Should You Be Trying An Anti-Inflammatory Diet?

There’s a long history regarding African American women and fibroids.

Health-related data shows that Black women are more likely to develop this condition than other ethnicities.

To make things worse, the condition tends to affect them at an earlier age and their symptoms are usually worse.

Fortunately, there are ways that fibroids can be handled that don’t only include medication.

If you’re among the millions of women who are being affected by fibroids, you’ll be happy to know that making a few changes to your diet can have a significant impact on your symptoms. 

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The Link Between Fibroids And Anti-Inflammatory Food

One key characteristic of fibroids is inflammation. This inflammation is often expressed as pain and bloating. Studies have shown that a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods can help to reduce these symptoms and improve the quality of life for persons who have fibroids.

Additionally, there are a few foods that you should avoid if you’re interested in using your diet to handle your fibroids naturally. 

What You Should Be Eating

According to doctors, these are the foods that you should add to your diet as soon as possible. While this list is far from exhaustive, it’s a good guide. 

• High-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, and lentils
• Whole grains such as pasta, barley, and bread
• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower
• Citrus fruits
• High-iron foods like legumes and vegetables
• Green leafy vegetables like spinach
• Green tea
• Beta-carotene rich foods like sweet potatoes and carrots
• High-potassium foods like tomatoes, bananas, and cantaloupe

It’s usually recommended that persons with fibroids include dairy products in their diets. This should be discussed with your doctor as dairy products can contribute to inflammation in some people. Since dairy is highly regarded because it’s high in calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium, consider getting these minerals from other foods or even supplements. 

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What You Should Avoid 

The foods that you should avoid are those that are likely to encourage inflammation in your body or affect different organs that can, in turn, put pressure on your system. 

• Alcohol
• Added sugars
• Processed foods especially processed meats
• High-fat dairy foods
• Salty foods 
• Refined carbohydrates like white bread, white rice, and cookies
• Soy-based products which can increase estrogen levels such as tofu and flaxseed
• Too much caffeine, which can affect the liver and affect hormonal levels

Is There A Single Diet That Makes It Easier?

If you’re feeling up to adopting an overall diet instead of making small changes to your existing one, take a look at The Mediterranean Diet.

This diet has been touted as highly beneficial to persons who are dealing with numerous conditions including fibroids, heart disease, degenerative disorders, and joint diseases. Before tackling the diet, though, consult your doctor and do your research. 

The good thing about making these changes to your diet is that it won’t only help your fibroids. You’ll also enjoy the benefits of improving your overall health. While there’s no denying that a better diet is desirable, it’s understandable if you have trouble adjusting.

In cases like those, experts recommend adjusting your meals a little at a time until you get to where you need to be. It’s easier to maintain small tweaks over time than a major overhaul.