If you suffer from endometriosis, these are the foods you should eat (and avoid)

If you’re one of the 200 million women with endometriosis, you’ve probably tried hormonal birth control and other medications to deal with the condition’s pain and risks of infertility.

But small changes to diet are an often overlooked solution that can help.

"With all of the fertility patients that I work with, the most important factor in trying to manage endometriosis symptoms is having a balanced, well-rounded diet—adding in lots of good-quality protein, organic fruits and veggies, lots of fiber and healthy fats," says Dara Godfrey, R.D., a nutritionist and fertility specialist with Progyny.

Overall diet is the most important, rather than eating one specific food. Having said that, certain nutrients can help reduce inflammation, while others can enhance endo pain.

Rachel Schultz from Shape, and Yahoo Health contributor, points to a number of nutrients and foods that can improve endometriosis symptoms, such as omega-3’s, vitamin D, produce, and more. Foods and nutrients to consider limiting include red meat, gluten, and FODMAPs through a low FODMAP diet.

Considering how common it is for women to have both endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eliminating high FODMAP foods is one of the safer, easier treatments to follow. Among those that tried a low FODMAP diet, 72 per cent cited improved gastro symptoms after just four weeks. Going low FODMAP cuts out the long chain carbs that exacerbate both endometriosis and IBS symptoms.