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Dietary Changes for Lipomas

| Modified on Sep 20, 2024
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Diet Changes for Lipomas

Lipomas can be softened and reduced with dietary changes. Slow experimentation is the key in learning what food or drink may be contributing to a lipoma's growth, so you must be patient and not expect immediate results. Our readers agree, however, that once they eliminate the correct offending food or drink, their lipomas begin to shrink or soften within days.

Lipomas are noncancerous tumors that grow slowly in the body's fat cells. While diet is not said to be the cause of lipomas, certain foods like soy can increase the size of the lipoma rather quickly.

Foods to Avoid

A few of our readers agree that dairy is best to be avoided when you have lipomas. One reader gave up ice cream and her lipoma quickly disappeared! Another young reader from India learned from his grandmother that you should never mix milk products with meat.

Others have had success shrinking their lipomas when they eliminated carbs from their diet while others found that high sugar intake contributed to their lipoma's growth. What is important to note is that what works for one person may not work for another.

Avoid Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can increase the risk for developing multiple lipomas, so it is best to either be avoided entirely or taken in moderation.

Home Remedies

Apple cider vinegar and turmeric are two of the most popular natural remedies to shrink lipomas, in addition to diet changes.

Continue on to read the feedback from our readers who experimented with various diet changes for lipomas and how they fared!

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Posted by Lee (Western Cape) on 05/07/2023
 ★★★★★

I have a lipoma behind my left ear. It grew to about 5 x 5.5cm over many years. It would occasionally itch. About 4 weeks ago I started a sugar and gluten detox and noticed that my lipoma is softer and has shrunk. It is now 4x4.5cm, in only 4 weeks of cutting out gluten and sugar and hasn't itched since. I suspect it is due to excluding sugar from my diet.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Beth (Cincinnati) on 02/10/2017
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I have been in extremely bad shape with multiple ailments including fibro (and many lipomas). I feel great now, actually better than I have ever felt in my life and I'm 59. I set out to reverse my fibro but healed so many other concerns in the process. The first thing I did was get rid of all processed and packaged foods. Then I discovered paleo which I did for about 18 mths. I also did multiple cleanses including a parasite cleanse. I noticed that quite a few of my lipomas also disappeared. I have about four left and found this site by searching for a natural cure for them. I will try some of these and report back. BTW, I am effectively living free of fibro.

Replied by Ted
(Florida)
03/13/2017

Have you seen further results? Are you taking any supplements? Exercise?

Replied by Aiman
(Maharashtra)
10/18/2023

My dermatologist told my the soft bumps on my body are fibromas where as my Cosmetologist told me these are pure lipomas. It does not irritate me. Never did in past 10 years. What diet should be consumed for it go away for ever.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Partha (India) on 03/04/2016
 ★★★★★

For Lipomas, avoid in-taking of meat or fish with milk products (milk, curd, butter and ghee). This is the major cause for lipoma.

I realized this after I got few lipomas. My grandma used to say this "don't mix meat and curd." During digestion, these create a complex fat deposits and settle as lumps under skin.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Patelpatel (Chicago) on 03/04/2016
 ★★★★★

All,

Whatever Nyla said in her post on 05/09/2015 is 100% correct, that the fat bumps are nothing but bags locking toxic waste that our body could not flush out. There is a very simple very effective but difficult to do remedy for fat bumps. If you consume only plain yogurt mix with rice for 15 continuous days then the immunity system with get reset naturally and the bumps will start getting dissolve (it increases white blood cells in appropriate amount). Keep in mind while doing this experiment the only thing that goes in your body through your mouth is the mixture of yogurt + rice (no salt or anything) and off course water.

Note: Your body will first react to this diet because your body is not used to of consuming only yogurt and rice and no salt and other stuff. You might get headache, nausea, weakness, cold or fever even anxiety......keep in mind you don't have to take medicine to treat them, this is the proof that you body is actually getting clean.

For sure your body will get read of all these symptoms in 3 days as it takes 3-4 days for our body to get set with new diet pattern.

Throughout the day whenever you are hungry the only thing that you can consume is yogurt and rice, you can have it as many time as you want.

This is the most effective method of resetting immunity (resetting Lasika Granthi/gland).

Hope it helps you all!

Replied by Kuben
(Singapore)
12/24/2016

I have tried having only rice with yogurt .. could see the difference but unable to continue more than 6 days . I Fallon sick, heavy cold and caugh . But I felt this works for sure. Yet to try again. Will keep you posted .

