Endo To Energy

When in pain, it's hard to think about the future.

Did you know that the more often you're in pain, the more sensitive you become to it? It's a race to the bottom.

For us to be able to move forward and get better, we need to design our own crisis toolkit.

These are the strategies we need when we are at our worst. Nothing fancy, complicated or energy demanding. Just easy ways to reduce pain and open up mental bandwidth to start taking away its causes.

Some supplements have been proven to help with endo symptoms and their underlying causes.

In the E2E framework, we believe supplements can be a part of the bigger picture, especially in the early stages.

When lacking energy, it is easier to take a supplement than it is to implement dietary changes. That's why we see them as a short/medium term strategy.

In the long term, the goal is to implement lifestyle changes to be able to phase them out.

The internet is filled with 'Endo Diets'. The truth is that there is no such thing as an 'Endo Diet'.

Diet is a vital part of the picture though. The right foods can ease symptoms, take away root causes and directly impact pain and energy levels.

Additionally, our overactive immune system and heightened pain response makes us prone to Irritable Bowel Syndrom (IBS).

As if that weren't enough, endometriosis patients seem to be (a lot) more prone to an unbalanced gut microbiome, leading to increased inflammation and hormone imbalance.

That's why the E2E "diet" is simple but effective: more plants, less bad foods.

Plants contain polyphenols, which are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. They also positively regulate gut microbes, which in turn support immune function, hormone regulation and communication between the brain and the gut.

If there was a pill that did all of that, I bet you'd take it.

Imagine two castles, both with guards on the watchtowers. One is in a war zone, under constant attack, while the other hasn’t been attacked in years.

Which guards might mistake a passing bunny for an enemy and shoot it?

That’s our brain.

The more pain you suffer, the more sensitive you become to pain.

Besides that, endo is also highly correlated to mental health issues like anxiety, depression and burn out. This correlation works in 2 directions: living with endo can lead to these conditions, but these conditions also increase symptoms. Stress and other mental health conditions change DNA, causing more inflammation.

Our brain is in a constant state of fight or flight. We need to actively give permission to relax, break the pain cycle and make mental health a priority.

Even if you think you are handling stress really well. The level of stress in our society is far beyond what our bodies were designed to cope with. Luckily there are ways to improve our response to it.

You probably already heard that exercise releases endorphins, improving our mood and ultimately mental health?

Have you also heard that exercise reduces inflammation and makes your immune system more efficient?

The challenge isn't convincing anyone of the importance of exercise. The challenge is sticking to a daily exercise habit when pain and fatigue (and your body in general) seem to be working against you.

That's why we designed the E2E exercise ladder. Prioritizing the habit over the actual exercise helps stick to the routine.

Starting each day with a simple breathing exercise that isn't only possible, but also helpful while in pain, will build a daily habit.

You decide how far to move up the ladder, based on energy, pain and time.