If you are interested in learning how to reduce your Endometriosis symptoms with what you eat and drink, you're in the right place.
So let's start here (check all that apply):
I'm here because I:
- Am tired of being in pain all the time
- Miss so many of life's events with family, friends and work because I'm too unwell to leave my bed or home
- Am confused about the conflicting information out there about what I should and shouldn't eat
- Can not imagine living like this until I finally reach menopause
- Find it hard to believe that the only way I can deal with my symptoms is by taking medication and having surgeries.
Well, there is GREAT NEWS! There is no wrong answer. If any, or all, of the above apply to you, you are in the right spot.
I am Anne-Marijke Gerretsen (call me AMG) and I am on a mission to make ALL women and those assigned female at birth with Endometriosis aware of the role of diet in their symptoms, so they can make an informed decision about how to best manage their Endometriosis and live more of life.
Here's who I really am.
I am a qualified Nutritionist, and have specialised in treating Endometriosis. I could talk about food as medicine, especially for Endometriosis, all day! Not about how to cook or what my favourite recipes are, but how different foods underpin your symptoms and how what you eat and drink can improve your health in ways that medication will never be able to do. I've even written a book about it: 'Eat Your Way to Less Pain. Reduce Endometriosis symptoms one meal at a time.'
I'm also a behavioural psychologist and an expert in making diet changes stick.
What's so great about using Nutrition to reduce Endometriosis anyway?
In today's world of modern medicine, it is expected that if you have Endometriosis you rely on medical specialists, medication and surgery to manage your symptoms. In fact, many of my clients have come to me after going on that journey and not seeing the real improvement they are hoping for.
The truth is that Endometriosis is not a hormonal disease, as many people assume. The underlying 'engine' of the progression and symptoms of Endometriosis is chronic inflammation, caused by problems with your digestive system and immune system.
Nutrition can heal your digestive system, regulate your immune system, and as a result, reduce the chronic inflammation that keeps your Endometriosis growing and spreading.
My clients are always so excited when they can finally take control of their symptoms and start to see improvements like less pain, bloating, head fog and fatigue; no more constipation or diarrhoea, nausea, migraines, and many other symptoms.
A few random facts about me
- I'm a single mum to my gorgeous daughter Malou. She is my constant inspiration and cheerleader. She has left home to study at University.
- I love growing my own vegetables (which doesn't necessarily mean I'm good at it..).
- I am originally from the Netherlands and came to Australia in 1995 for a job. I planned to stay for a year ... just never left!
- I built a tiny house on wheels and now live in it.
My unusual journey to being the Endometriosis Nutritionist
I never had Endometriosis myself. I thought I didn't know anyone who had Endometriosis. I didn't really know that much about Endometriosis when I started my online nutrition clinic.
It was the story of a close friend of mine that woke me up! I had known her for 10 years and after I'd been writing a few posts about nutrition and Endometriosis she told me how much she’d been enjoying reading my articles and how everything I was talking about had been something she had had to work out for herself. She’d researched, she’d experimented, and had finally found the diet that worked for her.
As we were talking, she said she'd felt so lonely throughout it all and having to do her own research (on Mr Google, not always the most reliable source) and experimentation had been confusing and frustrating.
Hearing her story really resonated with me. Because I know why removing certain foods from her diet made her Endometriosis symptoms less! And with professional nutritional knowledge she could have achieved her current manageable Endometriosis so much sooner.
And I realised I could help so many women (1 in 9 women have Endometriosis, a staggering number) feel so much better!