Padma Blossoms into health

Padma Lakshmi and Whoopi Goldberg may seem like an unlikely pair. But did you know they both had the same disease, Endometriosis and beat it? Now they are fighting to make sure young women know about this “silent epidemic” that affects nearly 10 million women in the US!

The two met up on the red carpet at the “Blossom Ball” Monday night in NYC for the launch party of Padma’s new non-profit the Endometriosis Foundation of America. The actress, author, and bombshell host of Top Chef has gone through the disease and says that “being treated and now being on the other side of it has been a big relief.”

The Blossom theme was inspired by her own doctor’s words to her about the affliction, “he said…think of your womb as a garden and think of this disease as weeds in a garden and it will go and it will spread like roots in a garden and choke all the blossoms and you want a healthy womb.” In fact, Endometriosis left untreated can cause infertility and chronic pain.

So why is the disease so unknown? Padma told us that “unless or until it happens to you it really doesn’t sink in.” She also believes that it’s because young women aren’t comfortable speaking out about their bodies in an open way and that has prevented doctors from diagnosing it and curing it. “Let’s cut that down and let's start talking about it!” says Whoopi.

Both women told girls to get themselves checked--Whoopi joked“First take care of yourself. Cause if your dead its not gonna work out.” You can get yourself checked by your doctor or at a free clinic. You can also start a discussion group in your school about body issues or throw a benefit concert to raise awareness.

What do you think about this new cause being brought forth? Do you agree with Padma and Whoopi that the issues aren’t spoken about enough? How can we break the barriers and get the word out? Comment below!