Vital Health Endometriosis Center

This Monday! We are thrilled that on November 9th, Miss USA contestant Justice Hope Enlow will help raise national and global endometriosis awareness! We are cheering for you Justice! We have listed a few ways you can help her cause on our blog: https://www.vitalhealth.com//miss-usa-contestant-joins-fi/ #missusa #misstnusa #endometriosis #women #empowerment

Congratulations to our former patient Justice Enlow, Miss Tennessee USA, who is now a contestant for Miss USA! She is an Endo warrior and creator of positiveperiod.org. Endometriosis education is her platform. Thanks for being you Justice, and for raising awareness and advocating for all the women affected by this disease. We are so happy for you and excited for the year ahead.. #endometriosis #misstnusa #missusa #justiceforwomen Read more on our blog.

WILD SALMON Contains higher amount omega-3 fatty acids than farmed salmon EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL Contains phenols (antioxidant) Contains oleocanthal (antioxidant with effects similar to that of ibuprofen)... FLAXSEEDS Contains omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid, a precursor to longer chain fatty acids High in fiber, protein, healthy fats, and nutrients CABBAGE Contains anthocyanins (antioxidant) Contains anti-inflammatory flavonoids ONIONS Contains quercetin (anti-inflammatory compound) SPINACH Contains quercetin (anti-inflammatory compound) Contains chlorophyll, which aids in detoxing STRAWBERRIES High in phenols like anthocyanins and ellagitannins A spinach salad topped with wild salmon and a dressing made from extra-virgin olive oil and flaxseeds, followed with strawberries for desert is the perfect inflammation fighting meal!. You can learn more about diet, nutrition, and inflammation in our online community EndoThrive. Doors opening soon. endothrive.com to get on the waitlist. What food above is your favorite? What would you add to this list?? See more

An amazing woman and inspiring story.

Adhesions are scars that form within the body. They usually form in the abdomen or pelvis. Adhesions can develop naturally after surgery as part of the healing process. They can also develop after infection or any other inflammatory process, such as Endometriosis. Lysis of adhesions is the process of cutting scar tissue within the body. This is done to restore normal function and reduce pain. This clip shows how to remove scar tissue with minimal amount of trauma to the tissu...e. This patient developed adhesions (scar tissue) between the abdominal wall and the omentum, following a previous surgery. The abdominal wall or tummy wall appears at the top of the video (the ceiling if you will) since we are looking through the belly button inside of the abdomen. The omentum is a curtain of fat which is attached to the bottom part of the stomach near the level of our ribs. In this case the omentum became scarred to the abdominal wall following a general surgical procedure resulting in pain and discomfort. Dr. Cook shows how to separate the adhesions using the Carbon 13 CO2 laser, which is one of the most precise and gentle surgical instruments available. He describes the procedure in detail and demonstrates important aspects of good surgical technique. Did you develop adhesions from surgery?

Juiced vegetables are a great concentrated source of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. A small glass of this potent juice can help to reduce inflammation and provide ourselves with the nutrients they need to optimize your health and wellness. Juice vegetables have the majority of the fiber removed, making them easy to digest. 2 large carrots 1 inch (2.5 cm) piece ginger root 1 cup roughly chopped bok choy... Using a juicer, process carrots, Ginger and bok choy. Drink within 30 minutes Recipe from the endometriosis health and diet program by Dr. Andrew Cook Whats your favorite juice?

Immune Support Reishi Mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) Reishi mushrooms have a long history of enhancing immune function. They are considered adaptogens and not only strengthen the immune system but also balance it. The polysaccharide beta (1,3)-D glucan in reishi helps to boost the immune system by increasing the amount of macrophages and T-cells, and enhancing their activity. Reishi helps to boost the level of supoeroxide dismutase (SOD), a powerful antioxidant, and increases... beneficial gut bacteria, which is critical for a strong immune system, since 80% of the immune system resides in the gut. In addition, reishi helps to support and heal the liver and repair the gastrointestinal lining. As a bonus, reishi is anti-inflammatory! There are different types of reishi. However, most herbalists consider red reishi to have the highest potency. The best time to take reishi is in the morning on an empty stomach with lots of water and a source of vitamin C. One study observing the effect of reishi mushroom supplementation on dysmenorrhea demonstrated a reduction or elimination of symptoms after 2 to 3 cycles using 1,500mg of Ganoderma lucidum extract taken 3 times daily. The most common dosage for the basic extract of reishi is 1,800mg taken 3 times daily (total daily dosage 5.2g). We love drinkin mushroom coffee to get these benefits. See more

