Got Milk? Dairy Could Lower Risk of Fibroids

How often have you, your mother or another Black woman you know complained about the effects uterine fibroids have on their weight or mental health? Well, Boston University School of Medicine's researchers ask, "Got Milk?" A new report from the Slone Epidemiology Center suggests that Black women who intake high levels of dairy have lower risk of getting fibroids.

Based on The Black Women's Health Study, research reveals that the average Black women, who show high levels of uterine leiomyomata (fibroids), consume less servings of dairy than white women and thus intake fewer levels of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Black women who increased their dairy intake to four servings a day decreased their fibroid levels by 30 percent.

So what factor does lactose intolerance play? While the research offers hope for many Black women, suffering from the effects of fibroids, it's important to note that 80 percent of African American adults are unable to digest lactase, which might be why Black women are not consuming as much dairy as white women. AA women should speak to their doctors about how they can receive the nutrients in dairy products without overdoing their lactase intake.