Women’s health is unique
This website area focuses exclusively on health topics that affect the health of women.
Topics covered in this section include:
- Endometriosis
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Fertility
- Pregnancy
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful condition where a woman’s uterine lining grows outside of the uterus.
Not only is this extremely pain for women, but can have several effects on her health including:
- Reduced quality of life
- Heavy menstrual periods
- Painful intercourse
- Uncomfortable gut symptoms
- Infertility.
The condition is commonly treated with surgery, hormone therapy and medications; however, researchers are discovering that diet also plays a role.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance condition in women that is characterized by symptoms such as:
- Weight gain
- Male-pattern hair growth
- High androgen (male hormone) levels
- Polycystic ovaries seen on ultrasound
- Irregular or absent periods
- Infertility.
Weight loss is a major treatment method in improving the hormonal imbalance associated with this condition, and is therefore one of the main reasons why diet is so important in managing PCOS.
Fertility and pre-natal nutrition
Fertility issues are actually quite common, affecting 10-15% couples trying to conceive.
A woman’s fertility can be affected by a number of factors, diet being a significant one.
However, there are also particular women’s conditions that can affect a woman’s natural fertility – PCOS and Endometriosis; both of which can be managed with diet.
Pregnancy nutrition
The health of a growing fetus relies on the nutrition of their mother.
Likewise, the health of the mother relies on the nutrition they are providing for themselves.
However, there are many additional factors that can affect a woman’s ability to eat well during pregnancy, such as:
- Morning sickness
- Food aversions
- Early satiety
- Reflux
- Knowledge around what’s safe and what’s not during pregnancy.
All articles about Women’s Health
The Low FODMAP Diet Beginner’s Guide
Are you dealing with persistent digestive issues and wondering how to do a low FODMAP diet properly?
This is one of the most common questions we get at Diet vs. Disease, and if you’re tired of spending all your free time trying to figure out digestive relief on your own, this article is exactly what you need.
We’re going to cover everything you need to start a low FODMAP diet successfully, so you can get through it as smoothly as possible, find relief from symptoms, and one day eat with freedom like a normal person again.
[Discover More…]Why You’re STILL Bloated on Low FODMAP (It’s Not What You Think)
Are you still getting bloated on a low FODMAP diet even though you’re following it perfectly? You’re not crazy, and you’re definitely not alone.
Many people have this exact same frustrating experience. They’ve eliminated all the high FODMAP foods, they’re using the Monash app religiously, but that uncomfortable bloating just won’t go away.
Here’s the thing — clinical research shows the low FODMAP diet actually works for up to 86% of people with IBS (1). So statistically, if it’s not working for you, it’s likely user error rather than FODMAPs not being an issue for you.
But it’s not your fault, because there are actually two crucial hidden traps that you probably were never taught, which we’ll dive into in this article.
[Discover More…]Your Gut is Causing Your Arthritis (New Research Explains Everything)
Your knee pain, your hip stiffness, that arthritis your doctor calls “wear and tear” — what if it’s actually coming from your gut?
Recent research discussions from the highly reputable Arthritis Foundation suggest that an unhealthy gut may be the primary cause of osteoarthritis, not “wear and tear” like we’ve all been told (1,2,3). And since arthritis is the number one cause of disability in America, this connection could change everything about how we treat joint pain, which we’ll dive more into in this article.
If this gut-arthritis connection is real, it means that inflammatory damage might be starting in your digestive system years before you feel any joint pain. That “wear and tear” your doctor sees on X-rays could actually be inflammatory damage that began in your gut long before symptoms appeared.
[Discover More…]Why You Can’t Stay Low FODMAP Forever (The Hidden Dangers)
Have you been following a Low FODMAP diet for months — or even years — because it’s the only thing that keeps your symptoms under control? If so, then this article is for you.
What most people don’t realize is that staying in the elimination phase long-term isn’t just unsustainable — it’s actually dangerous for your gut health. Most doctors won’t tell you this, and most websites don’t explain it properly.
There’s a reason the Low FODMAP diet has specific phases, and skipping the reintroduction phase can leave you worse off than when you started. In this article, we’ll explore exactly why staying restrictive forever backfires, what it’s doing to your gut bacteria, and how to safely expand your diet without bringing back the symptoms that scared you in the first place.
