Courtesy of Ehime Igbe
Many women walk around with pelvic pain, bulging belly, back pain and unbearable menstrual cramps. Some accept it as a way of life while others eventually realize that these symptoms are not normal and seek help, only to find out that they have uterine fibroids. The condition causes an enlargement of your uterus, which can be as small as a seed or as large as a large orange — sometimes larger.
Fibroids are not uncommon as 20%-50% of women who are of reproductive age have them. Additionally, 77% of women will develop fibroids at some point during their childbearing years. Ehime Egbe, founder of frozen yogurt brand, Sweetkiwi, is familiar with fibroids and the challenges they bring. He was diagnosed in 2009.
“I had really painful periods and randomly excessive bleeding, which caused me a lot of embarrassment at the worst of times,” she tells ESSENCE.
Bleeding between periods is a common side effect of fibroids. Women may experience heavy bleeding during periods, frequent urination, difficulty urinating, constipation or excessive bowel movements. Egbe’s fibroids had become so severe that doctors told her she needed surgery. It was then that she turned lemons into lemonade and the idea for SweetKiwi came about.
“I believed that lifestyle changes could be a natural solution, however, sticking to my new eating lifestyle was difficult as I quickly learned to cope with the taste that healthy means,” she says. “In a desperate attempt to make more sustainable changes to my lifestyle, I started trying to recreate my favorite treats so that they were still indulgent but now nutritionally healthy and thus SweetKiwi was born. “
Most fibroid tumors are not cancerous, but if left untreated, they can cause fertility problems, difficulty during pregnancy, and heavy bleeding. Fibroids have no known cause and the only known cure is hysterectomy – when your uterus is removed. However, as Egbe discovered, lifestyle changes can make fibroids more manageable.
Some of the dietary changes made by the entrepreneur to help her deal with her fibroids include increasing protein intake, reducing sugar and processed foods, and focusing on consuming nutritious food.
“I got really good at reading labels and made sure I ate more natural foods and had a balanced diet,” she says. Her Greek yogurts were a byproduct of this process of experimenting with healthier and more nutritious fare.
Courtesy of Ehime Igbe
“We do not claim that Sweetkiwi cures fibroids, but it does contain a combination of carefully selected ingredients that work optimally together to support gut health, wellness and nutrition absorption. Many diseases are caused by the gut. and sweetkiwi is a healthy product for the gut,” she adds.
The brand was established in 2011 and was a pioneer for frozen yogurt in the African market. Sweetkiwi started as a catering business and eventually grew into the comprehensive brand it is today. Eigbe initially opened three physical locations in Nigeria and moved to the DC area in 2017 to expand its product offerings in the US. By 2020, the entrepreneur had created a product that people could buy off the shelves.
SweetKiwi has a variety of flavors including Chocolate Hazelnut, Vanilla, Raspberry Frosé, and Cookies and Cream. Vanilla, Hibiscus and Ginger, as well as Mango Mojito are some of the other flavors their brand offers. Probiotic granola is another product sold outside of yogurt.
These yogurts are not only helpful for women with fibroids, they can also be an excellent source of protein for anyone interested in clean eating. It can also make for a healthy option for ice cream and yogurt lovers.
If you’re interested in purchasing Sweetkiwi products, you can find the brand at major stores such as Whole Foods Market, Mom’s Organic Market, Kroger and Walmart. If you visit the website, you will find other independent stores where you can find their products.
