What causes fibroids to develop and grow?

Trawl the internet, flip through self help books and chances are you wont find a definitive answer.

Whilst many scientists and doctors now believe fibroid growth is fueled by excess estrogen and probably progesterone (or the lack of it) no one really knows what kick starts the disease process in the first place.

I’m firmly of the belief that we reap what we sow! and I can certainly hold my hand up to the fact that in my late 20’s early 30’s I lead a less than healthy lifestyle.

I smoked, I drank alcohol, I worked hard and I played hard and stress through work was off the richter scale.  My diet was chronic and exercise simply didn’t register on my radar.  Frankly I was lucky that I only developed fibroids!

Fibroids, endometriosis, PMS, ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breast disease are all symptoms of inflammation and today I can look back over the years and see how and why I developed fibroids.  Quite simply I had set the stage for chronic inflammation.

Inflammation is normal and beneficial to our health and we need a certain amount of it to stay healthy.   It is only when inflammation gets out of control is it detrimental to our health.

But controlling inflammation is also incredibly important to our health as excess inflammation in our body can fester silently for years until a disease or symptom develops such as fibroids.

Some scientists believe that low grade or chronic inflammation is associated with everything from heart disease, diabetes to alzheimer’s and arthritus!

Both excess insulin and excess estrogen in our bodies are highly inflammatory molecules and are strongly implicated in the growth of fibroids.  The good news is that both insulin and estrogen can be successfully controlled through exercise and diet.

The following conditions can increase your risk of chronic inflammation

• Being overweight
• Eating a poor diet
• Being insulin resistant
• Leading a sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking
• Poor immune system
• Stress

Lifestyle changes that can help reduce chronic inflammation in your body

• Avoid pro-inflammatory foods such as trans-fats, all processed foods, fast foods, fried foods, foods high in sugar and fructose
• Eat a moderate amount of fish. The omega-3 fats in fish can help reduce inflammation. 
• Learn to optimise your insulin levels - have your GP or doctor test your fasting blood glucose levels
• Exercise - regular exercise will get excess glucose and insulin out of your system faster - doing less damage to your body
• Improve your immune system - one method is to improve your gut flora, consider taking probiotics
• Take steps to reduce your levels of stress, stress causes the release of your ‘stress hormone’ cortisol.  Your body makes cortisol from progesterone the most fundamental hormone needed to help balance estrogen within your body.  Prolonged bouts of stress will deplete your body’s reserves of progesterone.

One such herb which helps reduce inflammation in our bodies is ginger.  Fresh ginger from the root, widely available in most supermarkets, is wonderful grated over a salad or grated and steeped in boiling water as in a cup of green tea.

Turmeric, used in curries, is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects!  Aside from its uses as a culinary herb it is also available as a health supplement. 

Interestingly turmeric is a member of the ginger family!

Bleach without the chlorine - that works at lifting difficult stains

Xeno-estrogens refer to other environmental compounds (usually but not always pharmaceutical) that generally have a very potent estrogen like activity on our bodies and thus can be considered very toxic.  

Put simply they disrupt hormone balance and promote the growth of fibroids, fibrocystic breasts, endometriosis and even breast cancer!

Typical sources of xenoestrogens include:

Plastic containers (including water bottles) tupperware food storage, microwavable dishes, cleaning fluids, such as dishwasher soap, bleach, laundry detergents, fabric softeners... to name but a few!! - believe me this isn't even the tip of the iceberg!

So I thought I'd tell you about one of my favourite products that not only works! but is kind to you and your environment.  Ecover are a UK based company who manufacture cleaning products that are made from natural, sustainable plant-based ingredients.

I stopped using chlorine based bleaches some years ago and was over the moon when I found this little laundry dynamo, it whitens natural cotton bed linen and white towels like nothing else and I even used it today in my dishwasher to 'bleach' my coffee stained mugs - and whilst I no longer drink coffee the rest of the family still does.

It's an oxygen bleach and chlorine free but is fantastic at lifting difficult stains such as tea, coffee and blood.

It's sold predominately in the UK through health food stores but is widely available to buy on the internet and I've even found it for sale on amazon.com so it is available in the US.

NEW DRUG TO TREAT UTERINE FIBROIDS

I recently stumbled upon an article that claims that there is a new drug/pill in clinical trials that offers hope to millions of women with uterine fibroids.  It is in fact a lower dose of the the ‘morning after’ contraceptive pill.

Studies showed the pill stopped bleeding and shrank the fibroids and worked as well as shots of a hormone blocking drug which has unpleasant side effects.

The pill is called Esmya and is a low dose version of the emergency birth control pill called Ella.  It is currently in testing as it manufacturers need to establish whether it can be given to patients long term as Esmya may need to be given periodically especially if symptoms return, until the menopause when most fibroids usually disappear.

Two studies have already been undertaken with a small sample of 550 premenopausal women whose fibroid symptoms were serious enough that surgery was planned.

One study compared two doses of Esmya with a dummy pill for three months. The second tested Esmya against a monthly hormone-blocking shot that shrinks fibroids but causes hot flashes and, with long-term use, can thin bones. Women in that study got a daily Esmya pill and a dummy shot each month, or a hormone shot and a dummy pill.

In both studies, Esmya stopped the bleeding and shrank fibroids in most patients and worked as well as the shot, but with fewer side effects. Menstrual bleeding was controlled in over 90 percent of the women on Esmya — many within a week, compared to 19 percent of those who took a dummy pill.

At the end of the three months, only about half of the participants went ahead with any kind of fibroid surgery. That allowed the researchers to observe whether improvements lasted over the next six months. They did for many of the Esmya patients, while fibroids started growing after a month in the group that got the hormone shot.

This really does demonstrate to me how important it is to keep your hormones in check!  Whilst we all want the quick fix approach to treating fibroids (and I’d be the first to pop a pill that would magically make my fibroids disappear over night) there’s simply no substitute for a healthy lifestyle!  Further more Esmya is only treating the symptoms and not the root cause!

Esmya is currently awaiting marketing approval in Europe and needs to be tested in the US so it won't be available anytime soon.

Esmya is made by Swiss-based Preglem.

2 EXCELLENT REMEDIES FOR MENSTRUAL CRAMPS

Menstrual cramps are known medically as dysmenorrhea. They typically feel like a dull pain in the lower abdomen before or during menstrual periods. The pain sometimes radiates to the lower back or leg area. Other symptoms may include nausea, loose stools, sweating, and dizziness. 

There are two types of menstrual cramps: primary and secondary dysmenorrhea.  Primary dysmenorrhea involves no physical abnormality and it is the hormone like substance prostaglandins produced naturally in the body that are thought to cause the cramps and be responsible for the pain and inflammation.

Secondary dysmenorrhea on the other hand has an underlying physical cause and can be a result of certain conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibriods or uterine polyps.


The treatment of pain is similar with both primary and secondary dysmenorrhea.

Menstrual cramps occur when prostaglandins are released and the old uterine lining starts breaking down causing your uterus to contract. 

Researchers have discovered that there is a direct correlation between elevated levels of ‘bad’ prostaglandins and crippling pain.

Prostaglandins produced from from arachidonic acid (AA) – found in butter, animal fat (especially pork), organ meats, eggs, and seaweed seem to be involved in swelling, inflammation, clotting, and dilation, whereas prostaglandins found on the omega-3 pathway from fatty acids called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have the opposite effect. 

This doesn’t mean that prostaglandins made from arachidonic acid are bad – though your body has a limited need for them – and they are widely regarded as ‘bad’ prostaglandins.

1. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines.

Animal studies suggest that the two compounds in fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may decrease ‘bad’ prostaglandin levels.

If you don’t wish to eat fish but want a regular intake of omega-3 consider taking krill oil.  A good product is Cleanmarine Krill Oil.  Krill are small shrimp-like marine crustaceans eaten by fish, birds and whales that live in our cool, deep oceans.  They are the most abundant living organism on the planet.  Fished in the pristine waters off antarctica, Cleanmarine Krill Oil is the ideal ethical and sustainable choice for marine sourced EPA/DHA.

1. Magnesium - More than 70% of women do not get the minimum Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of magnesium from their diets!  Magnesium is a great muscle relaxant, and can relieve cramping of the uterus and other smooth muscles and that includes leg muscles!

Magnesium also helps the body to detoxify hormones especially estrogen!

Studies have shown significant reductions in a number of common menstrual complaints in women who increased dietary magnesium consumption or were given magnesium supplements. Low levels of magnesium are also common in women who experience menstrual problems. 

One of magnesium's many roles is as a muscle relaxant. This is especially important for women who suffer from menstrual cramps because cramps are caused by excessively strong contractions of the uterus. Magnesium helps the powerful uterine muscles relax, reducing cramping.

Magnesium's muscle-relaxing powers also help relieve the PMS or menstrual headaches many women experience.

Menstrual fatigue is another common complaint of women that magnesium can help relieve, though the exact mechanism is uncertain.

Magnesium also reduces other symptoms of PMS, including constipation, water retention and bloating, breast tenderness, and many mood problems, including depression, irritability, and anxiety.

Magnesium of any kind can have a laxative effect if you take too much. If you have kidney problems, speak with your doctor before taking magnesium because the mineral could exacerbate kidney disease.

An excellent magnesium supplement can be purchased on the web from Dr Wong’s Essentials.

Visit http://docsprefer.com/magnesiumcitrate.aspx for supplies in the US

Visit http://www.aggressivehealthshop.com/citrated-magnesium-90-caplets.html for supplies in the UK

Consult your doctor before taking any supplements.