The Low FODMAP Diet and Endometriosis: What the Research Shows

Today we’re continuing with our Study Spotlight series on the study entitled ‘Dietary Modification and Supplement Use For Endometriosis Pain’. If you’re new to the series and want to understand what this study was about, the strengths and weaknesses and my overall thoughts on the study, go to episode 365, and the link to that is in the show notes.Today, we’re diving into one of the supplements with the best response rate, and that is serrapeptase.Show Notes: Main studyhttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/new-endo-survey-study-reviewhttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831953Serrepeptase overall research https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29618875/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23380245/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7585045/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8265778/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8624573/#B8-medicines-08-00068https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/10/1468Serrepeptase inflammation researchhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S181808761630160Xhttps://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/10/1468PgE2https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0090698085902084?via=ihubhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20511671/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4512562/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3081099/Interleukin 6https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38428575/https://www.ijfs.ir/article_700967_82be9d71bf5a0f57430b545d9df3ec27.pdfhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5556658https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9265783https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7943546https://jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12974-016-0607-6Endo and serrepeptase/proteolytic enzyme researchhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.5301/je.5000215https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378432019305895VEGF and endohttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3850339/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9688413/ https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/global-womens-health/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2022.856316/fullhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8671190/TGF-α and endohttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/000293789390356Nhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1923211/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1447-0578.2005.00098.xhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666335X22000386Dosinghttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1743919113000265https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831953Get personalised endo support6-12 month 1:1 coaching programmeSingle sessions and mini coaching packagesNeed more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! ⁠Endometriosis Net Column⁠⁠Endometriosis News Column⁠⁠Substack ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ Ways to work with me:⁠This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook⁠⁠Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief⁠⁠Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course⁠⁠One to one coaching info and application⁠ Produced by ⁠Chris Robson

Today we’re starting a new series and that’s looking into a major new endometriosis study, and doing a deep dive into the dietary changes and supplements it analysed and individually investigating each of them, so that we have a broader understanding of each of these tools.I won’t necessarily be doing one episode on the series every week, as there are many components of the study we’ll be looking at, so I don’t want to bore you guys with the same topic over and over, but expect us to dip in and out of this series over the next few months.Now, the study in question is: Dietary Modification and Supplement Use For Endometriosis PainThe study was a survey study, with 2858 participants, out of which 2388 had endometriosis. It is the largest international survey study we have to date, which is one of the reasons why it’s such a big deal.Show Notes: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/28319536-12 month 1:1 coaching programmeSingle sessions and mini coaching packagesNeed more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! ⁠Endometriosis Net Column⁠⁠Endometriosis News Column⁠⁠Substack ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ Ways to work with me:⁠This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook⁠⁠Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief⁠⁠Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course⁠⁠One to one coaching info and application⁠ Produced by ⁠Chris Robson

In this week’s episode we are continuing on the ADHD and endometriosis theme, and I have another guest for you - this time, one you may recognise from the show previously; Natalia Kasnakidis.Natalia is an award-winning Career & Performance Coach, Speaker and women’s health advocate – recently recognised by Management Today as one the UK’s 35 Women Under 35.After being diagnosed with hEDS at 21, she rebuilt her health and confidence whilst growing multi-million-pound brands and high-performing teams at top global ad agencies. Now, as founder of The Limitless Collective, she helps women achieve their career ambitions in a way that's sustainable, fulfilling & supports their wellbeing. She specialises in supporting women who are neurodivergent or managing chronic health conditions – bringing a holistic, mind-body approach to professional growth.Today we are talking about her story of how she navigated chronic illness early on in her career, and how it forced her to make essential changes that were outside of typical societal norms, but allowed her to progress and develop her career, even with ADHD, hypermobile-EDS and suspected endometriosis. We then discuss how this experience led her to found The Limitless Collective to help other women do the same, and her tips and strategies for listeners who want to thrive in their careers and businesses, whilst also caring for their health and managing their conditions and neurodivergence.Show Notes: Connect with Natalia:https://[email protected]:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.786916/fullhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395621004258Need more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! ⁠Endometriosis Net Column⁠⁠Endometriosis News Column⁠⁠Substack ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ Ways to work with me:⁠This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook⁠⁠Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief⁠⁠Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course⁠⁠One to one coaching info and application⁠ Produced by ⁠Chris Robson