Endometriosis should be recognized sub-specialty of OB-GYN.- it currently is not. With an increased awareness about endometriosis and pelvic pain, a fuel discussion about proper surgical treatment has also ensued. We believe treatment of endometriosis should be recognized as a board-certified subspecialty of OB-GYN. Millions of women are suffering unnecessarily because it currently is not. Endometriosis and pelvic pain represent a complex disease requiring an extensive kn...owledge base and an advanced surgical skill set to provide patients with appropriate care. Surgical treatment of endometriosis, especially stage III and IV, can be technically the most difficult surgery encountered- even more difficult than many types of cancer surgery. It is inappropriate for General OB-GYNs to be expected to treat anything more than the basics of this disease. OB-GYN physicians are primary care doctors not sub-specialists. What do you think? See more

Resistance training, or weight training, can benefit your body in many ways. More muscle strength improve body composition more muscle less that pain management improved Mobility... better balance increased bone density and strength better posture improve insulin sensitivity Since many women with endometriosis have been on Lupron or medications to suppress estrogen- which deplete bone density- resistance training may be a critical part of any Endo program. When you lift weights, the muscle pulls on your bones, causing tension. The bones adapt to the stimulus by increasing strength and density. It may be a good idea to talk with a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor dysfunction before beginning a resistance training program. This is especially true if you plan to do exercises involving the core and hips. If you have very tight muscles in those areas, or have been diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction, you want to make sure you're not making symptoms worse by increasing tension. Is resistance training part of your routine? See more

In a 2011 study published in The Archives of Environmental and Contamination Toxicology, researchers concluded that induced sweating appears to be a potential method for elimination of many toxic elements from the human body. Several toxic elements appear to be preferentially excreted through sweat. Studies have found sweating helpful in the elimination of phthalates and heavy metals. Since toxins may potentially encourage the development of hormone-related conditions such as Endo, increased detoxification may help to manage symptoms, slow disease progression and decrease the chances of recurrence after surgery. Whats your favorite way to sweat?

How are hormones affected by poor sleep? 1. Cortisol is increased, resulting in elevated blood sugar, weakened immunity, an increase in central fat deposition (belly fat) and, over time, an increase in inflammation. 2. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are both tightly tied to reproduction and menstrual cycles, are released during sleep. Sleep irregularities could lead to hormonal imbalance. 3. Growth hormone production and secretion is ...also increase during sleep. This important hormone delegates the body's proportions of fat and muscle during adulthood and aids and nightly bodily repair. 4. Inadequate sleep may reduce levels of leptin, which regulates appetite and carbohydrate cravings. These are just a few examples of how sleep deprivation can negatively impact your health. In regards to your Endo pain, changes in the above hormones may contribute to your disease by altering healthy blood sugar regulation, hormone balance and immune regulation. How much sleep are you getting?

Choose a smaller fish Fish are a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids. But some fish, especially larger varieties, are also a source of dioxins and other toxins such as heavy metals. Eating smaller fish (such as sardines) and eating less large fish (such as tuna) can greatly reduce your exposure to toxins. We recommend eating only wild caught fish, as farm-raised fish are lower in omega-3 fatty acids (due to their feed) and contain higher amounts of certain toxins.... A healthy omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio can be helpful in controlling inflammation. Unfortunately, the standard American diet has a 15:1- 17:1.75 omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio. A 2:1 to 3:1 omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio has been recommended in order to decrease inflammation. In rabbits, ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids reduced endometriotic implant size, and in cells in Petri dishes (in vitro), the addition of omega-3 fatty acids significantly slowed the growth of endometrial cells. We often recommend increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet to decrease the synthesis of highly inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins (they increase inflammation and pain). Other fantastic sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed, grass-fed beef, dark green vegetables, chia seeds and hemp seeds. How do you get your Omega 3s?

We have seen many women in our practice who have mothers, sisters and/or grandmothers who have been diagnosed or have similar endometriosis symptoms. In fact, it has been estimated that from 5% to 7% of patients with a first-degree relative with endometriosis will develop it, and that their symptoms will be more severe than someone lacking this genetic link to the disease. There has been speculation throughout the years that Endo may have a genetic component. For some ...time, we believed genetics determined our health outcomes. In fact, many medical professionals still believe this. While it is true that we are born with a specific genetic code, we are now learning that what we call epigenetics may be even more important. Epigenetics, or how are genes expressed themselves depending on their interaction with their surrounding environment, seem to have a greater impact on our health than the genes that make us who we are. One can think of genes as the books in a library, while epigenetics is the reading assignments telling us which books are to be read. What we expose our genes to can impact whether we develop a chronic health condition, such as endo, and how fast and well we age. Epigenetic instructions are passed down through at least several generations. Thus we are not only talking about the effects of our own environment. What our mother and grandmother's genes were exposed to factors in as well; not only did their environment change their genetic expression, but it can also result in a change and expression in your genes. There is increasing evidence that endometriosis, like many other chronic health conditions, is an epigenetic disease. All of this evolving research suggests that our genes are not our destiny, and that we have lots of power over our health. How are you supporting your genes? Want to learn more about how to support your genes? Get on the waitlist for EndoThrive. See more