Fibroids - A Nutritional Approach

FIBROIDS - A NUTRITIONAL APPROACH

 

Fibroids are benign tumours of the uterus that grow in various locations on and within the uterine wall itself or in the uterine cavity. They are present in 20-50% of all women and many are unaware that they even have them. They are usually discovered during a routine pelvic exam. The cause of them, from a medical standpoint is unknown.

Many women suffer debilitating symptoms every month due to uterine fibroids. They cause intense pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding and can cause infertility. If these symptoms are present then a medical investigation is needed to confirm diagnosis and rule out other causes. There are dietary and environmental factors that   drive the severity of fibroid symptoms. Studies have shown that fibroids may be hormone driven, particularly by estrogen. The female body produces three types of  estrogen. Oestrodiol is the active form that is produced and its main role is to increase growth of cells in areas where there are estrogen receptors (breasts and reproductive organs).  Oestrodiol is then converted into one of three metabolites by enzymatic conversion in the liver.

These metabolites travel in the bloodstream to the estrogen receptor sites and they do not all exert the same effects. Two of these metabolites have been shown to be of a more aggressive nature and cause excess inflammation in the tissues containing estrogen receptors.  Excess inflammation = pain! Thankfully, much can be done to influence how the liver coverts oestrodiol into the different metabolites.  There are many foods and environmental factors that contribute to having excess estrogen in the body and influence the way estrogen is converted.

Xeno-estrogens are man-made products that exert estrogen like effects on the body. They are downright dangerous, causing much harm and disruption to hormone production and metabolism. They are artificial hormones and cannot be broken down and gotten rid of like the estrogen we make ourselves. They stay in the body There are many sources in our everyday lives and it is important to identify them and make changes.

XENO-ESTROGENS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Xenoestrogens are byproducts of the plastic and pesticide industries. You may have heard of some of these xenoestrogens: BPA, parabens, BPA, phthalates, PCBs, the artificial food coloring known as FD&C Red No. 3, the food preservatives known as BHA and BHT and more.

The easiest way to cut down on xeno-estrogens is to eliminate as much as possible toxic products from the diet and the home. 

     

SOURCES OF XENO-ESTROGENS –

Hidden in the home….

Besides being a component of plastic, they are also found in conventional makeup/cosmetic products, household cleaners, laundry detergents, and some birth control medications. They are also found in sunscreens, chlorine and processed food. 

Spend the extra money on organic sunscreens, cosmetics and makeup. Buy eco-friendly laundry detergents and household cleaners and when you wash up, wear gloves and make sure you rinse your cutlery and crockery under clean water to wash off the detergent residue.

Hidden in food…

You don’t have to throw away every single item in your house that’s made from plastic, but you certainly don’t have to eat or drink from them.  For example, never drink water out of plastic bottles. Use glass or reusable stainless steel bottles instead. Don’t microwave your food in plastic containers... in fact, don’t microwave at all.

The western diet ensures that our food chain is contaminated with xeno-estrogens. All highly processed foods are wrapped in plastic packaging as is most fresh produce. It is always advisable to remove fruits and vegetables from plastic packaging and wash them gently in water and a splash of vinegar to remove residue from the outside.  Thankfully supermarkets are beginning to appreciate the impact of plastic on the environment and consumer health. They are slowly beginning to sell more loose fruit and vegetables and are also increasing their organic ranges. There are some fruits and vegetables that are more prone to contamination than others. This list is known as the ‘Dirty Dozen’ and these should definitely be bought organic as much as possible

Environmental Working Groups 2018's "Dirty Dozen" list includes:

1. Strawberries	7.  Cherries
2. Spinach	8.  Pears
3. Nectarines	9.  Tomatoes
4. Apples	10. Celery
5. Grapes	11. Potatoes
6. Peaches	12. Sweet Bell Peppers

It is best to shop organic whenever you can for fruit and vegetables, especially meat. We are lucky in Ireland to have many green pastures and farm animals are raised, grazed and fed more traditionally.  However, the pastures are sprayed with pesticides and the livestock may still be treated with antibiotics and hormones that have xeno-estrogenic properties. Though more expensive to buy, organic produce is by far the healthiest. There are also many farmers markets selling good quality clean produce.  You can start a small vegetable patch and grow your own.  There is nothing like eating your own home-grown produce. You don’t need a lot of space for strawberries, salad leaves and greens like spinach and fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage. You can even grow them in a window box.

As well as being mindful to avoid man-made chemicals that affect hormone production and metabolism, there are ways in which you can support your body from the inside by being aware of particular foods that can help you and some that don’t help at all.   

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY CONSIDERATIONS

Diet is hugely important for any inflammatory condition. Specifically for fibroids, it is important to ensure that the body produces, metabolizes and eliminates estrogen effectively.  As the production and conversion occurs in the liver, you must support liver function. To help the body eliminate excess and waste hormone metabolites so that they are not reabsorbed back into the blood stream, you must support bowel function and elimination. Stress is also a huge factor, and we can support our stress response by helping to keep our blood sugar levels balanced throughout the day. 

