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As with any ailment, diet plays an important role in the treatment of breast cancer. Let us know all about Breast Cancer and Diet:
Soy and breast cancer
Soy is a protective shield against breast cancer. The exact effect that soy could have on breast cancer treatment is unknown, yet the phytoestrogens in the soy foods that actually block the estrogen from going to the receptors save the formation of breast cancer. The pre menopausal women are at an advantage as they have a high level of estrogen. However, postmenopausal women have a low estrogen level. Therefore, these women should consume lot of soy food. This increases their estrogen content. Thus, these women stand lesser chances of getting breast cancer.
Thus, a balanced breast cancer diet with a lot of soy food along with a lot of vegetables and fruits is ideal for a breast cancer patient. It is good to give postmenopausal women isolated isoflavone supplements to protect her against breast cancer.
Vitamin D and breast cancer
Research shows that an oral intake of 1000 IU Vitamin D has a chance of reducing the risk of breast cancer. It is not easy to get 1000 IU of Vitamin D from our daily diet. So, Vitamin D supplements especially D3 are a good source of vitamin for the woman. Consumption of Vitamin D has reduced all risk of cancer in women who have crossed their menopause.
Sun is the best source of Vitamin D. However, to depend only on the sun is not advisable. Exposure to the sun every day could reduce the risk of cancer but it would not completely be enough to rid the person of a possible chance of breast cancer. Thus, the foods rich in Vitamin D like fatty fish, egg yolks, yoghurt and cereals are all good sources of Vitamin D. Thus, breast cancer diet is all about eating right.
Whole grain foods and breast cancer
A good breast cancer diet would have the following:
- 3 to 5 servings of whole grain foods
- 1 or 2 servings of beans
- A handful of nuts many times a week
- 9 servings of fruits and vegetables
- 1 or 2 servings of low fat dairy products
- 1 or 2 servings of soy products
- A serving of fatty fish twice a week
- Lot of use of garlic, herbs etc
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed a day
- Canola or virgin oil for cooking
- Including roughage in the diet
Whole grain food
This includes brown rice, bulgur, wheat berries. It is good to eat whole grain bagel, cereals, crackers, tortillas, etc. Whole grain food ensures maximum fiber intake, which helps in lowering the excess estrogen levels in the body thus avoiding breast cancer.
Beans and breast cancer
Beans give a lot of fiber content to the diet. Hummus prepared from chickpeas, canned beans and any kind of beans diet is good as a breast cancer and diet .
Nuts and breast cancer
Nuts are great fiber foods and thus are another safe breast cancer food.
Fruits, vegetables and breast cancer
Fruits and vegetables have that cancer fighting phytochemicals. Therefore, it is good to eat them as they create th
e right biochemical environment to prepare the body against cancer. It is good to have:
- Broccoli, broccoli sprouts, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower that are all cruciferous veggies.
- Tomatoes, grapefruit, watermelon, guava which are lycopene rich food
- Winter squash, carrots, sweet potatoes which are rich in beta carotene
- Oranges, grapefruits which are good citrus fruits
- Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries which are all berries
- One should eat Spinach, kale, collards that are all green leafy vegetables.
- Shitake mushrooms as they are good to protect the body against cancer.
- Artichokes are good whether they fresh or whether water packed. They have silymarin, which helps in the proper functioning of the liver. This silymarin is a component of the milk thistle herb.
Dairy products and breast cancer
Dairy fat has conjugated linoleic acid. BST is a growth hormone. Milk from non-BST cows has a lesser amount of IGF-1. Higher this amount the greater the cancer. Research is still on to find out the BST effect on cancer, yet it is advisable to stay away from fatty milk. Fat free milk is a better option.
Fatty fish and breast cancer
Fish like salmon, mackerel, white tuna, sardines etc have omega-3 fats in them. These help to fight breast cancer. Meat and poultry is not a good diet option. Lean cut meat is the best option and to have it in small portions.
