Why you get endo belly
One of the endometriosis symptoms that can be difficult to manage is endo belly – or the bloating and swelling of the abdomen that many people with endo seem prone to.
If you’ve experienced it you’ll know what I mean when I say it’s not unusual to have different clothes that you wear when endo belly strikes, sometimes a size bigger than usual and definitely no tight waistbands!
But why does it happen?
Often there are a number of different things that may be adding to endo belly, but here are some of the top reasons I see.
- Gut bacteria imbalances
There’s been a lot of research in recent years about the differences in gut bacteria between people with endometriosis and those without the condition. Those of us with endo, tend to have more of the bad gut bacteria that can add to bloating. People with endo can also be more prone to a condition known as SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) where some of the gut bacteria (both the good and bad ones) can end up in the small intestine instead of the large intensive where it should be. This can cause a lot of bloating and gut symptoms.
2. Inflammation in the pelvis
Endometriosis is an inflammatory health condition and people with endo tend to have more inflammatory hormones in the pelvis. All this inflammation can upset the digestive system and cause bloating and IBS symptoms. Add that some people sadly have endometriosis on or around the bowel, and this adds to the level of bloating and digestive symptoms people with endo can get.
3. Stress
Living with endo and managing the symptoms is stressful, but stress has a direct impact on the digestive system via the vagal nerve which links the gut and the brain. Stress dampens down the digestive system and reduces the stomach acid and digestive enzymes we need to break down food. So, when we then try to eat we can end up feeling bloated as food is not being broken down well and can end up fermenting in the gut.
4. Food intolerances
When the gut is struggling it can start to react to certain foods and struggle to break them down – so causing bloating. Some of the common culprits are foods that are high in something called FODMAPs (types of foods that can ferment and add to gas and bloating), such as onions, garlic and cruciferous vegetables. Annoyingly these are foods that are great for endometriosis as they help support the liver.
5. Low digestive enzymes and stomach acid
We need a certain level of stomach acid and digestive enzymes to help break down foods. If we don’t have enough of either of these, this can add to bloating.
Often it can be a bit of detective work to work out which things might be adding to your endo belly. That’s when some one to one support and/or some testing can be helpful to work out what might be making your endo belly worse.
Keep an eye out for my next blog where I’ll be sharing my top tips for managing endo belly. If you’d like some 1 to 1 support in reducing endo belly symptoms, book in for a free chat to find out more about my nutrition programmes.
Content Disclaimer
The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this blog are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this blog. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this blog. Emma Belton Nutrition disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this blog.