Dietary Changes
Posted by Seth (Arizona) on 01/27/2016
 ★★★★★

I started getting a single lipoma in my side under-arm and had never had one before. The only thing I was doing differently was eating ice cream more and more big glasses of milk. I was scared and gave up milk and ice cream for almond milk. It has shrunk to almost nothing and I am convinced that it is the milk.

Replied by Mitesh
(Uk)
03/15/2018

If it's a true fatty tumour (lipoma) it wouldn't shrink. Regardless of what you do there there under your skin forever. You might have something else?

Replied by Heather
(Los Angeles)
05/14/2018

Mitesh -

I was diagnosed with a lipoma then got a 2nd opinion then was send to an orthopedic oncologist who did a 2nd mri with dye-contrast and same diagnosis. and in the 4 months between the mris it had shrunk. the Dr. kept saying 'they don't shrink'. so yes, from western medicine's point of view when something resolves from a holistic treatment the first thing they say is, 'well, I guess you didn't have xx'. But I definitely have a lipoma and it's definitely shrinking. Why? not sure. I gave up dairy in that period so that might be it. I also put a homemade salve made from CBD and THC on it.

Replied by Suzana
(Hyderabad)
05/23/2023

We should eat more ice-cream and almond milk, or we should avoid these?

EC: Giving up dairy and drinking almond milk (dairy-free) is what helped the poster from 2016.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Bobbi H. (Florida) on 12/29/2015
 ★☆☆☆☆

I had only a couple of lumps and had two or three removed surgically about 20 years ago...but when I had my umbilical hernia repair with surgical mesh. They started coming again and new ones were coming.

Estrogen seemed to make them grow too. But a couple of years ago I wanted to get rid of tummy fat and started the amased diet (has soy)

I went on the almased diet (has soy) and the number of lumps got worse...lots of little ones. and a couple of them really started to grow.

It is all very frustrating....the doctors do not want to even pay attention to them and they are very obvious. I wish someone would take on the challenge to find the cause.

Replied by Dalene
(Delaware)
06/13/2018

Hi I'm new to this site. I've been reading all the posts and I have to say that I agree that dairy is probably a huge factor. I am 50 years old and have had Lipoma's since I was in my late 30's and they have only gotten worse and bigger with age. I have a few in my arms, marble size. Some in my thigh area a little bigger. Some on my lower back that bother my nerves in my back. But recently, last year I had a total hysterectomy and have noticed a bunch of new lipoma lumps in my stomach and upper belly area. I eat ice cream every weekend, I eat a variety of dairy foods, cheese, yogurt, milk, etc. and I think that dairy is probably a huge factor. I was thinking of surgery, but like someone else said, they will surely come back and even get bigger. I am going to try all the different treatments along with cutting most dairy products out of my life forever. I used to be so active and in shape, now I feel like I'm 80 years old and over weight and tired all the time. I want to feel good again. I want to fit into my clothes again. I will defeat this thing called lipoma, and when I do I will come back to this site and share my story. Wish me luck!

Replied by Teena
(Melbourne, Australia)
06/14/2018
233 posts

Dalene, I do wish you luck! Replace the hormone laden processed dairy products with best quality raw dairy. For the weight gain/loss your adrenals need to function properly, slowly adding cold pressed coconut oil tsp gradually adding up to tablespoon a day will regulate the adrenals inc thyroid. And if you interested look up the benefits of iodine. Best to you

Dietary Changes
Posted by Greg (Baton Rouge, La) on 12/05/2015
 ★★★★☆

I have had these things for a number of years too ( since 1985). At first I had them removed and checked. No problem. Then more came, since then I have gone through quite a few lifestyle and diet changes. The only thing that had any effect was when I cut out the carbs. So it might be the bad sugars, or the insulin, or ...... But they definitely started going away when I cut out ALL carbs. I did not stick with it because I like a some of that stuff.

FYI I also eat gluten free because of my wife. But that did not seem to have an effect.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Clint (Saint George) on 07/30/2015
 ★★★★☆

Hi,

I wish we could find something that would work, that would take the lipomas away, I have had a few of mine removed over the years. I have found that when I get a little overweight they will grow faster and more of them. I have too many to count.

In my opinion, sugar speeds them up very rapidly. When I stopped drinking my favorite drink in the world, (Pepsi ) and quit 2 scoops of sugar in my coffee, they stopped coming,

If your mom or dad had them you will get them! But if you keep your body fat down and little to no sugar, I know it slowed them to a crawl.

Clint

Dietary Changes
Posted by Jill (Oklahoma) on 05/11/2015
 ★☆☆☆☆

Hi Everyone , 43 . 5 /8" and about 30lbs overweight .

