care practices to keep stress at a minimum. Some easy tips to consider are; meditation, moving your body with whatever exercise you enjoy most, keep a gratitude list or journal, sip herbal tea and get enough sleep.
Eliminating Toxins
Putting toxins into or onto your body can cause extra stress. The extra stress can affect your nervous system, and thus your hormonal balance. I replaced all my chemical-laden house products with natural alternatives, mainly homemade recipes using doTERRA essential oils. Don’t forget to also look in your makeup bag and perfume cupboard.
March into Yellow is to raise awareness for women with endometriosis. The month of March is dedicated to drawing worldwide attention to this condition. Take the challenge to WEAR yellow to show your support for the women that live with endometriosis. You can use the yellow challenge as a way to raise funds to help Endometriosis Australia develop and run education/awareness programs, as well as fund much needed research.
For more resources head on over to March into Yellow or Endometriosis Australia.
