Fibroids of the uterus are benign tumors that grow on the uterine wall. Quite common in women of reproductive age, they are usually small and often have no symptoms, though may grow larger in time and eventually cause heavy bleeding or infertility. Another type of fibroid called fibroadenoma appears in the breast (similar but not identical to the fluid-filled cyst), which is also a non-cancerous growth, though they may cause discomfort or pain. Instead of opting for surgery to remove the fibroid, try treating it through diet, which is simple, safe and often quite effective.
Causes and Symptoms
Fibroids are an overgrowth of normal tissue produced by hormone imbalance. Estrogen dominance (too much estrogen and not enough progesterone) causes the uterus to grow, but without sufficient progesterone to counteract the estrogen, it keeps growing. In some women, this can result in uterine fibroids. The same thing happens in the breasts, which are primarily fat, and estrogen is stored in fat tissue. Fibroids don't occur before the body starts producing estrogen, tend to grow faster during pregnancy when estrogen levels are higher and usually stop growing after menopause when the body's estrogen production decreases.
Conditions that are estrogen related and therefore contribute to the cause of fibroids are obesity (more fat equals more estrogen), multiple pregnancies (higher levels of estrogen), chronic stress (continually elevated levels of cortisol are converted from progesterone, resulting in a progesterone deficiency and estrogen dominance) and diet (an overworked liver makes it unable to break down estrogen).
Often, uterine fibroids have no symptoms, but in some cases, you may find excessive bleeding during your period or pelvic discomfort. Breast fibroids are painful or sensitive to touch.
Diet Therapy
Because most fibroids are a result of hormonal imbalance---too much estrogen in the body---a simple change in diet and lifestyle may be the solution. Include plenty of phytoestrogens in your diet such as flax and sesame seeds, hummus, garlic, dried apricots, alfalfa sprouts, dried dates, chestnuts, almonds, olive and coconut oil, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts and kale. Phytoestrogens are both mildly estrogenic as well as anti-estrogenic, which means that they block stronger, harmful estrogens from attaching to estrogen receptors in the body.
Get sufficient vitamin A (liver, egg yolk and milk), vitamin C (citrus fruit and leafy vegetables) and vitamin E (nuts and seeds) to support hormone health. Eat cold-water fish like salmon several times a week for its essential fatty acids, which help to balance hormones. Substitute antioxidant-rich green or herbal tea for soda and coffee, and drink lots of water to flush excess toxins from the body. The liver is where estrogen is metabolized, so detox your liver with milk thistle, goldenseal, burdock root, dandelion root, vitex, blue cohosh and dong quai to keep it healthy and strong.
For prime health, cut out or reduce caffeine, alcohol, sugar, salt and non-organic meat and dairy, and exercise regularly.
Tags: have symptoms, much estrogen, uterine fibroids