I've have just recently noticed these lumps on around my ribs and stomach and I think some on my upper arm. I changed my diet to 80 % raw veggies not all organic with a little protein and 100 whole grains. no sugar or white breads. I changed my diet because I had a scare with thyroid nodules I found one day. went and had biopsy and test and changed diet while waiting to see if I had cancer. No cancer! Then after all that I started to notice all these lumps all over ribs. Most all small like pea size to larger big peas to almond size. I had my primary doctor examine me and he thinks they are lipomas .

I still kinda want to check them out more just to be sure its not something else . don't know what else they could be , but like everyone I don't like them, some kinda hurt while laying down. I think I'm getting more of them. I feel like there are about 30 of these things so far.

So I've been reading a lot and noticed that a lot of people that have these lipomas seen to have a somewhat veggie diet ??? not all people. Makes me wonder if it is eating pesticides or chemicals from vegetables. Like I said, I just changed eating from more of a 50% raw veggie to 80 % juicing, and whole veggie with a little animal protein and whole grain and not all organic.

I will also try the apple cider vinegar. I am also applying a turmeric, olive oil and organic yogurt mixture all over my ribs. I look like a big bird weirdo but who cares If it gets rid of these things. I leave it on about 15 min. or dry. Turmeric stains so beware.

I mix 1 heaping tbs of turmeric, 2 heaping plain yogurt, and 1 tbs of olive oil and maybe a little flax seed oil. mix it up and use paint brush and paint it on thick.

I've also read you have to be careful with turmeric because it is a blood thinner. So I'm not eating it yet.

On another site, I read that a thick mixture of honey and flour mixture gets rid of them too . but you have to leave it on for like 8 days and cover the paste up with bandages. Then re-apply it every 36 hours and til the 8 days is up ... yikes!

I will also reply back if this stuff works.

Replied by Robyn
(Cape Town)
06/10/2015

I have lipomas on my arms. I get spells of dizziness which was diagnosed as 'crystal disease' the formation of crystals on inner ear. They dislodge and cause dizziness and eventually get absorbed or something. A Scio machine diagnosed fatty liver and apparently that can cause the formation of the crystals which might be fatty crystals on the inner ear. I used a liver enzyme called LiverChol and the dizziness went away. Now after many months it is back and the product is no longer available I will try the Apple Cider Vinegar and see if it helps my ears and the lipomas (my mum also as lipomas) . Thanks for sharing your experiences. I am a 56 year old vegetarian, I eat mainly organic, don't take much alapathic medication, probably consume too much sugar and not enough greens, never use sweeteners and only use olive oil or grapeseed oil or coconut oil. I suspect gluten is a problem but not sure how that relates to to fatty deposits and liver, if at all.

Replied by Bonnie
(California)
11/27/2015

I question the validity of the claim that lipoma comes from toxins in food. I am now 68 and have been eating ONLY organic fruits & vegetables for 45 years. I never eat processed foods and I have avoided meat & chicken raised with chemicals, I eat only fresh caught fish. I have more lipomas than I can count and they continue to increase. Doctors of all disciplines tell me they are hereditary. I do not believe it is related to eating fatty foods (which I do not do). My body weight is below normal, I have exercised rigorously 5-6 days a week for 45 years but still I have fatty tissue deposits. I think it's in our DNA. I will try cider vinegar and help this natural method helps.

Replied by Timh
(Ky)
11/28/2015
2048 posts

Bonnie: It is well known that wild fish catches, particularly in areas with much industry or agriculture and also particularly in downstream rivers or reservoirs, are to some degree toxic w/ a variety of heavy metals &/or zenobiotics including synthetic hormones. Only fish from pristine and mountainous areas are considered safe.

Toxicity involving fatty tissues are common where there is a deficiency of antioxidant nutrients. Vit-A, Vit-E+Selenium+CoQ10 will detoxify lipid environment like fatty tissues. Some of the super berry complexes like Noni, Mangostein, Acai, Blueberry, and Cherry are all (specifically taken together) very good antioxidants which often produce weight loss of stubborn toxic fat.

There may also be some infection in chronic conditions like you report so herbs like Garlic, Oregano, Oregon Grape, and Echanacia may help.

Sweat treatments like Hot Mineral Baths, Saunas, or Steam Rooms often produce positive effects for skin or fatty conditions, especially in combination w/ thermogenic herbs like Caffeinated Coffee and/or Green Tea, and maybe a Cayenne/Ginger combo capsules.

