Keto is the latest diet craze to hit the nation, and this time, it’s for women. Why the sudden interest? According to conventional wisdom, low carb diets are the way to go if you’re trying to lose weight, however, there is no clear evidence that this diet is effective for weight loss. In fact, a recent study shows that low carb diets may actually be harmful to your health if you don’t do them properly.
Much has been made about the fact that women should eat low carb diets to reduce the risk of certain health issues, such as cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and many more. But not all carbs are created equal. While many claim that all carbs are unhealthy, research has shown that some carbs can actually be beneficial for some people. Thus, the question arises: can you actually eat carbs to prevent the growth of uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are often referred to as “benign tumors” in the medical community. They are benign because they don’t tend to cause any symptoms, but they can be painful and can cause complications during pregnancy.
Is it possible to decrease or eradicate uterine fibroids by following a ketogenic diet? What is the most effective birth control for PCOS women? And how can a keto diet help mood swings?
Get the answers to these questions in this week’s Q&A with fertility specialist Dr. Fox:
Is it possible to decrease or eradicate uterine fibroids with keto?
I’m 39 years old and have a 6 cm (2.4 in) fibroid on the top portion of my uterus. Since I can’t get the tumor removed right now owing to the coronavirus, I thought a keto diet may assist.
I reasoned that if keto might aid in the elimination of cancer cells, it may also aid in the reduction of fibroids growth. Is this correct? Is the metabolic system of fibroid cells, like that of malignant cells, susceptible to a keto diet?
Thank you very much, Elpi
Dr. Fox:
This is a fantastic question, Elpi.
Unfortunately, there is no information available on this subject. I always inform my patients that polyps, tumors, skin tags, and other tumorous growths are all known to be promoted by insulin. I see no reason why fibroids wouldn’t go the same route. As a result, I advise many patients with fibroids to try LCHF to reduce the progression and recurrence of their fibroids.
What is the best birth control for PCOS women over 40?
Hello, Dr. Fox!
I’m 42 years old and will soon have to get rid of my Mirena IUD.
My family is complete, due to your low-carb campaigning, and my main aim now is birth control that reduces PCOS symptoms without causing further inflammation, since my hs-CRP levels are somewhat elevated. I’m still overweight, but I’m working on it.
What is the greatest choice for someone who needs to balance hormones while avoiding extra inflammation (as Mirena and other IUDs cause, in my opinion)?
Thank you very much! Alisa
Dr. Fox:
This is a frequent question, Ali.
In my opinion, there are benefits and drawbacks to ovarian suppression using the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) for PCOS.
The inhibition of male hormone production by the ovary has an advantage; all we need to do now is preserve estrogen levels. The disadvantage is that most women on OCPs have minimal estrogen effects, which would have been the case with Mirena and its progesterone component.
As a result, we now prescribe estrogen supplementation in addition to OCP suppression for our PCOS patients. We often manufacture our own OCP by mixing Norethindrone acetate 5 mg per day with estradiol, preferably in a non-oral form such as monthly injections or patch shots for estrogen levels of 150 or more, but oral estrogen may also be utilized.
PCOS, contrary to common perception, is a long-term estrogen condition that is lower than normal. Estrogen effectively counteracts the effects of male hormones on PCOS-related skin and hair abnormalities (positive).
Low estrogen can make one more insulin resistant. For example, if OCPs or the IUD is utilized, the male-hormone production goes down, but the low-estrogen effect can increase insulin resistance, maybe to the point of canceling the benefit through worsening weight gain and other insulin-resistance stimulated disease. If Mirena is chosen we need to add estradiol to balance the estrogen suppressing effect. We shoot for estradiol levels >150 pg/ml or so.
Please accept my apologies for the technical nature of my response; nevertheless, I hope you will be able to follow my reasoning.
What should you do if you’re on a keto diet and you’re experiencing mood swings?
Hi,
My girlfriend began keto two weeks ago, and she’s been having mood swings and getting angry over nothing lately.
Is there a link? What options does she have?
Tom
Dr. Fox:
Tom, you’ve raised an excellent point.
As with any drug withdrawal, the body’s removal from carbs may cause strange symptoms in the first seven days. Beyond that, some individuals may have hypoglycemia for the next two months until they become keto-adapted. Anxiety and mood swings are caused by hypoglycemia.
If this is the case, I strongly advise you to consume at least 200 calories every three hours for the next two months. Longer periods without fuel are considerably easier to endure after you’ve acclimated.
I hope this information is useful.
More inquiries and responses
Low-carbohydrate questions and answers
Begin your risk-free 30-day trial now!
Get immediate access to low-carb and keto meal plans, quick and simple recipes, medical experts’ weight reduction advice, and much more. With your free trial, you can start living a better life right now!
Begin your risk-free trial now!
The ketogenic diet may be a new choice for many people hoping to lose weight quickly, but the underlying principles of this diet, which are low carb and high fat, have been used for centuries to treat conditions such as epilepsy and diabetes. In recent times, the ketogenic diet has been increasingly used to help women with fibroids and other reproductive health disorders.. Read more about fibroid elimination diet and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to shrink fibroids?
The fastest way to shrink fibroids is through surgery.
Can fasting remove fibroids?
Unfortunately, there is no way to remove fibroids. Fibroids are a benign tumor that grow in the uterus and can be removed through surgery.
Can you shrink fibroids with diet?
Unfortunately, there is no evidence that diet can shrink fibroids.
Related Tags
This article broadly covered the following related topics:
- worst foods for fibroids
- fibroids diet
- uterine fibroids diet
- fibroid treatment diet
- fibroids diet exercise
