Be proactive: Reduce your risk for breast cancer

11 years ago | Cancer

By pH health care professionals

Why does one woman get breast cancer and not another? Aside from genetics, there are often multiple factors that contribute to the development of breast cancer. And yes, there are things you can do now to be proactive to minimize your risk for developing this disease. Let’s take a look at what you can start doing today to protect your health.

What you should do:

Get your omegas and polyphenols. Multiple studies have revealed that a diet high in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids decreases your risk of breast cancer. Eating foods rich in polyphenols (fruits and vegetables, green tea, black tea, red wine, coffee, chocolate, olives and extra virgin oil) complements fatty acids. The Mediterranean diet incorporates all of these and therefore reduces the overall risk of cancers, especially breast cancer.
More fiber, less sugar. Eating high-fiber foods and foods with a low-glycemic index decreases insulin resistance and your risk for diabetes, which in turn decreases the risk for breast cancer.
Try to include probiotics and fermented products in your diet. Studies show that probiotics and fermented products contain lactic acid bacteria, which are associated with reducing the risk of breast cancer.
Get moving. Increased physical activity decreased breast cancer risk in a study from Thailand – and guess what? The exercise was in the form of walking while shopping, so yes, exercising can be fun!

What you should avoid:

Environmental endocrine disruptors. These are found in many cleaning agents, cosmetics and plastics and should be avoided.
Excess body fat. For post-menopausal women, excess fat has been associated with an increased risk for breast cancer.
Eating a lot of animal fat. High consumption of animal fat may increase the risk of breast cancer, especially in post-menopausal women.
Messing with hormones. Hormone replacement with both estrogen and progesterone increases risk. Birth control pills can also increase your risk for breast cancer.
High red meat intake in teens. The timing of exposure to certain products that increase risk is important. Adolescence is a time when there is rapid breast growth and many studies have showed that high red meat intake during this time increases the risk of premenopausal breast cancer. Substituting this protein with poultry, fish, legumes, fruits and nuts decreased risk by 15 percent.
Exposing babies to toxic agents in the womb. Many women were exposed to certain toxic agents like DES (Diethylstilbestrol) while in their mother’s womb. DES is used as an anti-abortion agent and increases the risk factors of these women. However, further research is needed.
Reproductive issues. Having your first baby later in life, or not having babies at all, puts one at risk, as well as starting menstruation at an early age or starting menopause at a late age.
Smoking and drinking a lot. Smoking, which is a risk factor for many cancers, is a risk factor for breast cancer as well as heavy alcohol intake.

Be proactive! Protect your health by leading a healthy lifestyle and get screening mammograms at age 40 and earlier depending on your family history. Remember, the earlier a disease is diagnosed, the more likely it is that it can be cured or successfully managed. Managing a disease, especially early in its course, may prevent or delay serious complications.

Enjoy Your Healthy Life!

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.