How Can I Prevent Fibroids?

Fibroids are a very common problem, affecting nearly 70% of women at some point of their lives. Unfortunately, science has yet to determine why fibroids form, so we can't guarantee an ability to prevent fibroids. Still, because factors such as weight, diet and lifestyle have been linked to fibroid development, we can help reduce your risk by making some fairly simple changes.

What We Know About Fibroid Risk

Some of your fibroid risk is genetic, and based on family history. Clearly, these factors can't be controlled. But we can address other risk factors for fibroids, such as hormonal imbalances; weight; diet; and exposure to chemicals that disrupt your endocrine system.

Prevent Fibroids with Better Foods

One tasty way to reduce fibroid risk is by adding in antioxidant-rich itens such as cruciferous and leafy vegetables, as well as berries. Include lots of fiber from whole grains, helping reduce your etrogen levels to balance the hormones in your body. (Too much estrogen is associated with fibroid development.) Finally, load up on fatty acids in walnuts, flax seed and fish to lower your inflammation. And steer clear of food and drinks that could increase your risk or worsen existing fibroid sympoms; these include alcohol and caffiene along with fatty, surgary or highly processed foods.

Losing Weight for Fibroid Prevention

Fat cells in the body can store estrogen, and, as we reviewed earlier, estrogen is a hormone that has been linked to increased fibroid risk. As such, if you lose fat cells by reaching and maintaining a healthy weight, that could help prevent fibroids. Plus, if you do so by incorporating exercise to your rouitine, you could also improve your sleep and manage your stress, further decreasing your risk for fibroids.

Environmental Factors

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, like the ones found in hair products that are marketed to Black women, are now known to increase your fibroid risk. Similarly, chemicals in plastic can also lead to future tumor development. As such, you can help prevent fibroids by purchasing natural cleaning and beauty products, and by avoiding plastic use, especially for food and beverage storage.

Prevent Fibroids with Supplements

Two supplements have direct scientific links to fibroid prevention: Vitamin D, since a deficiency in this vitamin can lead to tumor growth, and green tea. (More specifically, the ECGC found in green tea, since this study linked the compound to a reduced risk for fibroids.

Treat Existing Fibroids

As we learn more about uterine fibroids, we hope to improve our ability to prevent fibroids. For now, however, we can only try to minimize your fibroid risk, while providing treatment and relief for existing symptomatic fibroids. So, if you need help reducing the burden of fibroids in your life, request an appointment [/tx-appt-link] with our fibroid specialists in Georgia. Together, we'll determine you're a candidate for minimally invasive Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE).