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Healthy Diet to Shrink Fibroids

Fibroids are non-cancerous uterine tumors. They are comprised of uterine muscle cells that grow in abnormal clumps. They can grow within the uterine wall, or outside of the uterus, or inside the uterine cavity itself. Fibroids can range from the size of a pea to the size of a full-term baby. They are responsive to the estrogen hormone and can grow during a woman's fertile years.

  1. Avoiding Beef and Dairy

    • The development of a fibroid is complex. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, diet can play a role in helping shrink uterine tumors because it contributes to the amount of estrogen circulating in your body. Losing weight can also help shrink uterine fibroids because estrogen is also produced in excessive body fat. But, avoiding certain foods that contain added hormones, usually estrogen, can have an impact on hormonal levels. Since beef is known to have hormones added to it and high levels of fat, avoiding it is highly recommended. This also includes omitting full-fat dairy products, such as butter and cheese, unless they have been organically produced.

    Reduce Coffee Intake

    • Reducing the amount of coffee in your diet can have a significant impact on shrinking fibroids. Consuming 4 to 5 cups daily of your favorite coffee actually increases estrogen levels, triggering fibroid growth. A study conducted in 2001 in the journal Fertility and Sterility showed that women who consumed 500 mg of caffeine daily, the equivalent of 4 to 5 cups, produced 70 percent more estrogen than woman who drank 1 cup a day. While it may be hard for some women to quit caffeine, the good news is that simply reducing coffee consumption can make a difference in your estrogen levels.

    High Fiber

    • Perhaps the most important step to shrink uterine fibroids is to eat fiber rich in phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant estrogens that bind to the same cell your body makes. By competing with the estrogen your body already makes, phytoestrogens causes a reduction in estrogen levels. One study showed that when women with the average American diet switched their diet of 12 g of fiber daily to 40 g daily, there was a 36 percent reduction of blood estrogen level from 8 to 10 weeks. Sources of phytoestrogens include soy, soy products, flaxseed and nuts. By making these simple changes, you can reduce estrogen levels in your bloodstream and its influence on the fibroid.

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