Take Back Control

Owusuwaa Health Weekly Newsletter Magazine

Presents :Taking Back Control :The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Fighting Fibroids

Journalism of Neglected Topics
Share this with your doctor to push for more tailored care.

Nana Owusuwaa Gwen-Addo

Entrepreneur | Leadership & Mindset Coach | Christian
Author of Direction | Strategist | CEO – HairSenta, HIBS AFRICA, The Leading Senta, GcagaHeights
gwenaddo.com

As Co-founder of the Owusuwaa Online Newsletter & Lifestyle Magazine, Gwen-Addo’s mission is clear: empower communities through health, leadership, and purpose. Known for her bold spirit and nurturing heart, she uplifts businesses and now extends her support through Fabriod – bringing life-given awareness every Ghanaian table.

https://www.instagram.com/hairsenta?igsh=MXAzOThhNGZ0Nm15dQ==

Special Intervieaw Hosted By:
Berla Mundi
Ghana’s Top Broadcast Journalist & TV Presenter
Join her in a dynamic conversation with Gwen-Addo as they discuss:
🍲The rise of Fabroid in Ghana
💪 Community Education, health empowerment
🧠 Mindset & leadership
🙏 Faith-driven impact

Tips for Better Health

• Choose Anti-inflammatory Foods
• Reduce Hormone Disruptors
• Support Hormone Balance

Spotlight:

Fibroids are ruining Black women’s lives.But no one’s talking about why -or what to do about it. By 35, over 60% of Black women have fibroids. By 50? / Pain. Bloating. / Up to . 90% / Bleeding. Fatigue / Yet most are told: “Just wait.”

Most doctors offer birth control…Or hysterectomy. That’s it. No nutrition plan. No healing. Just pills or surgery. White women get options. Black women get ignored. Same symptoms, very different care. Fibroids aren’t random. They’re fed by your environment. 

RELAXER :Hormonal imbalances, Toxic beauty products, Ultra-processed foods, Chronic stress. You don’t need shame. You need strategy.

1. Anti-inflammatory meals

2. Hormone balance

3. Cultural wellness tools

4. Fibroid-aware fitness
5. Or we will build a Fibroid Relief Tool for Black women

Fibroid Relief Tool. A comprehensive approach to managing fibroids. Anti-inflammatory meals. Hormone balance. Cultural wellness tools. Fibroid-aware

What is Fibroid?

A fibroid is a non-cancerous growth (tumor) that develops in or around the uterus (womb). They are made of muscle and fibrous tissue, and can vary in size—from tiny, undetectable nodules to large masses that can distort the uterus.

Key Points:

• Medical term: Uterine leiomyoma or myoma
• Who gets them: Most common in women of reproductive age, especially between 30–50 years old
• Higher prevalence: Black women are statistically more likely to develop fibroids, and often at younger ages
• Causes: Not fully understood, but linked to hormones (estrogen & progesterone), genetics, and lifestyle factors
• Symptoms:
  • Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
  • Pelvic pain or pressure
  • Frequent urination
  • Difficulty emptying the bladder
  • Constipation
  • Fertility issues (in some cases)
• Treatment options: Range from monitoring (if symptoms are mild) to medication, minimally invasive procedures, or surgery depending on size, number, and symptoms.

Fibroids in Ghana: A Growing Women’s Health Concern

Overview

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus and are a common health issue among women of reproductive age in Ghana.
Research suggests that up to 26.68% of women in some settings have been diagnosed with fibroids. These growths have significant social, economic, and medical impacts.

Prevalence & Demographics

• High prevalence: Rates vary across studies, but fibroids remain a major women’s health concern.
• Greater Accra Region: Home to Ghana’s capital, Accra, this region shows notably high fibroid prevalence.
• Age:
  • Most common in women aged 30–39.
  • Also found in women 45+, with incidence rising as women age within the reproductive years.

Impact on Health & Daily Life

• Surgical treatment: Many women undergo procedures like hysterectomy, especially after completing childbearing.
• Reproductive health: Fibroids can affect fertility, conception, and pregnancy outcomes.
• Symptoms:
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Pelvic pain
  • Pressure on bladder or rectum
• Social & economic effects: Missed workdays, reduced productivity, and lifestyle limitations.

Research & Medical Advances

• Ongoing studies: Focus on prevalence, anatomical patterns, and associated risk factors.
• Sonographic patterns: Imaging studies guide diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Advanced treatments:
  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) through interventional radiology is available in Ghana.
• Call for early detection: Raising awareness can lead to faster diagnosis and better outcomes.

Takeaway:

Fibroids are not just a medical issue—they affect women’s health, work, family life, and emotional well-being. Early diagnosis, informed treatment choices, and open discussions with healthcare providers are essential for effective management.

Here’s a polished newsletter-ready version of your Gwen Addo section, keeping it informative and reader-friendly while giving it a smooth flow for your audience.

