Green Tea Controversy

[Guest guest]

Dear Jan:

Thanks so much for the very thorough, kind reply. I agree - everything

" natural/herbal " is controversial and subject to a gazillion different

interpretations. All I know is that I will be throughly careful with whatever I

try for the future and will continue on my mission to avoid surgery (extreme

coward). I too agree about this wonderful board and all the supportive women

here. Best of luck with whichever way you proceed.

Edie

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Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 03:33:55 -0000

Subject: Green Tea Controversy

Hi Edie-

Over a year ago, when I found out I had fibroids and the situation

was acute, I was desperate to try anything that might help. I had

heard that green tea was a powerful anti-oxidant with anti-cancer

properties and thought thay maybe it would retard the growth of

my fibroid(s). I looked at a lot of supplements and teas, but

ulimately decided against trying anything that might upset the

applecart further. (It wouldn't have helped Ms. Submucoasal

Fibroid shrink, anyway). I did a lot of reading but in the year since

my surgery I have not kept all of the links that I once amassed

due to system crashes and a glut of info that I no longer needed.

I'm sorry that I don't have bald facts to back up my feeling about

green tea.

I just did a quick google search of green tea + estrogen + fibroid

and am already noting contradictions. It's great, it's not. I do

remember reading a year ago enough to keep me from trying it. I

am phobic about any substance or food that might impart

hormones, animal or vegetable. I do not approach it scientifically,

but I think that anything with the ability to influence our hormones

should be taken in moderation, if at all, unless the results can be

proven. When Patty said that she was drinking a lot of it, a red

flag went up. There is also caffeine in all of that green tea.

I applaud you for doing all that you can to shrink your fibroids,

and I am sorry to read that your fibroid symptoms are increasing.

I have changed my diet completely, and I take a few

supplements, but mine have not shrunk - they feel as if they have

enlarged, and I am having new difficulties with elimination that

are very uncomfortable. I'm preparing myself mentally and

financially for abdominal myo surgery in the near? future. My own

personal view is that we should change to healthier living and

diets, avoiding hormones and eating organic (although it's a very

expensive commitment), but we can't always expect it to change

the fibroid situation - there are just too many other factors

involved. Our ages, hormone fluctuations, perimenopause itself,

(a lot of us are in that age range), genetics - I don't think that

adding or eliminating that much diet -wise is going to help once

they have reached a respectable size. There are always

exceptions, but in my year + here I have not read of anyone's

fibroids shrinking all that much, if at all. I am very interested,

however, in DIM/CDG but so far have read precious little for me

to feel that it's safe enough to try without feeling like a guinea pig.

I'd love to shrink my fireballs, too but am not going to wait for

menopause, however long that takes to arrive.

Fortunately, we have choices as far as having them removed

when the time comes. I'm glad that I am living in 2004 for this

reason alone!

My opinions are mine alone, and I hope that no one is upset by

them. I have learned so much here at this wonderful board, been

helped and have hopefully helped others, and made a good

friend in my city - we support each other daily.

Wish I could answer your question more scientifically....

Jan