3 Foods to Avoid If You Have Fibroids
- Rachel
- Jul 13
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 20
Let's Be Real...
None of us like being told what to eat, especially when it comes to our comfort foods. 'You can come for anything, but don’t come for my food', right?
But sis, I’m going to be honest with you- food has to be part of the conversation when you’re living with fibroids.
Your doctor may not tell you this. Your gynaecologist may rush through appointments and skip it altogether. But I’m here to say it: the foods you’re eating might be making your fibroids worse, and could be contributing to them growing faster or becoming more painful.
Why Food Matters When It Comes to Fibroids
While we still don’t fully understand what causes fibroids [1], we do know that they are sensitive to hormones, especially to estrogen.
When estrogen levels are high, fibroids tend to grow. That’s why so many of us with fibroids also experience estrogen dominance (where estrogen levels are too high compared to progesterone).
If you want to shrink fibroids naturally or stop them from growing larger, you’ll need to:
Reduce your overall estrogen levels
Help your body detox excess estrogen
Avoid anything that mimics estrogen or adds to your estrogen load
Let’s get into 3 major foods you should reduce or eliminate if you're serious about healing fibroids naturally.
1. Red Meat
For many of us, red meat is a staple.
I used to eat pork sausages daily in university for breakfast. And when I first got married, lamb or beef was a regular treat in our home...
But here’s the thing- red meat has been linked to an increased risk of fibroids in some studies.[2]
What's the problem with red meat?
There’s an important difference between conventional red meat and organic red meat:
With conventional red meat:
Animals are often injected with synthetic growth hormones (yes, even estrogen or estrogen-like compounds!) to make them grow faster.
They’re also routinely given antibiotics- either in their feed or injected- to prevent disease in overcrowded, factory-like farm conditions.
These hormones and antibiotics stay in the meat and enter your body when you eat it.
This can increase your body’s estrogen levels, disrupt your hormones, and create the perfect environment for fibroids to grow.
Even if you're based in the UK or EU (where hormone-injected meat is banned), eating out or ordering imported meat can still expose you unknowingly.
But it doesn't stop there...
Red meat is also:
High in omega-6 fatty acids → these promote inflammation and worsen fibroid symptoms like cramping, bloating, and heavy periods.
Difficult to digest → it’s low in fibre and heavy on your liver and gut, slowing down their ability to clear excess estrogen.
When digestion is sluggish and your liver is overwhelmed:
Estrogen doesn’t get cleared properly
It can recirculate in the body
And that adds fuel to the fire for fibroid growth!
Better Choices:
Choose organic, grass-fed, and grass-finished meat when possible.
Shop from local farms or butchers that use hormone- and antibiotic-free practices.
Limit red meat overall, and replace it with:
Poultry
Lentils
Chickpeas
Beans
And definitely avoid processed red meats like bacon, ham, sausages, pepperoni, and beef jerky- they’re especially inflammatory.
Dairy
Dairy often gets a bad rap because of lactose, but that’s not the only concern for fibroid-girlies.
Most of the dairy we consume comes from non-organic cows that are:
Injected with synthetic hormones like rBGH
Given antibiotics to grow bigger and quicker
Fed genetically modified grains or soy (GMOs)
Why is this a problem?
rBGH increases a hormone in cows called IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1), and it ends up in the milk we drink and the cheese we eat!
IGF-1 stimulates cell growth.
That may sound harmless… until you remember that fibroids are abnormal tissue growths. IGF-1 can encourage fibroid cells to grow larger and faster.
Worse still? IGF-1 has also been linked to PCOS and endometriosis, so if you have multiple conditions like I do, this is even more important.
But there's more:
Non-organic dairy can also contain estrogen-like compounds. Why? Because those hormone-injected cows produce more estrogen, and some of that estrogen ends up in the milk, especially in full-fat products like cheese and cream.
These estrogens behave like your own estrogen, bind to your estrogen receptors, and increase your body’s estrogen load.
This is a big deal if you’re already dealing with hormone imbalances, because:
Your liver and gut become overworked
Estrogen doesn’t get cleared properly
And you fall deeper state of estrogen dominance
Better Choices:
Reduce or eliminate dairy. Even small swaps help.
Try organic, hormone-free dairy if you can’t go without it.
Choose plant-based alternatives like oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk
(just watch for additives like gums and emulsifiers that can irritate the gut.)
Refined Carbs
Think of refined carbs as the “empty” versions of real carbs. They’ve been stripped of their natural fibre and nutrients- and your body converts them super quickly into sugar.
Common Refined Carbs:
White bread, bagels, croissants
White rice and white pasta
Sugary cereals
Biscuits, scones, pastries
Fizzy drinks, juices with added sugar
Why are they a problem?
Refined carbs:
Cause blood sugar spikes
Trigger insulin release
High insulin can lead to insulin resistance
And insulin resistance increases estrogen production
In short:
More refined carbs = more insulin = more estrogen = more fibroid growth
They also:
Feed chronic inflammation, which worsens fibroid symptoms
Disrupt cortisol and progesterone balance over time
Better Choices:
Choose whole grains like brown rice, oats, quinoa
Eat sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes
Use wholemeal or gluten-free bread instead of white
Final Thoughts
We’ve covered red meat, dairy, and refined carbs- all of which can contribute to fibroid growth by increasing estrogen, inflammation, and the stress on your liver and gut.
I know this can feel overwhelming at first, that's why we've looked at 3 food groups rather than 8 or 10. Healing is about starting small- making sustainable choices one step at a time.
That’s exactly what we focus on inside the Hormone Sisterhood- our private membership community designed to help women take back control of their hormone health with education, tools, and support.
Want to join us?
And remember- it’s not just about what you stop eating. In the next post, I’ll walk you through the best foods to eat to shrink fibroids naturally and support your hormones from the inside out. See you there!
Reminder: We are not broken. Our bodies are not working against us. With the right knowledge and support, we can move from struggling with symptoms to managing them with confidence and empowerment.
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical or fertility care.
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