Following on from last week’s episode about ADHD and menopause, I am resharing my interview with Adele Wimsett, who is talking to us about ADHD and the connection with endometriosis.In this episode we discuss:What ADHD isWhy it presents differently in females and cyclical people and what this means for diagnosisHow hormones affect ADHD traitsWhat impact hormones have on traits during different hormonal phases of a cyclical person’s lifeHow we can support our hormones to live an adhd friendly lifestyle.Show Notes: Adele’s websiteAdele’s InstagramResearch:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.786916/fullhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395621004258Need more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! ⁠Endometriosis Net Column⁠⁠Endometriosis News Column⁠⁠Substack ⁠⁠Instagram⁠ Ways to work with me:⁠This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbook⁠⁠Masterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain relief⁠⁠Live and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY course⁠⁠One to one coaching info and application⁠ Produced by ⁠Chris Robson

Dr Helen Wall is an NHS doctor, who runs a menopause clinic and is passionate about spreading awareness of ADHD in women, especially in perimenopause. She is a resident doctor on the BBC and a columnist for Woman Magazine. With those of us with endo more likely to have ADHD, and symptoms worsening during perimenopause, I invited Dr Helen onto the show, to help us understand what ADHD is, how to look for the signs and symptoms, what we can expect of this condition during perimenopause and how to seek support and treatment.For those of you who aren’t aware, ADHD presents differently in women, and is often missed for decades, if not for a woman’s entire lifetime. I have seen first hand how undiagnosed ADHD can hugely impact quality of life, and how it worsens in my clients during perimenopause. As a result of what I’ve personally experienced and witnessed, I think that this is one of the most important interviews I’ve ever had on the show. Dr Helen is a wealth of knowledge and I highly recommend you follow her work on Instagram (I’ve put the link in the show notes), but for now, dive in!Show noteshttps://tvhealthdoctor.comhttps://www.instagram.com/doctorhelenwall/ @doctorhelenwallhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002937820302210Need more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! Endometriosis Net ColumnEndometriosis News ColumnSubstack InstagramWays to work with me:This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbookMasterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain reliefLive and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY courseOne to one coaching info and applicationProduced by Chris Robson

Seed cycling. You might have heard of it, you might have tried it, you might have had your doctor dismiss it or you may think it’s just another wellness trend. But admittedly, whilst it’s trendy, it’s not just hype. Show notesFlax studieshttps://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/77/5/1215/2649961?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=falsehttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14749240/Zinchttps://ovarianresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13048-024-01442-zhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36920672/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3275394/https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessionalVit Ehttps://ovarianresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1757-2215-2-1https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-09082-3https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1477-7827-7-54https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-023-01126-1https://www.clinicalnutritionespen.com/article/S2405-4577(22)00500-9/abstractMagnesiumhttps://www.ijwhr.net/pdf/pdf_IJWHR_624.pdfhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8972862/#ref18https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11013220/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3198864/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6747732/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2675496/Seed Cycling Clinical Study by BeeYa Wellnesshttps://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0514/1102/6118/files/Beeya_Clinical_Study_-_Detailed_Report.pdf?v=1741313849Calciumhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07315724.2000.10718920https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1079417/full#B44https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1028455909602710?via=ihubhttps://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(34)90970-4/abstractPCOS studyhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10261760/Need more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! Endometriosis Net ColumnEndometriosis News ColumnSubstack InstagramWays to work with me:This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbookMasterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain reliefLive and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY courseOne to one coaching info and applicationProduced by Chris Robson

