The womb room podcast
episode 14:
thriving with endometriosis with nutritionist arin nicole
If you have endometriosis and you’ve been told that suffering through your cycle each month is inevitable… think again.
Whether you have a formal diagnosis, or you’ve been putting the pieces together for yourself and suspect endo, you’ll want to dive into this conversation with Arin Nicole, a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) who herself has gone from suffering to thriving with endometriosis.
In our conversation we get into:
Understanding what endometriosis is and how it works
The pros and cons of diagnosis, and why it takes so long (an average of 12 years) to get medical answers
Arin’s personal journey with endometriosis and surgery, and how she’s arrived at easeful cycles and loving her period
The gut-hormone connection and what nutrition has to do with your symptoms
Our favorite test to help you identify your nutrient needs
Practical steps you can take on your journey, and more!
Listen below, and keep scrolling for some key notes from our conversation.
What it is:
Endometriosis is a condition when the type of tissue that is similar normally lines the uterus (the endometrium) – is found in other locations of the body where it’s not supposed to be.
This is an inflammatory condition that triggers an abnormal immune response. This cascade is brought on by cyclic hormonal changes, and can be worsened by environmental hormonal exposures (xenoestrogens), and sources of inflammation.
This endometrial-like tissue is triggered by the hormonal changes that trigger your period to start. This causes this tissue to shed, or bleed, as well. When this shedding occurs, blood, which is trapped in the abdomen, is irritating to the nerves in the abdomen, which often causes pain.
Over time, this shedding leads to chronic inflammation and the formation of scar tissue. Additionally, the endometrial cells cause abnormal immune responses in that tissue, leading to further chronic inflammation and scarring.
Endometriosis is associated with estrogen dominance, a common hormonal imbalance. Because endometriosis depends on estrogen, symptoms often begin at menarche (the beginning of menstrual years). Estrogen can act like a growth hormone, as it is needed to grow and proliferate the uterine lining. Estrogen is important for our health and our fertility, but when it gets out of whack, it can cause or exacerbate many issues, like PMS symptoms, tender breasts, ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breasts, fibroids, and cervical dysplasia.
Common symptoms:
Painful periods
Nausea and vomiting during menstruation
Constipation, Diarrhea
Urinary Incontinence
Chronic Fatigue
Bloating
Pain with sex
Painful ovulation (middleschmertz)
Back and Hip Pain
Migraines with Auras (loss or blurred vision)
While there is no “cure” from a medical orientation, it is absolutely possible to get to the root cause, relieve our symptoms, and have supported, optimal cycles!
The Nutrition- Endo Connection
Hormone imbalances are a symptom, not a root cause! When we look at what causes hormonal imbalances, we have to understand that our cells make and receive hormones — and in order to do that, they need to be NOURISHED.
Often we are undernourished, have particular nutrient deficiencies, or gut issues that can make it difficult for us to have optimal hormone balance.
Some of the common underlying gut issues behind hormone imbalances are:
Leaky gut (intestinal permeability)
Bacterial overgrowth (SIBO - small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
Mold toxicity
Parasites
Blood sugar dysregulation / insulin resistance
If you’ve taken a lot of gut-healing steps on your own and you’re feeling stuck, seeking out testing for some of the above can be useful!
Some tips for healing the gut:
Identify your triggers:
It’s not about what foods are “good” or “bad,” but rather how they interact with your body. Sometimes, removing foods that are exacerbating inflammation can be important, so that you can tend to the gut. But, restrictive diets shouldn’t last forever! Unless you have a true allergy, most food intolerances are a sign that the gut needs healing — and with time, many foods can be added back in.
If you have access to working with an allergist, this can be helpful in identifying any foods that may be placing an extra stress on the body!
Taking out food triggers temporarily can help to reduce inflammation, so that healing can occur.
2. Tend to the Inner Ecology:
We have a whole ecosystem living inside of us — bacteria, fungi, lots of microbes that keep our system in check!
While we need these bugs, we often have imbalances in our guts, from chronic stress, past antibiotic use, food intolerances or processed foods, or medications (like hormonal contraceptives).
Working with herbs that are antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic can help to clear out pathogens, especially from the small intestine, where they don’t belong!
Some plant allies to consider:
black walnut
Pau D'Arco
wormwood
As well as common kitchen herbs like:
Oregano
Garlic
Thyme
Ginger
Clove
Keep in mind that focusing on pathogen control is meant to be a short term process, often somewhere between 2-6 weeks.
3. Seal the gut lining and repopulate:
Incorporate gut healing foods:
As you’re tending to the bacterial balance of the gut, it’s important to focus on sealing and healing the lining of the gut. This is what takes us from symptom management (I cut out 10 foods and I feel better, but I can’t eat anything) to healing (I can tolerate more foods well and eat to feel nourished).
Easy to digest, nutrient dense foods like bone broths, veggie mineral broths, organ meats, collagen rich foods, root veggies and fruits are great places to start, especially while in the healing phase. Again, each person is unique, so pay attention to what works for YOU.
(Want to know how to take an intuitive approach to abundant nourishment? Join us in The Womb Room Membership, where we explore nourishment in depth!)
Herbal Allies:
Nourishing herbal infusions can be a wonderful ally for gut healing. To make an herbal infusion, at 1/4 to 1/2 cup herbs to 4 cups of boiled water, cover tightly and let sit overnight, or 4-12 hours. Strain and drink throughout the day for some gut healing goodness!
Consider vulnerary (wound healing) herbs that are also nutritive to support the gut lining, like yarrow, calendula, comfrey, and plantain; nutritive herbs like nettle; and demulcent (moistening) herbs like slippery elm and marshmallow.
Repopulate:
In this stage of healing, a good quality probiotic can be useful in repopulating the gut with the beneficial bacteria we need! Spore-based probiotics are often useful here, as they help to “seed” the gut by planting beneficial bacteria for the long term. Keep in mind that just taking a probiotic without taking the above steps could lead to worsening symptoms.
In addition to supplements, adding in small amounts of a variety of fermented foods is another great way to introduce these good bugs to your system. Kombucha, kefir, fermented grains, and fermented veggies like sauerkraut are all good options. If you don’t tolerate them well, pause! That’s a sign that your gut needs more tending.
Quality Animal Sources:
When it comes to eating dairy and meat, aim for raw dairy if you can access it (find local sources here), and grass-fed, pasture raised meats. Even those who are lactose intolerant can often tolerate raw dairy well, especially goats and sheep milk!
Further Testing:
If you’re curious to learn more about your nutrient levels, the test that Arin and I discuss briefly in the episode is Hair Mineral Analysis Testing. The reason this test is particularly unique is because it tells you about the ratios of minerals in your body, which can reveal a LOT about your health and your needs! When it comes to endometriosis and gut healing, it can be tempting to take loads of supplements in hopes of resolving symptoms. But, when we have a deeper understanding of our nutrient levels, we can streamline the process, so you can actually receive the nutrients you most need!
Phew, that’s plenty to chew on for now -- comment below with what you found most helpful!
To connect with Arin, visit her website here: https://www.moonlico.com