Uterine Fibroids

Many of my clients women and people assigned female at birth( AFAB) suffer from uterine fibroids, so many in fact that I have done some research and written a post about what they are and what you can do about it if you suspect or have been diagnosed with fibroids.

Firstly see your Dr and get medical help there is no way around this. Fibroids require medical attention.

We support alternative medicine and conventional medicine for the greater good. We have come far in health care, science, and the expertise of our medics and practitioners of all disciplines. It takes a certain kind of human and community of people that dedicate their lives to the well-being and care of others.

20 to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. Fibroids are most common in women in their 40s and early 50s and before menopause.

What are uterine fibroids?

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus). The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue, they vary in size, can grow, and for some women cause problems that interfere with everyday living.

Note: Fibroids are not cancerous. They rarely interfere with pregnancy. They usually grow slowly or not at all and can shrink after menopause, due to hormonal levels for reproduction dropping.

How do you know if you have uterine fibroids?

Many women are unaware they have fibroids because they do not have any symptoms. You will only know by seeing your Dr who will screen and may recommend further investigation like a scan. If you are having discomfort and or symptoms you don't recognise make an appointment to see your GP.

Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids.

Bloating for no reason at any time of day, heavier than usual periods, heavy bleeding, bleeding at other times of the month as well as your period, not being able to leave your house or go to work due to bleeding and pain. Unexplained abdominal pain, pain bending forward, discomfort on internal organs, pressing on the bladder and or intestines and bowels. Unexplained weight gain, especially around your midsection, not fitting into your clothes, feeling tired and lethargic. losing confidence and feeling low and depressed not knowing what to do.

See your Dr first and then you can do this:

Lower your BMI: This means you may need to lose weight. Especially around your middle.

Having a higher BMI raises estrogen levels, which increases your risk of fibroids.

Look at and or get help with your nutrition:

There’s no single diet that will work magically to prevent or treat fibroids, some studies suggest certain foods may help by lowering amounts of hormones that may induce and aggravate fibroids. Remove processed foods, foods high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and salt, and replace them with fresh vegetables, beans, nuts, fruit, fish, and white meats. Adds to your overall health and well-being help you lose weight and maintain weight loss, supporting you to lower your body mass index BMI.

Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, which helps your body get rid of excess estrogen through your stool. Estrogen feeds fibroids, so clearing out any excess may decrease the risks of fibroids. Better food choices feed your body with the nutrients you need like vitamins, trace minerals, and antioxidants that may discourage the growth of fibroids.

Foods that have been shown to help Apples, broccoli, cabbage, citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, and tomatoes.

Dairy:

Some research suggests that low-fat dairy products are possibly good if you are tolerant of dairy, however, if you wish to remove dairy make sure you are getting adequate calcium from elsewhere in your diet and or with supplements, as well as doing regular strength training because women lose bone density after 35 and this can threaten quality of life and even shorten life expectancy due to fractures. Calcium found highest in dairy products provides probiotics for your gut that are vital for healthy gut bacteria.

What is the right choice of dairy?

Sugar-free natural yogurts and or kefir

Non-Dairy options include:

Probiotics supplements. Dairy-free kefir, Suarkruat, Kimchi, Kombucha - homemade, or store-bought but must be sugar-free.

NOTE: Please make sure you read the label all these products must be the real deal. Due to the vogue of the health industry marketing of health products can be deceiving this means you are fooled into buying something you believe to be beneficial for your health instead it can do harm or nothing at all except waste your money.

Vitamin D deficiency is often seen in women with fibroids.

How do you know if you’re deficient in vitamin D? You can only know for sure with a blood test. Vitamin D is assimilated into our bodies by way of sunlight, and unprotected sun exposure, which means without sunscreen, which is not advised, high doses of exposure can have negative effects of premature ageing and risk of skin cancer. Choosing times of day and small amounts may be a safe option for receiving vitamin D from the sun. You can get vitamin D from diet but not as easily. For those living in a northern climate sunlight is hard to keep vitamin D levels up. People with darker skin tones have a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency because their skin doesn’t make as much.

Foods that contain Vitamin D

Fortified dairy products like milk and yogurt.

Fortified dairy alternatives like soy, almond, coconut oat milk, or yogurt. Light tuna. Rainbow trout. Salmon.

Foods that may contribute to fibroids

Some research suggests limiting or avoiding these foods:

Red meat and ham

A diet high in red meat has some health risks like heart disease and cancer, and might not help with uterine fibroids due to unhealthy saturated fats, pollutants or a combination.

You could choose to remove red meat from your diet or just eat less. This will decrease the saturated fat in your diet. Here are some ideas:

Choose leaner cuts of steak, like sirloin or flank steak. Cut off any visible fat. Swap higher-fat ground beef for 90% lean ground beef. Use ground turkey in place of ground beef.

Alcohol

Some research shows that drinking alcohol, especially in higher amounts, changes hormones in your body. These hormonal changes can lead to fibroid formation.

Avoid alcohol or limit and moderate. This means:

No more than one drink per day for women and people AFAB.

Powders, pills & potions

Mostly ineffective and a waste of your money, not to mention dangerous. There’s no evidence that any natural supplements will cure or shrink fibroids. Not seeing your Dr regularly, you could miss out on essential tests and health screenings.

Exercise.

Daily exercise even just walking can minimise fibroid symptoms especially when you make diet changes. Daily consistent exercise boosts endorphins, which are a natural feel-good pain relief as well as benefit your mental health. Will support you to lose excess weight, and lower your estrogen levels.

Managing your fibroids is about adopting a healthy lifestyle. That means healthy habits in your daily diet and exercise choices are a powerful way to take back control of your health and wellness by balancing your hormones naturally.

After thoughts.

From my understanding and experience as a health coach, not a medical professional. Making the lifetime choice to commit to a consistently healthy diet, daily exercise, and lifestyle is nonnegotiable, and perhaps the fibroids are an internal cry for help, your body talking to you, listen to your inner call, it’s TIME, the time is now, no more ignoring your needs, now is an opportunity to invest in yourself, wellbeing and health for a better future you. Your body is your home, your temple, treat it like one, with respect, investment, and priority, just as you would a pension, your savings, a home, and so on. In the end, you can’t take your investments, wealth, or body with you BUT you do have to live in the body you have been assigned until the very last breath, so make it a good healthy home to love and enjoy.

Your best health

Emily xo

Information source credits

www.womenshealth.gov

www.health.clevelandclinic.org

www.mayoclinic.org

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