LIVER SUPPORT

There are certain foods that contribute to elevated estrogen levels and will metabolise it into its more aggressive form and help drive inflammation. These must be avoided. 

REMOVE: alcohol, non pasture raised animal meat, fats and eggs, excess meat consumption, milk and other dairy products, highly packaged and highly processed sweet beverages and foods such as carbonated drinks, cakes, biscuits and sweets. Also remove vegetable oils as these are inflammatory. Stop smoking as there are literally hundreds of harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke.  

REDUCE: caffeine, animal protein.

INCREASE: cruciferous vegetables specifically support liver detoxification pathways. Brocolli, cauliflower, sprouts, kale., radish, watercress, cabbage. Use liver supporting herbs like rosemary, sage and thyme in cooking. Broccoli and broccoli sprouts in particular contain molecules called indole 3 carbinole and di-indolymethane which helps the conversion of oestradiol into the less inflammatory and helpful estrogen metabolite. Cook with olive oil and coconut oil. Add ground flax seeds to smoothies.  These contain phyto-estrogens – a much weaker plant version of our own estrogen that will take up estrogen receptor sites. Beans and lentils are also great dietary phyto-estrogens and protein source. It would be very beneficial to have two or three days a week where you do not eat meat at all. 

BOWEL FUNCTION AND DIGESTIVE SUPPORT

It is immensely important to ensure that regular daily bowel movements occur. Two or three movements a day is the ideal. Inadequate elimination can result in the reabsorption of hormones into the bloodstream and the bile acids in the stool can aggravate the bowel. If you are not used to eating a lot of fibre, please increase slowly. Listen to your body. Chew your food thoroughly. Do most of the work in your mouth so that the rest of your digestive system can get as much nutrition from your food as possible. There are many benefits of slowing down and eating mindfully. You are maximizing the nutritional value of the food you are eating by creating more digestive juices and enzymes. This helps things move through the bowel quicker so that undigested food particles do not start to ferment in the digestive tract and cause digestive discomfort (burping, heartburn, bloating and flatulence).

REPLACE caffeinated drinks with herbal teas. Caffeine dehydrates the bowel. Drink warm water and lemon juice upon rising. This helps to stimulate the digestive system and bile production.  Aim for 2 litres of water intake a day. Herbal teas can be included in this quota. Blend raspberry leaf/nettle/lemon balm tea bags in a pot for a specific healing herbal blend.

INCREASE fibre rich foods. Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables as well as the cruciferous vegetables mentioned above. Plenty of strong coloured fruits and vegetables will provide fibre and antioxidants which are fight inflammation. Include ripe mangoes, cherries, cranberries, apples blueberries, bananas and grapes. Raw leafy greens and vegetables like romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, celery, cucumber, asparagus and fennel.  As well as all the wonderful healing phytochemicals and enzymes you are eating, fibre acts as a prebiotic. Prebiotics provide food for your own gut bacteria and this will help redress the bacterial balance in your gut which is vital to good overall health.

SUPPORT STRESS RESPONSE 

Keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout the day. Processed foods, dairy products, alcohol and caffeine all raise your blood sugar level.  This puts pressure on your pancreas to produce insulin and your adrenal glands to produce cortisol (your stress hormone), as your blood sugar levels dip below normal in response to insulin doing its job. A stable blood sugar level will keep you focused and help you avoid energy slumps. Your body identifies the constant yo-yo effect as a stress and stress drives inflammation. Energy levels and mood will be far more stable because your adrenals are not constantly producing cortisol. You support blood sugar levels by eating protein and fat with every meal or snack. Have snacks handy like homemade bounty bars, energy balls, veg sticks and hummus, fruit and a handful of cashew nuts (which also help to boost our mood).

Additionally...

Pineapple, particularly the middle part most people throw away, contains bromelian which is anti-inflammatory. Turmeric milk is a delicious is also a very powerful anti-inflammatory. 

Supplement considerations and specific food sources.

Probiotic – to aid digestion, reduce inflammation and support elimination . Food sources – fermented vegetables such as kimchi and sauerkraut.

Omega 3 fish oil -  anti-inflammatory, nervous system support.   Food sources – organic salmon, mackerel and sardines. Walnuts and avocados are also good foods to add.

B Vitamins - for energy, nervous system support, adrenal support.  B vitamins also play a role in digestion.  Food sources of B vitamins - brown rice, buckwheat, rye, oats.

Other Theraputic Considerations...

 

Massage, meditation, acupuncture, reiki - will all increase energy flow to the pelvic area. Dancing around your kitchen, daily, like a loony, and hula hooping are things you can do to support your sacral chakra energy. This is the energy centre in the body that governs the internal pelvic organs. The health of the pelvic organs is intrinsically linked to the issues related to the sacral chakra. 

I would highly recommend Dr Christiane Northrup’s book ‘Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom’. She explains the energy and the impact sacral chakra disharmony has on the health of pelvic organs beautifully, as well as detailing numerous patient case studies.



Thank you for reading my blog.  If you would like further information regarding using Naturopathic Nutritional Therapy to support your body heal from illness please get in touch with me. My contact details can be found on my Facebook page Food For Life Naturopathic Nutritional Therapy and Energy Healing.