The gown, the stirrups, the speculum…the doctor’s office is already a nerve-wrecking experience. But when I was at my annual examination a few months ago and my doctor told me I had fibroids, my heart sank. Not me. What does that mean? I haven’t even had a child yet! Is that going to be a problem now? My doctor tried to convince me “they were small, fibroids are common in African-American women.” Although fibroids may be more common and prevalent in African-American women, there is a reason why we get them. The primary contributors; what we eat, how we eat, stress and forgetting about ourselves.

I went immediately to the internet and found tons of information on preventing and curing fibroids. These points are the most important:

1. 1. WATCH YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE. Excessive cramping, heavy bleeding and clotting, and even our pants fitting too snugly during that time, may be signs that fibroids are developing or have developed.
2. 2. KNOW YOUR Body mass index. Women who have more than 20% body fat are at a higher risk of getting fibroids.
3. 3. BE CAREFUL OF WHITE SUGARS AND FLOURS. White sugar has been refined so much, that it stresses our body out trying to break it down. That stress can contribute to fibroid development. Use non-enriched flour, or mixed flour (wheat and white) for baking and cooking and be mindful of the amount of sugar we are putting in our bodies.
4. 4. OTHER FOODS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IN MODERATION. A lot of what we consume can increase the levels of estrogen and progesterone in our bodies which can breed fibroids: pork, poultry, organ meats, beef, lamb, saltwater fish, and shrimp, as well as candy, desserts, breads, and milk can increase our hormone levels.
5. 5. WATCH YOUR STRESS. Stress in our lives contributes to stress in our bodies, and that can lead to fibroids.

Now I am not a medical doctor, but when I looked at all of this information, the main message to me…put yourself first! You will feel better and possibly reduce your risk of fibroids!

-Kami J. Anderson, Ph.D.
Atlanta, GA