Adenomyosis: From Diet to Health, Creating a Personalized Dietary Plan

Among gynecological diseases, adenomyosis is often underestimated, yet it significantly impacts a woman's quality of life. It can lead to severe menstrual pain, infertility, and other physical discomforts, as well as long-term psychological stress and social implications.

How can we improve symptoms through lifestyle adjustments in the face of this "silent" health crisis? In this article, we will explore personalized dietary principles for adenomyosis patients, along with practical recipe recommendations and advice on medication.

Taking Charge of Your Health: Dietary Principles for Adenomyosis Patients

1. Increase Intake of Anti-inflammatory Foods
Inflammation is a key factor in adenomyosis. Increasing the intake of foods rich in antioxidants, such as dark leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, and seeds, can help reduce inflammation in the body. For example, blueberries are rich in anthocyanins, which have strong anti-inflammatory properties.

2. Reduce Trans Fats and Processed Foods
Studies have shown that high levels of saturated fats and trans fats are associated with an increased risk of adenomyosis. Avoid fast food, baked goods, and other processed foods, and instead opt for whole grains, fish, and healthy fat sources like olive oil.

3. Increase Fiber Intake
A high-fiber diet helps maintain healthy bowel function and reduce inflammation. Whole wheat bread, oats, legumes, and various vegetables are excellent sources of fiber.

Practical Recipe Recommendations: Crafting a Personalized Dietary Plan

- Breakfast
- Blueberry Yogurt Oatmeal Bowl: Mix oatmeal with unsweetened yogurt, add fresh blueberries, nuts (like almonds), and a spoonful of honey. This meal is not only delicious but also rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.

- Lunch
- Grilled Fish with Vegetable Salad: Choose low-fat fish (such as bass or salmon) paired with a salad made of spinach, broccoli, and red bell peppers. Lightly dress with olive oil to increase omega-3 fatty acid intake.

- Dinner
- Whole Grain Vegetable Stir-Fry: Use brown rice or quinoa as a base, add chopped vegetables (such as carrots, peas, and mushrooms), and stir-fry with low-salt seasoning to reduce reliance on greasy meats.

Dietary Considerations for Adenomyosis Patients:

- Avoid Sour Foods: Sour foods have astringent properties that can cause blood to stagnate, which is unfavorable for the smooth flow and expulsion of menstrual blood. Therefore, those with dysmenorrhea should avoid such foods during menstruation. Sour foods include vinegar, pickled vegetables, pickles, sour dates, apricots, lemons, etc.

- Avoid Spicy Foods: For some people with dysmenorrhea, consuming spicy, hot, and strongly stimulating foods can worsen pelvic congestion, inflammation, or cause excessive uterine muscle contractions, thereby aggravating menstrual pain. Foods such as chili, pepper, garlic, onions, ginger, durian, and spicy seasonings should be consumed in moderation or avoided.

- Limit Hot and Coagulative Foods: Avoid foods like longan, red dates, donkey-hide gelatin, and royal jelly, which are hot, coagulative, and contain hormonal components.

- Avoid Cold Foods: Before and after menstruation, it is advisable to avoid cold foods such as cold drinks, cold dishes, crabs, pears, persimmons, watermelon, bananas, bitter melon, and mung beans, as they may cause cold-induced blood stasis, worsening menstrual pain.

Medication Treatment for Adenomyosis

In addition to lifestyle adjustments, adenomyosis patients should also consider medication treatment. For instance, Fuyan Pill is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation based on traditional Chinese medicine theories. It works by improving blood circulation and harmonizing yin and yang to alleviate symptoms, making it suitable for the treatment of mild to moderate adenomyosis.

Conclusion

In the face of the health challenge posed by adenomyosis, combining dietary adjustments with medication treatment is an important management strategy. By choosing anti-inflammatory foods, reducing unhealthy fat intake, increasing fiber and whole grain consumption, and incorporating appropriate medication, symptoms can be effectively improved, and quality of life can be enhanced.