Q: I’ve recently been diagnosed with fibroids. Are there any foods and supplements and natural therapies you can recommend?

A: One woman in five may develop fibroids.  Fibroids, which are non-cancerous growths, vary in size from as small as a pea to as large as a eight month old foetus. They sometimes run in families and are most common in women between the age of 30 and the menopause. After the menopause they shrink.

 

A large fibroid can cause heavy periods and/or bleeding between periods. The heavy period is caused by the fibroids making the womb bigger and increasing the surface of the womb lining that has to bleed. Many women experience low backache and painful periods and sex but some women experience heavy periods without pain. In some cases there may be no symptoms at all and the first indication that there may be fibroids is when there is trouble getting pregnant. Fibroids can enlarge and distort the womb, making it difficult for a fertilised egg to implant.

 

Although fibroids are very common, no one knows for sure what the cause is but we do know that they are sensitive to oestrogen.   Fibroids are also more likely in overweight women because their fat cells manufacture more oestrogen.

 

If you think you may have fibroids visit your doctor to get a proper diagnosis, preferably with an ultrasound scan, to rule out other problems. Fibroids can be removed surgically and the procedure is called a myomectomy.   

 

If your doctor suggests a hysterectomy, I would suggest that you only consider this as the last resort as it is a major surgical procedure. Although there are situations in which surgery may be the best answer for fibroids, a woman with mild symptoms has another option and that is to simply to watch and wait, and try the following natural solutions below, as many fibroids stop growing or shrink of their own accord.

 

During this watching and waiting period it is extremely important to eat a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet as this will help balance your hormones. Buy organic produce as much as possible if you suffer from fibroids. This will help you avoid xenoestrogens from the environment that can encourage the growth of fibroids.

 

Coffee and products containing caffeine should be avoided because they increase menstrual flow.

 

Limit your intake of saturated fats (mainly found in animal products, such as dairy and meat) as well because they block the absorption of essential fats and increase oestrogen levels.  Don’t cut down on fish though because beneficial prostaglandins that can ease heavy periods are produced from foods, like oily fish, nuts and seeds that contain certain essential fatty acids.

 

Avoid any substance that can compromise your liver, such as alcohol, tobacco, drugs such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Your liver processes the hormones that your body produces and renders them harmless. If your liver is not functioning well this can cause a build up of unwanted oestrogen which can encourage the growth of fibroids.

 

Eat plenty of foods rich in fibre because a fibre rich diet helps to eliminate unwanted oestrogen from your body. Whole grains, such as brown rice, oats, rye and fresh fruit and vegetables are great sources of fibre. Foods that are high in phytoestrogens, such as soya and legumes, can be very beneficial. Phytoestrogens boost the production of a protein called sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) that controls how much oestrogen is circulating in your blood.

 

Regular exercise (30 minutes a day) is also beneficial as it will exercise can boost circulation to your womb.

 

Agnus Castus has a good reputation as an herb that can help to balance female hormones and reduce excess oestrogen which may be stimulating the growth of fibroids.

 

Milk thistle is a liver tonic and boosts your body’s natural detoxification process by helping to deactivate and excrete unwanted, or ‘old,’ oestrogen out of your body.  (See Agnus Castus Plus on the Resources Page which also contains milk thistle).

 

For more information on the medical treatment of fibroids and other herbs which can be useful for heavy bleeding then see my book Nutritional Health Handbook for Women.

 

If you aren’t suffering unduly before deciding on any drugs or surgery remind yourself that fibroids are not life-threatening and that the natural approach can often help ease fibroids.

Q: I am 53 years old and have gone through the menopause. My skin, especially my face, is terribly dry and very sore. Is there anything I can do to alleviate the discomfort please?

A: Many of my patients complain about skin problems during and after the menopause and in next month’s issues I’ll be devoting a feature to the problem with advice about natural ways to prevent and treat it, so do be sure to check that out. In the meantime, make sure you drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day and avoid caffeine in tea and coffee as it is dehydrating. If you smoke, make plans to stop. Drink nettle tea every day (teabags available in health stores) and take 1,000mg of fish oil every day.  You could also add in a good ‘skin’ supplement, which can also benefit your hair and nails.  Good ingredients include horsetail which is a natural form of silica which forms part of all connective tissue, vitamin E for the maintenance and growth of the skin and zinc for cell growth.  (see Hair and Nail supplement on the Resources Page).  Any improvements you make in your diet, such as avoiding junk food and fried food, will also benefit your skin.

Q: My family and friends have started to tell me that I’ve got bad breath. I clean my teeth regularly but I’m not sure what else I can do.

A: First of all, you are not alone. About 25 per cent of the population are affected by persistent bad breath and this generally has a bacterial cause. Your mouth is a complex system made up of over 500 billion bacteria per square centimetre and factors that upset the delicate balance between good and bad bacteria can lead to bad breath or halitosis as it is called.  The bacteria can build up in various areas of the mouth, with the tongue being the largest reservoir for bacteria because here bacteria lie undisturbed and have a ready supply of nutrients from the remnants of food. Bacteria that live without oxygen thrive in these conditions and give off a characteristic rotten egg smell. The gap between the tooth and gum also provides a natural breeding ground for bacteria, as it is little sheltered from the effects of saliva and chewing. Other areas of the mouth that may harbour bacteria, which can cause bad breath, are areas between the teeth where the food gets caught and old unclean dentures.  I would recommend that you add in a good probiotic.  In this case a powder would be good so that you rinse it round your mouth before you swallow it (see the Resources Page for an acidophilus powder.)

 

In addition to bacteria build up, bad breath can be caused by certain foods, such as garlic and onions or smoking or alcohol. It can also be caused by the mouth becoming dry for long periods of time which is why many people suffer from ‘morning breath’ first thing in the morning. Another cause can be high protein diets. In these diets the body burns fat for energy due to the reduction of available carbohydrates and this triggers the production of ketones, which have a distinctive odour, leading to a condition know as ketotic breath.

 

You may feel upset that your friends have told you about your problem but let me assure you they are doing it for the best possible reason. Many people who suffer from bad breath simply aren’t aware of it because most self-assessment tests for bad breath – such as licking your arm and letting the saliva dry so you can smell it – are unreliable and friends and family haven’t got the heart to tell them. Aside from the elimination of any oral disease or decay that may be present in your mouth a well balanced diet and plenty of hydration should ensure that any temporary causes of bad breath are kept to a minimum. Drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day – more if you are exercising – and make sure you don’t go for long periods without food. Ideally you should eat a meal or snack every two to three hours. Eat more carrots, apples and celery to prevent bad breath and plaque build up and sprinkle chopped parsley on your food to neutralise bad odours. If your breath is bad after a night out, drink lots of water and take three doses of the homeopathic remedy Nux vomica 30c over a 24 hour period.

 

Good oral hygiene is, of course, essential in limiting the number of bad bacteria present and preventing the build up of plaque which can trigger bad breath. You mention that you brush regularly but do you also floss? Three minutes of brushing twice a day is recommended and after each brush you should also floss between your teeth. A clean and healthy mouth in a person with good oral hygiene practises, combined with a well balanced diet and good hydration will minimise the incidence of bad breath.