Staff Writer
Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which also reports it as the leading cancer killer in Hispanic women and the second most common cause of cancer death in all other women.The good news? With the increased awareness and available information, the mortality rate for breast cancer has steadily decreased since the early 1990s, according to the National Cancer Institute.
So, here are three foods to add to your diet that could help lower your risk for breast cancer.
Cabbage Patch Cures
The American Association for Cancer Research presented a study at a 2005 meeting that found Polish women who ate cabbage or sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) four or more times per week were 74 percent less likely to develop breast cancer. Additional studies found that cabbage may also protect against lung, stomach and colon cancers.
The secret ingredient seems to be sulforaphane, a phytochemical in cabbage that works by stimulating cells to eradicate cancerous substances. You can substitute other cruciferous vegetables like kale, turnip greens, cauliflower, broccoli or Brussels sprouts, if you don't like cabbage.
Vitamin D
A report presented at a recent meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) showed a connection between increased vitamin D intake and reduced breast cancer risk. The study found vitamin D to lower the risk of developing breast cancer by nearly 50 percent.
You can get vitamin D is from a nice glass of milk; however, high concentrations of vitamin D are also found in some seafood, like cod, shrimp and Chinook salmon. Eggs and sunshine are also great sources of the D.
Tea Cup of Cure
Tea contains flavonoids, like several plant-based foods, which are known for their antioxidant effects. One recent study, analyzing the lifestyle habits of nearly 3,000 people, found a link between consuming flavonoids and reducing the risk of breast cancer. Postmenopausal women consuming the most flavonoids were 46 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than those who got the least.
Watch Dr. Steven Pratt, author of the SuperFoods series, discuss the health benefits of tea.
Disclaimer: The information provided is intended for your knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Please talk with your healthcare provider regarding any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
Do you know a great cancer fighting food? Let us know and post it below.
Labels: breast cancer, breast cancer survivor, diet and breast cancer, exercise and breast cancer, support
Comment: October 6, 2008 11:20 AM - 
annav24680 said...
Fresh garlic will kill anything in your system. Crush it with a garlic press and put it in just about anything. Also, I'm reading about nutrition in my class and it turns out that apple, cherry, peach, and nectarine seeds, as well as almonds and mung bean sprouts, contain a compound called laetrile. Laetrile is 1/4 cyanide. Our normal cells produce an immunity, while cancer cells are destroyed due to their lack of immunity-producing cells. Don't take this as advice to eat up a storm... a couple handfuls of almonds or a couple apple seeds do the trick just as well. Neat, huh?
Comment: October 8, 2008 12:07 AM - 
roz said...
cancer is also a result of our body being deluged with all the chemicals, preservatives, and artifical colors and dyes in our foods, body and household products...food is overprocessed to the point of where it contains very little if any nutrition at all...USA citizens are the most unhealthly of all countries in the western world and it has been hotly debated that it is because of our diet...dont expect your dr to tell you this because med school encourages chemo and radiation and drugs and discourages the cause of cancer as poor nutrition (over processed food) and more holistic healing techniques, did you know that pharma companies are HUGE funders of medical schools? TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH read up as much as you can on holistic healing and nutrition eat organic HEALTH IS WEALTH. peace
Comment: October 8, 2008 3:27 AM - mdbabin said...
I find it very insulting that you can think that modern medecine is focused on pushing treatments... It is always better to prevent than to treat. And where do you thing the research comes from that incriminates pesticides, gene modification, hormones and artificial ingredients as causes of cancer?
Along the lines of the flavanoids, you have lots of options. Blueberries, pomegranates, red wine among others.
Eating a well balanced diet guided by the Canadian/American food guide, and getting an ample amount of exercise will also help reduce the risk. Taking a multivitamin in the morning will also be of benefit.
I have recently lost an Aunt to breast cancer and I am a serious advocate for it's prevention. If you have a family history of breast cancer, talk with your doctor about getting screened for the Breast Cancer genes. All the more important if you've had a male relative with the disease! (And yes, it can happen, particularly associated with BRCA 2).
Prevention is definitely the key, as the consequences from Chemo and rad therapies are not to be taken lightly. I would like to thank Worst Foods for having published an article on this subject for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Comment: October 8, 2008 4:45 AM - flowercrafter said...
"The China Study" is a phenomenal book on reversing and preventing disease by eating a plant-based whole foods diet and low in animal protein (including milk). It has lots of scientific studies. It'll make you think twice about drinking milk. There are better ways to get your Vitamin D.
Also, I think there's been some poisonings eating too much laetrile but I know I read that you would have to eat something like a cup of appleseeds to do you harm.
Comment: October 8, 2008 12:32 PM - roz said...
mdbabin - i m sorry you felt insulted, that was not my intention...my words were meant to go out to those that are suffering with cancer and have a dr that offer no alternative other than chemo or rad...i know for a fact that some doctors in modern med push cancer treatments because i used to work in a chemo/rad lab as a tech for 12 yrs. and i saw it first hand myself...holistic treatments were discouraged and frowned upon and considered only a last resort when the dr could do nothing else, by then it was too late...yes i know not every lab and dr is like this..but i am reporting only what i have seen and heard on my own...when i retired i starting researching on my own about cancer and you are right, of course prevention is ALWAYS the preferred method of avoiding illness along with proper nutrition, exercise and healthy living practices..no matter which way you look at it cancer and its treatment is a huge business and the pharma companies aren't going to let go of the billions of dollars in profits by letting the general public know what REALLY prevents and cures cancer...i don't understand why doctor's get so upset or insulted (as my former employer would) when someone comes along and suggests that chemo and rad may actually make the patient sicker and even kill them in the process of cancer treatment...we should always be concerned mainly with the healing of the patient and prevention of disease, it sounds like you are a holistically inclined dr and that is good to hear...peace
Comment: October 8, 2008 6:59 PM - mdbabin said...
Hi Roz, I know first hand what it's like to see the 2 sides of the coin. And I am not blind, being a medical student, I don't know how many times I've heard that Chemo/rad are the best treatments for cancer. Like I said, I have recently lost my aunt to Breast cancer... actually it was the leukemia induced by the chemo/rad that she got for her breast cancer that killed her. So I'm glad we are on the same wave length;)
Cutting out the meat products isn't too bad an idea. These days, the animals that are raised to be slaughtered are fed antibotics and hormones so that they can grow faster and be healthy. This in turn gets passed on to us. (This actually explains why girls are getting their periods earlier compared to 20 years ago). The alteration of our immune system with the antibiotics can make bacteria resistent to certain antibiotics, making us vulnerable to more potent germs. As for the effect of the hormones, well as I mentionned, girls are getting their periods on average 3 years earlier than they were 20 years ago. Early menstruation is a risk factor for breast cancer, among other things like early menopause and, some will stipulate, hormone replacement therapy/the pill. So I completly agree with you, flowercrafter, but it is easier said than done.
