The healthy fats found in some fish seem to lower endometriosis risk.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Doctors don't know exactly what causes endometriosis, a painful condition in which tissue that normally lines the uterus starts growing on other organs in the body, such as the ovaries, bladder, or bowels. The condition is not only painful, it can also cause fertility problems. But a new pair of studies, both published in the journal Human Reproduction, seem to suggest that paying attention to what we eat and put on our bodies could significantly reduce the risk of developing endometriosis.

THE DETAILS: In a study looking at endometriosis and the types of fat women eat, Harvard researchers analyzed 12 years of data and found that while total fat consumption was not associated with endometriosis risk, the women who ate the most omega-3 fatty acids were 22 percent less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis when compared to the group that ate the lowest amount. On the flip side, the most unhealthy fats, trans fats, increased the risk of developing endometriosis by nearly 50 percent.

The second study investigating a lifestyle link to developing endometriosis found that women exposed to phthalates, specifically a certain type called mono-butyl phthalate, were more likely to develop endometriosis than women with the lowest level of these phthalates in their bodies. Phthalates are plastics chemicals found in fragranced candles, shampoos, makeup, and other personal-care products, as well as vinyl products, and their estrogenic properties have been shown to cause genital deformities in baby boys and disrupt our bodies' hormonal system.

Read on to find out how to avoid these nasty substances in your daily life.