‘Endo belly’ may affect one in 10 women with endometriosis. It’s the vernacular word for excessive bloating and pain caused by the ailment.
TikTok videos regarding endo belly, particularly around menstruation, have over 60 million views. Endometriosis, with typical waiting periods of seven and a half years, is also an increasing interest for those battling to acquire care.
Eating is affected by a painful, swollen stomach. Who wants to force food into a full, sensitive stomach? Nutrition might also reduce symptoms.
What Is Endo Belly?
Cordula Henggeler, a women’s health dietician, says her customers commonly claim endo belly makes them seem six months pregnant. ‘It commonly gets confused for IBS and seems to be tied to the menstrual cycle, with the biggest flare-ups shortly before or around the period, although it may happen at any time of the month. Inflammation, increased gas production, gut microbiota alterations, visceral hypersensitivity, dietary intolerances, or intestinal endometrial lining expansion may cause endo belly.
Henggeler emphasizes that many women with regular periods have IBS-like symptoms and bloating but not endo belly. ‘A little of bloating is totally natural, and an indication of our gut flora working hard, but the bloating experienced by patients with endo is considerably more intense and may be incredibly uncomfortable,’ she explains.
A tiny but enlightening research indicated that endometriosis patients were substantially more likely to have stomach bloating (96 percent vs. 64 percent) and find it very unpleasant (30 percent vs 0 percent ).
RELATED: 5 Ways To Find A Great Endometriosis Specialist
Can Nutrition Help Endo Belly?
Henggeler believes nutrition may assist, but it’s specialized. Changing someone’s diet to relieve endo belly symptoms varies on the individual, but she employs important suggestions.
Ease Constipation
A BMC Women’s Health study found that persistent constipation affects 12–85 percent of endometriosis patients, demonstrating the need for greater research.
Henggeler addresses constipation first since it worsens bloating. Since endometriosis is caused by estrogen, improving constipation may help the body effectively excrete it.
Check How You Eat
Henggeler advises against focusing just on a diet to treat endo belly. Chewing our food properly, spending time with meals, eating frequently, not snacking all day, and not missing meals all aid digestion. ‘It’s fair that people want to concentrate on