9 Ways to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

There are many great anti-cancer foods and lifestyle changes that can reduce your risk of getting breast cancer, but here are some simple ones you can incorporate into your life right away:

1. Increase the fiber in your diet since high fiber diets have been shown to decrease breast cancer risk by up to 54 percent. That could be because fiber binds to harmful substances in the intestines and escorts them out of the body. Increasing fiber in your diet is easy: sprinkle flax seeds on your toast or cereal, choose whole grains over refined, add beans to soups and stews, and snack on almonds through the day.

2. Add sea vegetables to your diet. Research by Jane Teas, Ph.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health shows that rats fed kelp had less breast cancer than rats who were not fed kelp. Kelp and other forms of seaweed are full of nutrients, reduce radioactive waste in our bodies, and strengthen the glands.

3. Eat more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. They contain sulfur compounds called indoles, which help eliminate excess estrogen from the body and prevent it from triggering the growth of breast cancer. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is particularly powerful at inhibiting cancer cell development in the breasts. Cruciferous vegetables convert cancer-promoting forms of estrogen to protective forms according to Dr. Gaynor, author of Dr. Gaynor’s Cancer Prevention Program One particular indole, indole-3-carbinol (13C), inhibits the development of potentially cancerous cells in the breast.

Keep reading to learn about the fats that increase breast cancer risk and those that reduce risk…

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Ana P M.

11:04AM PST on Jan 27, 2012

Fantastic information to know, thank you!

send a green star

Debbie C.

7:59AM PST on Jan 26, 2012

We take a lot of vitamins including Fish Oil and Flaxseed Oil. And, we are eating more green vegatables lately. But, I draw the line at drinking Green Tea. It tastes nasty and leaves an aftertaste that I can't get rid of.

Irma P.

3:26AM PST on Jan 23, 2012

Thanks Michelle for the information on how to avoid the dreaded scourge.

Sheri P.

10:07PM PST on Jan 18, 2012

thanks for the tips...

KS G.

4:42AM PST on Jan 18, 2012

Thanks for the article.

Joan M.

8:08PM PST on Jan 17, 2012

Thank for posting this information, have always tried to eat healthy but am always interested to learn of any new foods that I should add to my diet

Natasha L.

9:12AM PST on Jan 17, 2012

Thanks

Vlasta M.

8:58AM PST on Jan 17, 2012

The first epidemiological study found that nuns had much higher incidence of breast cancer, thus having babies and sex is good for prevention of breast cancer too, in addition to decreasing in meat and milk products ;-)!

8:57AM PST on Jan 17, 2012

it is not WHAT you add to your diet but what you eliminate: Most meat and milk products! Before industrial revolution, Chinese and Japanese women had 5-10 FOLD less incidence and prevalence of BREAST cancer. When they moved to Hawai'i their breast cancer incidence and prevalence increased and by move to US, their brest cancer rates becaome same as American and European rates. Now they are catching up, by eating same crappy foods rich in animal derived products.

Thus, if you want to decrease your chances of breast cancer, eat less meat and milk and replace it with fresh leafy green vegetables and brown rice...and keep walking rather then driving everywhere. Don't worry about your deodorant or soap and shampoo ;-)!

Sam M.

2:57AM PST on Jan 17, 2012

Deodorants are said to be guilty also. During the Winter I avoid using them, since they're not necessary when it's cold.