Okay so last week I said I had finished with the low FODMAP series, but I changed my mind! I wanted to do one more on the topic, and that’s for my endo peeps who also have postural tachycardia syndrome or dysautonomia, and/or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.Show notesLow FODMAP diet infohttps://www.monashfodmap.com/about-fodmap-and-ibs/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4918736/EDS definitionhttps://www.ehlers-danlos.com/what-is-eds/POTS definition https://www.standinguptopots.org/POTSsubtypesLong covidhttps://nurosym.org/blogs/in-conversation-with/dr-david-strainhttps://news.utoledo.edu/index.php/03_24_2025/covid-19-brought-about-a-large-rise-in-pots-cases#:~:text=The UToledo study, however, points,COVID may actually have POTS.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10166245/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12079877/#:~:text=The pooled prevalence of long,the forest plot in Fig.EDS and endometriosishttps://www.ehlers-danlos.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/N-Blagowidow-2018Baltimore-OB-GYN-and-EDS-HSD-S.pdfhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9420859/https://www.eds.clinic/articles/endometriosis-ehlers-danlos-syndromehttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endometriosis-and-ehlers-danlos-syndrome?rq=EhlersIBS and POTShttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2024.1342351/full3https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284068911_Gastrointestinal_Dysfunction_in_Postural_Tachycardia_Syndrome#:~:text=of these patients.-,...,[37]. …https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345601295_Postural_Tachycardia_Syndrome_and_the_GutLow FODMAP diet and POTShttps://www.potsuk.org/managingpots/diet-and-fluids-2/ https://sci-hub.se/10.1016/j.autneu.2018.09.003https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2019/06/POTS-June-2019.pdfLow FODMAP and EDShttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/353970119_Literature_Review_Does_following_a_low_FODMAP_diet_improve_functional_gastrointestinal_symptoms_in_Ehlers-Danlos_Syndrome_Hypermobility_type_through_supporting_the_role_of_nutritional_interventionhttps://www.ehlers-danlos.com/2017-eds-classification-non-experts/gastrointestinal-involvement-ehlers-danlos-syndromes/https://practicalgastro.com/2024/06/17/nutritional-considerations-for-hypermobile-ehlers-danlos-syndrome/#:~:text=If symptoms do not improve,compared to IBS-C controls.IBS and EDShttps://www.eds.clinic/articles/gastrointestinal-issues-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-guidehttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7255528/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29687534/SIBO and EDS https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37858959/SIBO and POTShttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29326369/https://sci-hub.se/10.1016/j.autneu.2018.09.003Need more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! Endometriosis Net ColumnEndometriosis News ColumnNewsletterInstagramWays to work with me:This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbookMasterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain reliefLive and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY courseOne to one coaching info and applicationProduced by Chris Robson

Recently we’ve been talking about the low FODMAP diet and how it can be helpful for histamine issues and endometriosis symptoms… but what about what it was designed for - IBS, and by default, SIBO?Show notesLow FODMAP diet infohttps://www.monashfodmap.com/about-fodmap-and-ibs/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4918736/IBS and SIBOhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv8LjTgpmP0https://www.ibssmart.com/sibo-symptoms-and-diagnosishttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-05933-1https://www.msjonline.org/index.php/ijrms/article/view/15048SIBO and endometriosishttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39959963/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9660426/IBS and endometriosis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9357916/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11668458/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18715239/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28303579/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18715239/Microbiome and endohttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10747908/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10904627/https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1552134/fullhttps://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/11/5144https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2023.1110824/fullhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9962481/Endo and low FODMAP diethttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28303579/https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-025-03715-1https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12107219/SIBO treatment optionshttps://endometriosisnews.com/2020/12/17/elemental-diet-sibo-treatment/https://endometriosisnews.com/2020/11/05/antimicrobial-herbs-treat-sibo-right-for-me/https://endometriosisnews.com/2020/10/08/antibiotics-treat-sibo-guide/https://endometriosisnews.com/2020/09/24/sibo-treatment-what-to-know/https://www.theendobellycoach.com/this-endolife-podcast-episodes/how-to-treat-sibo-with-dr-allison-siebeckerNeed more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! Endometriosis Net ColumnEndometriosis News ColumnNewsletterInstagramWays to work with me:This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbookMasterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain reliefLive and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY courseOne to one coaching info and applicationProduced by Chris Robson

