Think Pinker

A lot of effort goes into research and finding cures for breast cancer, yet not nearly as much time goes into something that is so important to reducing your risk of developing breast cancer – diet. According to the National Post not enough attention is given to our lifestyle choices and how they affect your risk of developing breast cancer.

Your weight and what you eat play a very important role in your risk factor. Weight gain and fat around the mid section after menopause is very harmful in your risk of developing breast cancer. It’s tough because menopause generally leads to weight gain in the mid section, so it’s that much more important that menopausal women get active and eat better to reduce that risk.

A low fat diet is believed to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, and although there may be certain types of fat that are riskier there is currently no research to back that. The general consensus among professionals is that you should focus on taking in more good fats such as olive oil, fish, and nuts, and focus on reducing the bad fats found in red meat, processed foods, and pastry.

There’s considerable confusion over soy. One day it’s good for us and the next day it causes cancer, so what’s it to be. Well it seems perhaps it’s somewhere in the middle. Because soy affects estrogen levels it can increase your risk of developing breast cancer. It affects the body in the same way that hormone replacement therapy affects estrogen levels in the body.

Flaxseed is rich in omega 3 fatty acids and lignan which may actually protect your from developing breast cancer. The research is too new and too little to actually know for sure.

Alcohol also gets mixed reviews. The bottom line is that you should keep your alcohol intake to a minimal but you should also not be afraid to enjoy a drink now and then.

Vitamin D is believed to have some definite benefits in reducing your risk of developing breast cancer. But in general benefits were only seen when there were between 800 and 1000 IU ingested.

Finally there are plant polyphenols found in dark green and orange vegetables, olive oil, berries, and green tea.  Although polyphenols have been shown to increase the risk of some cancers, that’s not the case with breast cancer. And the study included almost 300,000 women so that’s substantial.

Your diet can play an important role in reducing your risk of developing breast cancer. So while scientists spend their time looking for a cure, why not do your part to keep yourself free of breast cancer.