Anyone tried treating fibroids through diet?

[TuttiFrutti]

I'm planning to start ttc in a couple of months, and before I do I want to do something about the bad fibroids which came to light in my last pregnancy.

I've had them investigated on the NHS, had scans and a hysteroscopy, and the advice at the end of it was do nothing. Conventional medical opinion is that the only real options are surgery to cut them out (thankfully deemed not necessary in my case) or leaving them in place, and that diet has no effect. But I've heard people say that changing your diet can shrink them - not sure what sort of changes to diet though.

Has anyone tried this? Or has anyone tried anything else which has had a good effect on fibroids?

i own a health shop and I can pick you up all the dietary advice I have during the week, not sure when I'll have time though, possibly wednesday.

I can post the info on herbal remedies as well if you're interested?

Yes please gloworm, all information gratefully received.

I too would be interested, I have recently suffered a mc and at one of the scans they told me I had a fibroid and it was very big in comparison and took more room than the sac and baby, although they said it wouldn't have been the cause. Although since then it has reduced cos the hormones have gone I would still like to see if diet could stand me in a better stead for next time.

I am hoping to consult a nutritionist this week so will let you know what advice I am given. I've already had a brief chat with her on the phone and she said diet definitely can affect fibroids - I just don't know how yet!

thanks tuttifruiti good luck

I haven't forgotten

just very busy at work at the moment!

here goes (bullet points, as its quite long!)

AVOID OR LIMIT
saturated fat, red meat
hydrogenated fat
fried food
salt
sugar
refined or processed foods
caffeine (coffee/coke)
alcohol

FOODS TO INCREASE
vegetables, including raw
dark, green, leafy veg
soya (tofu, soya milk etc)
fruit
cold water fatty fish
whole grains like millet, oats, buckwheat, rice
always wholemeal food, not white
nuts
seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, linseed etc)
high fibre food

SUPPLEMENTS
good multivitamin (like solgar/quest/higher nature NOT centrum/sanatogen)
soy capsules
B6 or B-complex
magnesium
omega 3 (fish oil or flax oil)
omega 6 (evening primrose oil)
agnus castus (not if on pill/mirena coil)
milk thistle
psyllium husk fibre (eg lepicol)

LIFESTYLE CHANGES
regular exercise
healthy body weight
reduce stress
regular bowel movement, at least once a day

Thats it

In particular the herbal remedies/vitamins I could go into a lot more detail on, to help decide which you would most benefit from.
where do you live? Do you have a good health shop, where you could get good advice? (and I dont mean holland and barret who rarely seem to use trained staff or give good advice or sell good quality IMO)
Could you print this out and bring it along with you?

your nutritionist will be able to expand on the food side of things (I'm a nutritionist too ) but will probably be unlikely to know much about the herbal remedies(hence my suggestiuon to look for a good health shop)

hope that helps, at least its a starting point, perhaps you could google some of it?

Wow! Thanks gloworm. That's a pretty comprehensive list.

I live near Guildford - not sure about health food shops although there must be some. There is a Holland & Barrett of course, but after what you've said I won't bother with them.

Thanks Gloworm you star!

I am in Leicestershire have a holland and barrett but also a little health shop thats been there for years.

Good news is I have started to take b-complex with vit c since weekend so thats a good start. Trying to get on a healthier level also take a solgar digestive enzyme too. I will definitely look for Solgar multivitamin too. Trying to lose weight too so looks like am making a start all be it small. Think will change my rice and pastas to brown now rather that the white.

MN is such a good resource.

Thanks again and good luck tuttifruiti

you're welcome guys best of luck!

Just to update you, I saw the nutritionist last week and she basically confirmed all Gloworm's advice. She particularly recommended taking a tablespoon of ground linseeds every day, the same of mixed pumpkin/sunflower seeds, and a good helping of beans or pulses 4 or 5 times a week. Apparently beans/pulses help to regulate your hormone levels, and I have too much oestrogen which is causing the fibroids.

The nutrionist also advised cutting out unfiltered tap water as it has a high hormone content (esp in London and South East). All my vegetables are organic anyway, but apparently that's important because the pesticides can clog up your liver which needs to be free to eliminate the excess oestrogen.

It's only been 4 days and I feel better for my new diet already! (Must be purely psychological, but still...)

Glad to hear you are feeling better already tuttifrutti, I too feel much better just form taking the b complex supplement a friend has too and we both noticed a more jovial spirit and well being. going to get some of the seeds etc soon too, every little helps. Good Luck