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" Between hosting Bravo&amp;#039;s Top Chef and designing her new jewelry line, Padma Lakshmi champions a particularly personal cause: endometriosis awareness. After a 20-year battle with the condition, she finally got the right diagnosis and teamed up with her doctor to create the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound.org). Endometriosis occurs when tissue that normally lines the uterus grows in other parts of the body, such as the pelvis or ovaries. It affects more than 5 million women, yet many people go undiagnosed. That&amp;#039;s because symptoms\u2014such as excessively painful periods or abdominal pain\u2014are often mistaken for something else, like gastrointestinal problems.   Once discovered, it&amp;#039;s easy to treat (options range from hormone therapy to surgical removal of excess tissue). &amp;quot;For years I spent three days a month in bed with excruciating pain,&amp;quot; says Lakshmi. &amp;quot;My life is so different now; I have fewer cramps, less swelling, and my mood is better.&amp;quot; Last fall, she also found out she was pregnant, which was exciting because endometriosis can affect fertility.   Here&amp;#039;s how this foodie stays strong:   1. I eat a lot of good stuff. &amp;quot;I love fruit\u2014especially grapefruit and pomegranate\u2014as well as veggies, salads, brown rice, chicken and fish.&amp;quot;   2. Moderation is my motto. &amp;quot;Whether it&amp;#039;s splurging or depriving, exercising too much or too little, the middle path is the best.&amp;quot;   3. I really enjoy being active. &amp;quot;Before I was pregnant, I loved to box! I looked forward to those workouts, so it kept me on track.&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/a4712/how-padma-lakshmi-stays-fit-102981/>