Shrinking Fibroids with Diet and Nutrition

By Gwen Addo

Living with uterine fibroids can be challenging, but the foods you eat may influence how you feel and how your symptoms progress. In Ghana, many women are unaware that their diet could either support healing or make symptoms worse.

Community education on fibroid-friendly nutrition can help women discover how certain foods may aid management — and which to avoid. While diet alone may not completely shrink fibroids, it can be a powerful part of a comprehensive care plan.

7 Foods to Include in Your Fibroid-Friendly Diet

1. Leafy Greens
   Spinach, kale, and collard greens are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Their high fiber content supports digestion and may help balance hormone levels.
   
2. Berries
   Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are loaded with antioxidants that fight inflammation and promote overall health.
   
3. Whole Grains
   Brown rice, quinoa, barley, and whole wheat bread offer fiber that aids digestion and supports hormone regulation.
   
4. Cruciferous Vegetables
   Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage contain compounds that help the body detox and may reduce estrogen levels.
   
5. Flaxseeds
   Packed with omega-3s, fiber, and lignans, flaxseeds have antioxidant benefits. Add ground flaxseeds to smoothies, yogurt, or oatmeal.
   
6. Turmeric
   This golden spice contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound that may ease fibroid symptoms. Enjoy it in teas, soups, or stews.
   
7. Healthy Fats
   Avocados, nuts, chia seeds, and olive oil provide healthy fats that help reduce inflammation and support overall wellness.
   
8. Tip: Pair these foods with regular medical care for best results. Always consult your healthcare provider before making major dietary changes, especially if you are undergoing treatment for fibroids..

The Worst Foods for Fibroids

Certain foods can worsen fibroid symptoms by increasing inflammation, disrupting hormonal balance, or placing extra stress on the body. Reducing or avoiding them may help ease discomfort and support better overall health.

1. High-Sugar Foods
Cakes, pastries, candies, and sweetened drinks can spike blood sugar and increase inflammation, which may encourage fibroid growth.

2. Processed & Packaged Foods
Chips, instant noodles, and other processed snacks are often high in unhealthy fats, additives, and preservatives that can disrupt hormone balance.

3. Excessive Red Meat
Frequent consumption of beef, lamb, or pork has been linked to higher estrogen levels, which can fuel fibroid development.

4. Full-Fat Dairy
Whole milk, cream, and full-fat cheese may contain hormones or saturated fats that can contribute to hormone imbalance.

5. Caffeinated Beverages
Too much coffee, black tea, or energy drinks may increase stress hormone levels and worsen symptoms in some women.

6. Excessive Alcohol
Drinking heavily can strain the liver — the organ that helps process and remove excess hormones — leading to higher estrogen levels.

7. High-Sodium Foods
Salty snacks, canned soups, and fast food can cause water retention and bloating, adding to pelvic discomfort.

💡 Tip: Instead of cutting all these foods at once, try gradually reducing them while increasing fibroid-friendly options like leafy greens, whole grains, and berries.

Managing Fibroid Symptoms Naturally Through Diet

If you want to manage uterine fibroid symptoms naturally, your plate is a great place to start. The goal is twofold:

1. Avoid foods that make symptoms worse.
2. Add foods that may help slow fibroid growth and improve how you feel.

Fibroids are benign tumors, but their growth is influenced by hormones—especially estrogen. Since diet can impact hormone balance, choosing the right foods could reduce symptoms and even affect tumor size. While hormonal treatments like birth control can help, many women prefer a more natural approach. That’s where dietary changes come in.

The Worst Foods for Fibroids

These nine categories can aggravate symptoms, trigger inflammation, or disrupt hormonal balance. Steering clear of them may help you feel better and protect your reproductive health.

1. Red Meats (Especially Processed)
   High in hormones like estrogen, red meat can fuel fibroid growth and worsen symptoms.
   
2. Fatty Dairy Products
   Unless organic, dairy can contain added hormones and pro-inflammatory compounds. One study found a 32% higher fibroid risk in women who consumed more than one serving of high-fat dairy daily. Low-fat dairy may be an alternative for vitamin D support.
   
3. Salty Foods
   Too much sodium overworks the liver, making it less effective at removing excess hormones.
   
4. White Carbs & Refined Grains
   White bread, rice, packaged cakes, and cookies can spike estrogen levels. High fructose corn syrup also raises insulin levels, which can indirectly affect fibroids.
   
5. Foods with MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)
   Often found in restaurant dishes, MSG can contribute to weight gain—which in turn can increase estrogen levels and fibroid growth.
   
6. Soy Products
   Containing phytoestrogens (estrogen-mimicking compounds), excess soy can encourage fibroid growth and negatively affect fertility.
   
