Dr Richa Sharma & Dr Amit Basnotra
Uterus is a vital organ in a woman’s body. It forms the basis of female reproductive system. Thus, it plays a pivotal role in the foundation of life. So, it becomes all the more crucial to keep your uterus healthy. Read on to know what foods for healthy uterus you need to include in your diet.
Fibre: Eating a diet rich in fiber can help eliminate the wastes and toxins from your body. Also, high fiber diet can help remove excessive estrogen that may be stored in your body. This prevents the formation of uterine fibroids. Look at beans, legumes, vegetables, fruits and whole grains as a source of fiber. Try to eat organic food as it will be free from chemicals and pesticides. These unwanted chemicals could harm your chances of conceiving. Also, when eating a high fiber diet, it is important you drink about 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. It will ease the movement of fiber through your digestive tract.
Vegetables: Vegetables are a great source of calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamins. Eat a diet rich in vegetables to keep those nasty fibroids at bay. Vegetables also can slow down the progress of fibroid tumors as long as you eat vegetables, such as legumes, cabbage, bok choy and broccoli. These vegetables are rich in phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens have the ability to compete with the body’s estrogen. Thus, it helps to bring down your estrogen levels, thereby, halting the growth of tumor in your uterus.
Fruits: Fruits, rich in vitamin C and bioflavonoids can help in impeding the growth of fibroids in your uterus. They can also normalize your estrogen levels. So make sure, you eat a good dose of fruits. Bioflavonoids also prevent ovarian cancer and help in keeping your reproductive system healthy. In fact, try to eat fruits in between the meals when you feel hungry. This will stop you from eating junk and also supply the nutrients required by your uterus to stay healthy.
Dairy Products: Daily consumption of dairy products like yogurt, cheese, milk and butter is essential for uterine health. These dairy products are rich in calcium and vitamin D. While the calcium helps to keep your bones healthy, vitamin D plays a vital role in keeping the uterine fibroids away. You also need vitamin D to help in the absorption of calcium.
Green Tea: Green tea is filled with antioxidants. They not just help maintain a healthy uterus but can also treat fibroids in the uterus. According to herbal specialists, women with uterine fibroids should drink green tea regularly for around 8 weeks. This will help in the reduction of the number of fibroids.
Cold Water Fish: Fish that thrive in cold water, such as mackerel and salmon are rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids. They help to reduce the production of prostaglandin in female body. This is a hormone like compound that can cause severe contraction of the uterus. Due to the severity of the contraction, it can sometimes cause the uterus to get malpositioned.
Lemon: We all know that lemons are rich in vitamin C and they help to boost our immune system. The vitamin also aids in improving the immunity of your uterus. When this happens, your uterus will be better equipped to ward off bacteria, thereby, preventing infections. Consume a glass of warm water with a lemon squeezed into it every day in the morning. This will improve the health of your uterus.
Greens: Greens, like kale, spinach, collard greens and stinging nettles, help to maintain the alkaline balance of your uterus. They also provide minerals for the optimal functioning of your nervous system. You can make a tea from stinging nettle and consume 2 to 4 cups every day. You can also add other green vegetables to your diet. You will get all the nutrients, including folic acid, to ensure your uterus is ready to create a healthy baby.
Nuts and Seeds: Seeds and nuts are needed by your body for optimal production of hormones. Consume seeds and nuts, such as almonds, flaxseeds and cashew nuts. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and good cholesterol. The omega-3 fatty acids help in eliminating fibroids and also prevent uterine cancer. The good cholesterol helps maintain your serum cholesterol level. It also prevents the birth of a premature baby or a low weight full-term baby.
Castor Oil: Many of you may remember castor oil from your childhood days when your mother forced you to consume a teaspoon to ease constipation and clean out your system. Well, ingestion of castor oil (yuck!) can treat ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids. In addition, the presence of riconoleic acid in castor oil helps to strengthen your immune system. As a result, it makes the uterus more resistant to infections.
(The authors are senior IVF Consultant and Senior Gastroentrologist Delhi)
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