Research indicates that fibroids are prevalent among black women, however, no one has been able to connect the dots as to why this is so. The only link that has been established is genetic predisposition, says Dr. Dr. Caleb Mawutor Dzunu, Family Physician at St. Luke Catholic Hospital, Ghana. What precautions should black women take to prevent these tumors from developing? Dr. Dzunu provides advice on simple lifestyle changes that may help.
Prevention and what to eat
“Preventing uterine fibroids is quite a tough one. Little evidence suggests specific ways to prevent it. My advice is to maintain a general [good] health. Weight management, exercising and eating more fruits and vegetables would be helpful.”
Vegetables on our list to incorporate into your diet to fight fibroids include broccoli, kale, cauliflower, tomatoes and cabbage. Avoid overcooking these to retain their nutrients. Sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, beetroot and spinach are all nutritious and should be added to your diet. Anti-inflammatory fruits such as pineapple are great ways to decrease inflammation in the body.
There is suspicion that two hormones in a woman’s body, estrogen and progesterone, could be contributors. Dr. Dzunu confirms that they appear to play a major role in the growth and development of uterine fibroids.
What does this mean for you? And what decisions can you make to ensure your body isn’t getting an overdose of these chemical messengers? Be mindful of what you consume.
What not to eat
“High fat dairy and birth control pills may contribute to the growth of uterine fibroids. Hence, [it is] better to avoid high fat dairy and use a low dose of hormonal birth control pills [for pregnancy prevention] especially [if you have] already [been] diagnosed with uterine fibroid.”
Replace high fat dairy drinks with green tea, which contains polyphenol and can help neutralize the effects of estrogen.
Red meat and alcohol must also be cut out of your diet as these are known to raise estrogen levels.
Surgery doesn’t take care of the root cause of fibroids as they can grow back even more aggressively after. This is why lifestyle changes play a very crucial role in tackling it head on.
“In general terms, black women should endeavor to be disciplined to keep a good health,” notes Dr. Dzunu and adds: “Exercise, watch your diet and weight. Diet plays a major role in a lot of medical conditions. Treat your food as medicine. Avoid alcohol and smoking.”