7. Refined Sugar
   Promotes weight gain and inflammation, both of which disrupt hormone balance.
   
8. Caffeine
   Overloads the liver, reducing its ability to regulate hormones.
   
9. Alcohol
   Like sugar, alcohol is pro-inflammatory and can contribute to hormone imbalances.
   

💡 Tip: If this list feels restrictive, remember—every item you cut can be replaced with a healthier, fibroid-friendly option. See our “7 Foods to Include” guide to start building a hormone-supportive diet that works for you

Exclusive Interview: Berla Mundi in Conversation with Owusuaa Gyimah-Addo (Gwen Addo)

• Berla Mundi is one of Ghana’s most celebrated media personalities, a TV host, broadcaster, and advocate for women’s empowerment. Known for her engaging style and commitment to social issues, Berla brings conversations that matter into the spotlight.

• Owusuaa Gyimah-Addo, also known as Gwen Addo, is a passionate health advocate, writer, and founder of Owusuwaa Weekly Health Magazine. Her work focuses on “Journalism of Neglected Topics,” with a mission to educate women—especially Black women—on health conditions like uterine fibroids, blending medical facts with cultural awareness and real-life solutions.

Berla Mundi:
Gwen, welcome to the program. We’re so glad to have you with us. As a health advocate, what advice would you give Ghanaian young women and adults today?

Gwen Addo:
Thank you, Berla, for your polite greetings and introduction.

I know from experience that difficult things happen in life. The most important thing is to never give up—no matter what hits you.

We need to start educating ourselves from community to community, school to school. I stand with the people who have fibroids and those who don’t—because the more we share knowledge, the more we can help others prevent, manage, and overcome through diet and lifestyle.

Day by day, year after year, we as people must build all kinds of fortune—health fortune, knowledge fortune, and emotional fortune. My greatest benefit is the joy of encouraging others with our own experiences of never giving up. That’s true happiness: helping others.

Berla Mundi:
Beautifully said, Gwen. And to all our listeners and readers, welcome to OWUSUWAA WEEKLY HEALTH MAGAZINE – Journalism of Neglected Topics.

Share this with your doctor to push for more tailored care.

Today’s Feature Article:
Taking Back Control – The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Fighting Fibroids

Tips for Better Health

• Choose Anti-inflammatory Foods
• Reduce Hormone Disruptors
• Support Hormone Balance
• Gwen, fibroids are ruining Black women’s lives, yet there’s such silence around the real causes and effective strategies. What are we missing?

Gwen Addo:
By 35, over 60% of Black women have fibroids. By 50, that number can reach 90%. The pain, bloating, bleeding, and fatigue are real—yet most are told: “Just wait.”

Doctors often offer two main options: birth control or hysterectomy. No nutrition plan. No holistic healing approach. But we know fibroids aren’t random—they’re fed by your environment. Relaxers, hormonal imbalances, toxic beauty products, ultra-processed foods, and chronic stress all play a role.

You don’t need shame—you need strategy. That’s why I focus on:

1. Anti-inflammatory meals
2. Hormone balance
3. Cultural wellness tools
4. Fibroid-aware fitness

We’re even working toward a Fibroid Relief Tool—a comprehensive resource to help Black women navigate their options.

Berla Mundi:
And for our readers new to this topic—what exactly is a fibroid?

Gwen Addo:
A fibroid is a non-cancerous growth that develops in or around the uterus. It’s made of muscle and fibrous tissue, and can range from tiny nodules to large masses that distort the uterus.

Key points:

• Medical term: Uterine leiomyoma or myoma
• Most common in women aged 30–50
• Higher prevalence in Black women, often at younger ages
• Causes: Linked to hormones, genetics, lifestyle factors
• Symptoms: Heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, frequent urination, constipation, fertility issues
• Treatments: From watchful waiting to medication, minimally invasive procedures, or surgery

Berla Mundi:
You’ve also studied fibroids in Ghana specifically. Can you share some local insights?

Gwen Addo:
In Ghana, fibroids affect up to 26.68% of women in some areas. Greater Accra shows high prevalence, especially among women 30–39, though cases rise among women 45 and above.

The impact is huge—on fertility, work productivity, and overall well-being. Many end up needing hysterectomies. But advanced treatments like Uterine Fibroid Embolization are available here, and early detection makes a difference.

Berla Mundi:
Your nutrition approach is fascinating. Let’s share that with our readers.

Gwen Addo:
Absolutely. While diet alone may not shrink fibroids entirely, it can manage symptoms and support overall health.

7 Foods to Include: Leafy greens, berries, whole grains, cruciferous vegetables, flaxseeds, turmeric, and healthy fats.

The Worst Foods for Fibroids: High-sugar snacks, processed foods, excessive red meat, full-fat dairy, caffeine, alcohol, salty foods, soy, MSG, and refined carbs. It’s about replacing hormone-disrupting foods with those that nourish and protect.

Berla Mundi:
Thank you, Gwen. This conversation has been as powerful as it is practical—and I hope our readers will take this knowledge into their homes, kitchens, and communities.

SGI-Our Shared Humanity.

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