Last week I talked about the low FODMAP diet for lowering histamine levels and helping to improve MCAS or histamine intolerance symptoms, but today I want to talk about the low FODMAP diet specifically for endometriosis and what the research shows so far.Show notesLow FODMAP diet infohttps://www.monashfodmap.com/about-fodmap-and-ibs/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4918736/Studies referencedhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28303579/https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-025-03715-1https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12107219/Need more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! Endometriosis Net ColumnEndometriosis News ColumnNewsletterInstagramWays to work with me:This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbookMasterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain reliefLive and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY courseOne to one coaching info and applicationProduced by Chris Robson

Today I wanted to talk about the low FOMDAP diet, but not for the reasons you may think.Today, I don’t actually want to talk about it specifically for IBS/SIBO (though we will touch upon that again), I want to talk about its benefits for histamine, because the low FODMAP diet can actually be a way to lower histamine levels. Show notes Low FODMAP diet infohttps://www.monashfodmap.com/about-fodmap-and-ibs/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4918736/Endometriosis and histamine/MCAShttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22332753/https://www.emjreviews.com/reproductive-health/article/targeting-mast-cells-as-a-viable-therapeutic-option-in-endometriosis/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31998139/https://www.eds.clinic/articles/the-role-of-mast-cells-in-endometriosishttps://www.gynecologiconcologyinstitute.org/news/endometriosis/endometriosis-news/mast-cell-activation-syndrome-and-endometriosis-a-potential-link-for-unexplained-symptoms-in-women/MCAShttps://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/dx-2020-0005/htmlhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28780942/https://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2020/06/Mast-Cell-Activation-Syndrome-June-2020.pdfMCAS and comorbidities https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33980338/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32803794/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32434316/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31267471/https://www.eds.clinic/articles/the-role-of-mast-cells-in-endometriosishttps://www.potsuk.org/about-pots/associated-conditions/hypermobility-and-pots/https://www.siboinfo.com/associated-diseases.html - various studies highlighting SIBO links to all conditions listed in the episodehttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29326369/Podcast episodes on POTS/EDS/SIBO/IC/MCAShttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endometriosis-sibo-ic-and-allergies-the-histamine-connection?rq=histaminehttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endo-ehlers-danlos-syndrome-connection?rq=POTShttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endo-and-adhd?rq=POTShttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/strategies-for-lowering-histamine-reducing-allergies-endometriosis?rq=histaminehttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/low-oxalate-low-histamine-elimination-diet-interstital-cystitis?rq=histaminehttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/nettle-tea-for-endo?rq=histaminehttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endo-and-chest-pain?rq=histaminehttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/pycnogenol-endohttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endo-ic-sibo?rq=histaminehttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/pots-dysautonomia-with-endo?rq=POTShttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/endo-and-dysautonomia?rq=POTShttps://www.theendobellycoach.com/podcast/jessica-drummond-endometriosis-mcas-hypermobility-dysautonomiaMCAS and low FODMAP diethttps://med.virginia.edu/ginutrition/wp-content/uploads/sites/199/2020/06/Mast-Cell-Activation-Syndrome-June-2020.pdfhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23644955/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26976734/https://drruscio.com/mast-cell-activation-syndrome-clinician-researcher-dr-lawrence-afrin/Low FODMAP diet and leaky gut/gut microbiomehttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34371976/https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1750-3841.70072?af=REndometriosis and low FODMAP diethttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apt.70161https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/low-fodmap-diet-can-ease-symptoms-of-those-with-endometriosis-studyhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10754387/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28303579/Need more help or want to learn how to work with me?Free resources:This podcast! Endometriosis Net ColumnEndometriosis News ColumnNewsletterInstagramWays to work with me:This EndoLife, It Starts with Breakfast digital cookbookMasterclasses in endo nutrition, surgery prep and recovery and pain reliefLive and Thrive with Endo: The Foundations DIY courseOne to one coaching info and applicationProduced by Chris Robson