Despite what may be considered a very healthy diet, chronic conditions may appear from poor quality indoor air and/or water and nutritional deficiencies, so a very good Multivitamin/Mineral will often, by itself prove to be excellent at restoring vitality and optimal health. Almost all Naturalpathic Physicians recommend a Multi atop a healthy diet.

And yes, the ACV will likely help and hope to hear a good report from your results.

Replied by Maria
(Sun Valley)
01/10/2016

I've had a sudden increase as well with them ..I'm like totally a clean eater

Dietary Changes
Posted by Nyla (Oakville) on 05/09/2015
 ★★★★★

Lipoma is fat deposits that are hiding toxins and chemical waste in them and happens from eating (non natural foods -i.e. Chemicals or other Toxins) when the body is not able to remove junk through elimination. The job of the fat it to protect our organs from being attacked by these toxins by forming itself around toxins. Apple Cider Vinegar helps clean up the toxins and therefore the fat will dissolve as the toxins are taken out the body from the use of this vinegar. However, we must also clean our diet so the toxins or lipoma or fat don't come back.

THREE major source of toxins:

1. eating processed foods,

2. eating vegetables and grains that have been sprayed by chemicals like pesticides and that were grown by chemical fertilizers.

3. eating meat that has been given antibiotics and non natural feed. 4. and most unknown by people is COOKING IN OIL. vegetable cooking oil is a "freak of nature". at hot temperature when cooked in metal pots, oil looses an electron and becomes TOXIC!!!!!

COOK IN BUTTER AND GHEE.

If you are vegan or vegetarian then if able please ask the older generation, (great grand mother) how they cooked before 1911. May be using a clay pot and not heating the oil too much may be an option??

Best, Nyla

Replied by Tess
(Austin, TX)
03/16/2023

Had mine tested for toxins since my friend worked in pathology. She sent them to be investigated and no toxins were found, only a fatty deposit. There was a report generated about the type of fat. But I have since stayed away from anything in the blood type diet that I shouldn't eat, I am gluten free, I cut out chocolate and dairy, and they keep on coming. I was told once I turned 59, I'm past 50! I think maybe hormonal fluctuations due to the pending menopause, however, men get these more than women so that really doesn't explain it. So I can only think it's genetic and out of our control. I will try a parasite detox, haven't done that. For now, she filed for more surgery. They make me feel unattractive even when they are removed, despite not scarring much at all. So I gave up relationships 15 years ago. They have caused so many issues for me.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Matt (Ithaca, Ny) on 06/25/2013
 ★★★★☆

A mix of Apple Cider Vinegar pills, coenzyme Q10, and Alpha Lipoic Acid seemed to be working a bit, in addition to eating healthier (No fast food, no dairy, no soda, no meat with high fat content, primarily fruits and vegetables). All the dietary supplements listed I was able to find in the organic section, homeopathic aisle of the local Wegman's grocery store. I am going to start trying Sa-Tan I believe it's called, it's a meat substitute that people seem to say isn't bad for taste. (I know it spells Satan, guess you gotta get past that). I have one lipoma in my chest that seems to have significantly reduced in size in just 3 days, though all others still remain the same. Texture doesn't feel much different, as it does not really feel softer, but shape feels different.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Arusha (Goa, India) on 06/21/2013
 ★★★★☆

I'm 32. I had my first lipoma on my arm ages ago. I ignored it. Recently I have been getting more. I'm almost certain that they are the result of poor metabolism/extremely imbalanced eating habits/overload of carbs & fats & sugars/sedentary life.

In any case, over the past 2 months, I have finally switched to a healthy diet: no processed foods, only olive or coconut oil, no sugar, no dairy (except curds), no white flour (in fact i'm keeping off wheat), no caffeine, no processed foods, plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts and some fish/egg, and I have reduced the amount of grains I consume.

I try to stop consuming grains by 5pm. After that I only eat fruits/vegetables/legumes/nuts/protein. The idea is that by the time I sleep, my body will no longer be digesting and can start healing.

I also do yoga every day, and make sure to get exercise.

Finally, I have started taking a little apple cider vinegar before sleeping.

So... these lipomas are still here, but smaller and softer. I am curious to see if they will eventually go or not. But I think this lifestyle change has helped. It seems there are no clear-cut answers to lipomas, their causes and their remedies (from what I read online any way). But perhaps we can think of them as imbalances, or signs of imbalance, and pinpoint the root cause of imbalance in ourselves.

In my case, disordered eating habits have been the cause of all my imbalances, and perhaps by addressing those, helping my metabolism to speed up, not taxing my liver anymore, and helping my body cleanse, this has helped. Perhaps for someone else, it would involve another set of changes. Along methods such as the apple cider vinegar of course.

