Eating a healthy diet is an important part of any hormone support program and this is no different for the support and management of uterine fibroids. SInce fibroids cannot be directly predicted, maintaining good habit is key to lessening unwanted symptoms and bleeding.
Since the foods you eat impact your hormone health, reducing the risk for fibroids means maintaining healthy weight, managing your blood pressure and getting enough nutrients such as vitamin D.
Although treatment for fibroids is very much individualized based on lab work, in general we want to lower the impact of estrogen on the body as this hormone may be a trigger for excess bleeding. Of course, a diet solely cannot cure uterine fibroids but with the right supplements and lifestyle changes, a fibroid diet plan can deliver good results. Fibroid diet also can help manage unpleasant symptoms and potentially slow down the growth of the tumor(s).
However, a specific fibroid diet plan can significantly improve the patient’s quality of life before fibroid treatment. Some specific foods can actually increase bleeding.
For example, some estrogen-containing foods in large quantities increase estrogen levels in the female body, causing increased fibroids and worsening symptoms. Eating foods that help lower estrogen production can help prevent further fibroid growth and reduce symptoms.
A healthy fibroid diet should give you energy and enrich your body with all necessary microelements and vitamins.
A plant-based diet is effective for fibroids, as the plant substances contained in it have a regulatory, anti- inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative effect.
These substances may have an inhibitory effect on fibroids:
- green tea
- turmeric
- grapes, mulberries, peanuts
- licorice root tea
- onion
- pomegranate, berries
- all cruciferous plants such as broccoli, cauliflower, all other types of cabbage,
- watercress, mustard, arugula, etc.
- tomatoes, watermelon, papaya
- garlic
- broccoli (raw) and broccoli sprouts
Try including and focusing on the consumption of these foods regularly. What to Avoid
Many foods can make hormone balance worse. Generally it is best to avoid processed foods which are high in sugar, wheat, and unhealthy oils. In generally foods which are packaged and found in the middle aisles of the grocery store should be avoided.
Avoid
- Fatty Meats Processed sugar
- Soy products
- Fatty Cheese
- Butter
- Smoked meats
- Fast foods
- Red meats
- Processed sugar Bread, Past, Potatoes
Together with regular exercise and stress management, dietary choices are an important part of healing and supporting uterine fibroids.
Source
Borahay MA, Asoglu MR, Mas A, Adam S, Kilic GS, Al-Hendy A. Estrogen Receptors and Signaling in Fibroids: Role in Pathobiology and Therapeutic Implications. Reprod Sci. 2017 Sep;24(9):1235-1244. doi: 10.1177/1933719116678686. Epub 2016 Nov 20. PMID: 27872195; PMCID: PMC6344829.