Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow in or on the uterus, causing painful and heavy periods or other side effects. According to doctors, these formations are influenced by hormones. Your age, your medical family history, ancestry, growth issues and even the environment can trigger the growth of fibroids. Despite medicine still has no clear answer to what causes the apparition of fibroids, doctors know fibroids are sensitive to estrogen, which makes them grow.
Controlling your diet is a way to control the fibroids and prevent them by avoiding foods which contain hormones or can lead to a hormone change in your body.
General things to know when you go shopping
When you go shopping and you have fibroids or you want to avoid developing this condition, you need to stay away from canned foods. Xenoestrogens can trigger the development of fibroids and they are found in water bottles and cans. Non-organic beef also contains hormones, this time growth hormones, which can impact your own hormonal balance. Avoid soy, flaxseed, sesame seeds, chickpeas and all the other foods which contain vegetable estrogen.
Worst foods to eat when you have fibroids
Changing your diet and avoiding these foods completely or partially can prevent the fibroids from growing and can reduce their size. At the same time, by avoiding these foods you can ease your symptoms. There are also foods in this list which promote inflammation or weaken your body, allowing the fibroids to grow.
Alcohol and caffeine
Excessive alcohol consumption increases the overall inflammation in your body and hormonal imbalances. It also impacts the liver function, preventing it from breaking down the hormones properly. Caffeine also alters the function of the liver, if you drink more than two cups of coffee for day. The less caffeine and alcohol you drink, the better your liver can function, keeping your hormonal balance.
Processed meat
Meat is rich in unhealthy fats and contains a lot of chemical additives, which disturb your hormonal balance. Avoid all processed foods, such as hamburgers, or sausages, replacing them with lean white meat.
High fat dairy
High fat dairy products are also high in added hormones, so avoid whole milk, cream or butter. If you can’t remove them from your diet, pick the healthier alternatives, such as organic, hormone-free dairy products.
Salt
Excessive salt can worsen the symptoms of fibroids, especially during your period. Almost all canned foods contain high amounts of salt, so read the labels carefully before you put them in your groceries basket.
Refined sugar
Refined sugar increases pain and reduces the body’s ability to protect itself, interfering with the immune system. It also leads to weight gain and a high glycemic index, both linked to high risk of developing fibroids.
Refined carbohydrates can raise the insulin levels and create a hormonal imbalance. Cereals and plain bread contain both carbohydrates and sugars, so you should stay away from them.
Keep in mind that changing your lifestyle is also going to change how your body functions, so avoiding certain foods you can try to keep your hormonal balance or enhance the treatment you got for fibroids.
There is no date on this article so I don’t know when you wrote it. Also, there are no references so I don’t know where this advice is coming from or what it is based on.
However, I think it should be noted that it is incorrect to tell people to avoid “vegetable estrogen” without going into further reference detail. This is not very good advice and ignores the fact that some of these foods give other benefits for hormone balancing such as fibre lignans another several micro nutrients – they do not drive estrogen dominance.
Additionally, any advice addressing conditions with estrogen dominance as a factor must also include balancing blood sugar addressing inflammation addressing liver metabolism and gut function as well. (some of which you have done).