Good luck to everyone else here, Arusha

Dietary Changes
Posted by Matt (Ithaca, NY) on 06/19/2013
 ★★★☆☆

My personal belief is that the lipomas, at least for me, may be caused by excessive consumption of soda/carbonated beverages, or possibly a combination of soda, red meat, and foods with preservatives or processed foods (think bags of chips, campbells soup, etc).

The scientific research of lipomas suggest that they reproduce on their own. What I have noticed is that when I drink soda, this is when my nerves seem to pinch, so my thinking is that when I drank the soda, it caused the bump to grow, therefore making it more likely to pinch a nerve.

I have not tried any of the suggested cures yet but will begin seeing what works. Other suggestions for remedies include sage oil, alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme q10, MSM, and acetyl-L-camitine. Alpha Lipoic acid would make the most sense, but hopefully someone comes up with a viable answer.

Sage oil was recommended because chefs use it in cooking to reduce fat content, so the theory was that if sage oil is applied to the skin surface where the fatty tissue is, the skin would absorb and then shrink the tumor.

I have heard that surgery may remove the tumor temporarily but I'm thinking if my theory is correct in eating unhealthy, that may be what's causing them to grow back. My theory is that fat content from unhealthy food is creating the fatty tissue, and caffeinated products like soda and coffee cause the fatty cells to go into hyper mode causing growth and reproduction. But, this is just a theory.

If anyone has scientific tools to evaluate this theory, please follow up. Thank you.

Replied by J
(Boston, Ma)
09/15/2013

Not true because dogs get them. They get the same problems as humans and for the same reasons. You'll never see a raw fed dog have "diabetes". My dog has been raw fed for 8 years which means no sugar, no carbs and no processed garbage. I found this site trying to find herbal remedies to shrink it before it gets any bigger and needs to be surgically removed. Most (if not all) dogs that do have them surgically removed just grow more.

Replied by Kris
(Bradford, PA)
02/14/2015
★★★☆☆

I've noticed the soda pop pinch too. I did a 2 and a half day hard fast and it definitely had a reducing effect on the lumps but they are not gone yet.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Lin (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Usa) on 06/19/2013
 ★★★★☆

I have 2 lipomas I have had for quite a while. One is on my head and the other on my back. I have been taking Pau 'd Arco every day, it will be a year in July. I have seen some reduction in the size and consistency, still working on it. Also I take Diatomaceous Earth which is suppose to help with that too. Also use Red Raspberry, Red Clover, Nettle, green tea and lemon. A lot of it is caused by diet, the more bad fatty foods you eat, the more it grows, I stay away from ice cream/dairy products, no sodas, not much fast food either. Hope this helps.

Dietary Changes
Posted by Geoff (Las Vegas, Nv ) on 11/27/2012
 ★★★☆☆

I have at least 27 lipomas. A couple of years ago, I had a saliva test which showed a soy and casein allergy. I used to be a vegetarian and ate a lot of soy and milk products. Now I never eat soy and have recently stopped eating dairy. I will try the apple cider vinegar treatment.

Replied by Bhavin
(India)
11/11/2014

Dear Geoff, I am also suffering from number of lipoma, just I want to ask that, the soyabean diat can cases lipoma increasing?

Please let me clear bcs I am eating so much soyabean in a day. Thanks, Bhavin

Replied by Helen
(Southern California)
11/23/2014

Warning! Too much soy can cause thyroid problems!

Replied by Marnie
(Middle Tn)
09/17/2020

My lipoma formed while I was eating butter sauce and let it dribble down my chin one night., I literally woke up with a strange line of raised skin where it had dribbled and my lipoma formed at the end of that line. I showed my husband and I was disturbed. It ended up growing into a 1” long lipoma on my chin over 2 years which I had removed today. All that time I thought it was a sebaceous cyst so nothing I was doing was helping much. I did get it down by heating /dipping my chin in a bowl of hot water each night and then putting castor oil on it, but the thing that works the most was applying garlic cloves after etching them with a knife so that the juice was activated and taping it on. This really breaks it up! But it came back right after that and I'm pretty sure for me, it's a dairy issue. I'm allergic to dairy and usually don't have any, but occasionally when I indulge in cheese etc, I think that's when it comes back. I tried taking an enzyme right before eating any cheese, not sure if that helps or not. I'm planning to try the DSMO, iodine and the ACV directly on it as/if it comes back. Just relieved to have my chin back!!!



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