Fibroid Shrinking Foods: Components of a Fibroid Diet
Many women are looking for alternative ways to treat fibroids instead of opting for surgery and one way women can help themselves is by looking for foods that shrink fibroids. Although diet alone will not get rid of fibroids, there is no doubt that diet is an extremely important part of your overall strategy if you want to use natural treatments.
One of the most important principles to remember is that you should stick to the components of an overall healthy diet, whether you have fibroids or not. However, there are specific items that you should include and exclude to give yourself the best chance of seeing an improvement.
The first thing you should do is make sure you are well hydrated. Drinking plenty of water ensures that toxins are flushed out of the body, and if you don’t drink enough fluids, toxins will build up in your organs, and this is thought to be one of several reasons why fibroids form. Also, constipation can be a byproduct of not drinking enough and this again causes a buildup of waste products that can be reabsorbed by the body.
When it comes to a fibroid diet, you should first make sure you buy organic food whenever possible. the bulk of your overall diet should consist of grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts, and essential oils. Meats should be a small part of your diet, and you should avoid eating processed meats, such as hot dogs and salami, and fatty meats.
Fresh fruits are loaded with vitamins and bioflavonoids that are great for the body. Instead of focusing on which fresh fruits you eat, it’s important to understand that they are all beneficial and to wash the outside of fruits well and eat the skins when possible. Obviously some are better for you than others as they contain concentrated nutrients, like kiwis and blueberries, but in general a good balance of a wide range of fruits is the best approach.
Other foods that reduce fibroids are vegetables. As with fruit, a balanced approach is best. Nutrients are generally higher when foods are raw, so get in the habit of eating a salad every day, made up of a “rainbow” of colored vegetables, as generally the brighter the color, the more rich are the nutrients. If you cook vegetables, make sure they are lightly cooked; steaming them is a great way to preserve water-soluble nutrients. If you cook them in water, try using the water in juices or sauces.
The onion and garlic deserve a special mention. Both are excellent sources of antioxidants and help keep female hormones in balance. You should include them whenever possible, especially in their original form.
Eating the correct oils is also important for a fibroid diet. Olive oil and Omega oils contained in oily fish are especially useful for the body. Avoid saturated fats, including butters and those found in cheeses.
As for meats, try to stick to fish and lean white meats like chicken, choosing organic whenever possible. If you eat red meat, stick to very lean cuts from a trusted source. The soy burgers and vegetarian “sausages” are also worth trying if you like this type of food.
Other foods that shrink fibroids include beans, nuts, and seeds, with the most beneficial being flax, pumpkin, and sunflower.
It is important to understand that, on their own, fibroid-shrinking foods will not be as effective when the dietary item is considered only as one part of an overall fibroid treatment strategy. Not only is diet important, but you’ll also need to make lifestyle changes if you want to see significant success.