Avoid caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and acid-forming foods (red meat, dairy products, heated or treated oils, and excess carbohydrates, especially refined products).

Try a short juice fast to clear out the body, and follow up with cultured foods such as miso or tempeh, unless you have a food allergy to soy products. After cleansing the body, plenty of fresh greens, fresh fruits in season, and a reasonable quantity of whole grains provide strength. Include changes to stabilize hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), such as eating smaller meals. As always, eating little or no animal fat decreases harmful excess estrogen.

The following food items are especially good:

Soybeans are high in estrogen-like plant compounds, genistein and daidzein. These prevent your body from taking up the more harmful forms of estrogen circulating in your blood. These phytoestrogens take the place of the bad estrogen, binding to the cell's estrogen receptor sites and prevent more harmful estrogens from binding to these receptors. They also protect the body from pollutants that chemically mimic estrogen.

Bean sprouts supply more genistein (the more active of the two phytoestrogens) than soybeans. As beans germinate, their genistein content increases. If the sprouts have fungi, the genistein content may increase as much as hundred-fold!

Pinto beans, yellow split beans, black turtle beans, lima beans, anasazi beans, red kidney beans, red lentils, black eyed peas, mung beans, adzuki beans, and fava beans are other sources of these important phytoestrogens.

If you have endometriosis eat as much edible beans as possible as often as possible. Eat salads made of bean sprouts. Take bean soups, baked beans, and Mexican foods rich in beans such as burritos.

Flaxseed contains generous amounts of compounds called lignans. These are believed to help control endometrial cancer.

Flaxseed might be particularly helpful for anyone who is not a vegetarian, Vegetarians have high blood and urine levels of lignans. Consuming meat suppresses lignans substantially. Flaxseed helps to supplement this deficit.

Peanuts contain many of the healthful substances as soybeans and other beans. Many people prefer the taste of peanuts over soybeans.

The papery red membrane surrounding spanish peanuts is a source for oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), substances that may help control hormone dependent cancers and possibly endometriosis.

Alfalfa sprouts contain phytoestrogens. Use them liberally on salads. Eating them also reduces the risk of contracting cancer. (Do not consume alfalfa if you or your family has a history of lupus.)

EPO contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and tryptophan, substances that promote good health in women.

Amanda M. Crawford, author of 'Herbal Remedies for Women' recommends the following nutritional supplements daily for women suffering from endometriosis: