Should Dairy be Part of Your Fibroid Diet?

When we talk about a fibroid diet, we suggest eliminating certain foods, including full-fat dairy products. At the same time, research indicates that Black women could lower their fibroid risk by increasing their daily intake of dairy products. So, which advice should you follow? Here's what you need to know.

How to Include Dairy in a Fibroid Diet

This study from the Sloane Epidemiology Center at Boston University School of Medicine gathered and analyzed evidence from the Black Women’s Health Study. And here's what the researchers involved learned about fibroids. First, they noticed that Black women consumed less daily servings of dairy than white women. (African American women are disproportionately impacted by both fibroid development and lactose intolerance. )

Unfortunately, eating fewer daily servings of dairy products also means that Black women tend to consume less calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. And, researchers hypothesized, it just might explain why Black women develop fibroids more often than white women. Luckily, researchers also discovered that, by consuming four daily dairy servings, Black women could decrease their fibroid risk.

Still, as we mentioned earlier, consuming full-fat dairy products could contribute to tumor growth or worsening fibroid symptoms. So, how can you reconcile this conflicting fibroid diet advice? Here's what you should try to do: steer clear of items like full-fat cheeses or rich dairy desserts. Instead, opt for lower fat alternatives such as milk (not half and half or creamer) and yogurt. That way, you can enjoy the protective benefits of dairy products without the risks of high-fat dietary additions.

Going Beyond the Fibroid Diet for Lasting Relief

If you want to lower your fibroid risk as a Black women, you may need to do more than just consuming additional dairy products. That's especially true if you have a family history of uterine tumors, or if you've already developed detectable fibroids. At that point, you may need to seek a medical intervention such as Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) to find lasting relief. And you can explore your candidacy for this minimally-invasive fibroid treatment by requesting a consultation with our team of fibroid specialists in and around Houston.