subject: Fight Fibroids With Diet And Supplements [print this page] Fight Fibroids With Diet And Supplements Fight Fibroids With Diet And Supplements
Your menses are here and your bleeding is much heavier than it had been in the past. Aside of the inconvenience of the flow, you are experiencing severe cramps. You make a mental note to check with your gynecologist, but as the days went by you got sidetracked with daily bustle and grind and making an appointment with your doctor slipped by. Six days of so fly by, the menses stop and you forget all about it.
The following month rolls around and the cycle continues, bleeding heavier than the previous month with excruciating cramps and pain. This time you do make an appointment to see your doctor, an ultrasound test is performed. You are told that you have developed fibroids. You panic and want to know if you will have to go under the knife to remove it. Well, take heart, chances are you might be able to control this growing mass in your uterus just by tweaking your diet and taking the right supplements.
Uterine fibroids are benign growths that plague about 50% of women in their childbearing years. They appear as a dense fibrous tissue and are fed by a series of blood vessels. They can grow as big as a grapefruit and the beginning symptoms can run from heavy bleeding to menstrual cramps, to severe debilitating pains.
Other symptoms of fibroids are:
*Prolonged excessive menstrual periods;
*Pelvic pain;
*Abdominal swelling;
*Painful sexual intercourse;
*Urinary urgency;
*Constipation and bloating.
Treating Fibroids Naturally
Fibroids grow as you get older and normally shrink after menopause.However, if your symptoms are severe and causing problems, you will obviously need treatment or have the fibroid removed, but for the most part, most fibroids never get treated because you can live with it and it will most of the time not interfere with your health or pregnancy.
The following are all natural remedies you can use to prevent or control your fibroids.
Control estrogen by switching to soy milk. Excess estrogen can trigger fibroid growth but soy contains compounds that can diminish estrogens harmful effects. Aim for at least one cup of soy milk a day. You can also enjoy a handful of soy nuts or cup of edamame.
Pile your plate with mushrooms. Research proves that maitake mushrooms can stimulate the immune system to attack and destroy fibroids and other tumors. Aim for cup of these Asian mushrooms daily.
Boost your vitamin B intake. Stress has been proven as a risk factor of fibroid growth. Take a daily dose of vitamin B-complex to help counter stress.
Eat fish rich in omega-3 to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is associated with fibroids, therefore consuming fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines decreases your risk of developing fibroids by as much as 70%.
Take a lycopene supplement. Studies have proven that lycopene, the phytochemical that gives tomatoes and watermelons their red color can reduce the number and size of uterine growths. All you need is half a cup of tomato sauce daily, or one cup of watermelon to keep fibroids in check.
Cut back on drinking alcohol. Alcohol can triple production of estrogen, which in turn can trigger fibroids growth.
Finally, know that there are other options besides hysterectomy for fibroids, so explore all your options. And if you really must have your fibroids removed, you can opt for a non-surgical treatment called Uterine Artery Embolization.Talk to your doctor about this treatment.
