How to Eat Healthy to Help Prevent Breast Cancer
Help reduce your chances of developing breast cancer by eating foods that have shown promise in preventing it.
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Get more nutrients into your diet with the crash course in nutrition provided by these videos.
You Will Need
- Cruciferous vegetables
- High-fiber foods
- Green tea
- A healthy weight
Steps
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Step 1
Eat your broccoli
Eat broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables. They're high in indoles, which reduce levels of estrogen, a hormone that can feed breast tumors.
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Step 2
Increase your fiber
Getting at least 20 grams of fiber a day can cut your risk, especially if you're postmenopausal. Look for cereals and breads whose first ingredient is a whole grain.
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Step 3
Sip green tea
Sip green tea. It contains catechins, cancer-fighting antioxidants.
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Step 4
Limit alcohol
Limit alcoholic beverages. In one study, having two to five drinks a day increased the risk of breast cancer 1.5 times compared with teetotalers.
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Step 5
Eat less fat
Eat less trans fat, which is found in processed foods like cakes, crackers, and cookies. High blood levels of trans fat can double your risk.
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The American Heart Association recommends a daily trans fat intake of less than two grams per day. Check food labels for amounts.
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Step 6
Limit red meat
Don't have red meat more than twice a week. In one study, women who ate more than five servings a week for 12 years were 42 percent more likely to get breast cancer than those who ate fewer than three servings per week.
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Step 7
Go easy on soy
Go easy on the soy, especially if you are at a high risk for breast cancer. Some research indicates it may stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells. Limit consumption to two servings a day, at most.
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Step 8
Maintain a healthy weight
No matter what you eat, try to maintain a healthy weight. Overweight women are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. The good news: Postmenopausal women who shed an average of 22 pounds reduced their risk by 57 percent!
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Israeli researchers found that pomegranate seed oil causes breast cancer cells to self-destruct, while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