[Discover More…]The Hidden Causes of Digestive Issues After 50
If your gut has gotten more unpredictable as you’ve gotten older—and you’ve been told it’s just in your head or that you should simply cut out more foods—this article is for you.
Because the truth is, the causes of digestive issues after 40 or 50 are often hidden. They’re misunderstood by friends and family, dismissed by the medical system, and buried under years of confusion and trial-and-error.
In this article, we’re not just talking about food triggers. We’re going deeper. You’ll learn how stress, hormone shifts, and even well-meaning advice can leave people stuck with worsening IBS symptoms that no diet alone can fix.
[Discover More…]The Real Reason You’re Always Bloated (And It’s Not FODMAPs)
If you’re eating all the “safe” foods but your belly still blows up like you’re 5 months pregnant after every meal, there’s a reason no one’s told you about.
Because what you think is bloating might actually be a gut-muscle issue. It has nothing to do with what you ate, and everything to do with how your body is reacting to digestion.
There’s a hidden condition where your abdominal wall and diaphragm stop working in sync, and instead of creating space during digestion, your body does the opposite: it pushes out when it should be pulling in.
Most doctors don’t test for it. Many have never even heard of it. But if you’ve tried restrictive diets, probiotics, or gut protocols — and your symptoms still haven’t improved — this could be the missing piece.
[Discover More…]IBS, Anxiety & Bladder Issues: The Hidden Link Doctors Miss
If you’ve ever had IBS symptoms that come with bladder urgency, pelvic pain, or just feel like your whole lower body is out of sync…
You’re not imagining it.
The gut, the brain, and the bladder — plus the pelvic floor — are all part of the same network. And if you don’t understand how they influence each other, you’ll never get full relief.
This is a monumental missing link in gut health that I want to unpack for you today, and it’s especially important if your approach has always been limited to diet changes and hasn’t really helped your gut.
In this article, I’m going to give you a quick foundation so you understand what the gut-brain-bladder axis is, why it matters, and how to restore balance when this axis becomes disrupted.
[Discover More…]Menstrual Cycle Phases and Weight Loss: How To Ensure It Won’t Cramp Your Efforts
Many women experience uncomfortable and frustrating changes to their body with every monthly cycle.
Among these discomforts are hormonal and behavioral fluctuations that can make weight loss even more challenging than it already is.
But losing weight, even when on your period, is possible.
This article takes a look at how your menstrual cycle impacts the hormones that influence your body weight, and how premenopausal women can still achieve their weight loss goals.
But first, let’s review some menstrual cycle basics.
[Discover More…]6 Simple Diet Changes That Boost Fertility and Help You Fall Pregnant (Plus a Fertility Meal Plan)
Struggling to fall pregnant?
You’re not alone. In fact, 10-15% of couples face fertility issues (1).
In addition to taking a pre-conception multivitamin, there are certain diet and lifestyle changes that can improve fertility by up to 69% (2).
This article summarizes 6 key diet changes that research indicates can boost natural fertility.
[Discover More…]Endometriosis and Diet: What You Can Do About It In 2019
Endometriosis is a painful condition that can greatly impact your quality of life.
Diet changes are said to help relieve symptoms, but does the evidence support these claims?
This article explores the role of diet in endometriosis treatment.
[Discover More…]How To Lose Weight When You Have PCOS: 8 Science-Backed Tips
PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a common hormonal disorder that affects up to 20% of pre-menopausal women.
The exact cause is unknown, but an imbalance of male sex hormones (called androgens) is a big culprit.
One of the most common symptoms is weight gain. In fact, 39% of women with PCOS are overweight or obese (1).
Fortunately, a few lifestyle changes can help you to balance hormones and lose weight.
This article looks at 8 tips for losing weight when you have PCOS.
[Discover More…]The Best Diet for PCOS: Splitting Fact From Fiction
PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders in the developed world.
In fact, it’s thought to affect almost 7% of pre-menopausal women in the US (1).
But there is surprisingly limited information on how to treat it naturally.
This article explores the best diet for PCOS, as based on scientific evidence.
[Discover More…]
