Why do I have fibroids?
We cannot say with certainty why fibroids occur. Some studies hold family genetics, age and ethnic origin accountable, while others suspect women’s estrogen levels play a lead role in the development of fibroids.
What is Estrogen?
Estrogen is a hormone that plays an important role in the normal sexual and reproductive development in women. It regulates the menstrual cycle, affects the reproductive tract, the urinary tract, the heart and blood vessels, bones, breasts, skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles, and the brain. When estrogen levels rise, secondary sexual characteristics such as pubic and armpit hair also start to grow.
Is my diet causing my fibroids?
Estrogen can also be found in many food products. Several processed foods, red meats, fruits and vegetables are treated with environmental estrogens to stimulate quicker growth. Farmed fish and red meats are prime examples of foods that have excessive levels of estrogen.
Studies have shown that eating refined and processed foods that are high in estrogen elevate the levels of estrogen within your body, causing your fibroids to flare up and increase in size.
Will changing my diet help reduce my fibroids?
Switching to organic-based products can help lower the amount of estrogen in your diet, which may keep your fibroids from growing. There are no foods proven to shrink fibroids, however, eating organic fruits and vegetables and decreasing your consumption of farmed fish, processed food and excessive red meat can help decrease the introduction of excess estrogen into your body.
Foods to enjoy include:
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- Organic fruits such as apricots, pineapple, cantaloupe
- Organic green and leafy vegetables
- Foods high in iron
- Flaxseeds
- Whole grains
- Nuts such as almonds and hazelnuts
- Organic, grass-fed, lean meats and wild-caught fish
What do I do if changing my diet doesn’t help decrease my fibroids?
Sometimes your diet alone cannot help you manage your fibroids. If you find yourself suffering from common fibroid symptoms such as heavy periods, bloating, frequent urination, constipation and pelvic pain, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) may be your next best option.
To learn more about your fibroid treatment options, contact Dr. Neel Patel at The Atlanta Fibroid Clinic. Find out how you can be fibroid-free through UFE.
