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Breast Cancer

Fight Breast Cancer With a Plant-Based Diet

Eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans—while avoiding meat, dairy, and fatty animal products—promotes breast health.

Protective Plant-Based Diets

protective plant-based foods like vegetables, tofu

 

Several studies show that the more high-fiber, vitamin- and mineral-packed foods women consume, the lower their cancer risk.

Fiber from fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans is especially beneficial for breast health, because it helps eliminate excess estrogens. Many plant-based foods are also rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and selenium, which are linked to lower cancer risk.

The Benefits of Soy

soy products


After a diagnosis of breast cancer, women who eat more soy-based foods actually have a better chance at a long, healthy life. They are less likely to have a recurrence and less likely to die from breast cancer than women who skip soy. The notion that soy products are associated with increased recurrence is a myth that has been widely and mistakenly promoted. Research findings show that eating soy foods like tofu, tempeh, and soy milk seems to have a protective effect.

Dairy Hazards

Research has linked the high fat content and hormones in milk, cheese, and other dairy products to breast cancer.

One study of nearly 10,000 women found that those who consume low-fat diets have a 23 percent lower risk for breast cancer recurrence. They also have a 17 percent lower risk of dying from the disease.

A 2017 study funded by the National Cancer Institute that compared the diets of women diagnosed with breast cancer to those without breast cancer found that those who consumed the most American, cheddar, and cream cheeses had a 53% higher risk for breast cancer.

The Life After Cancer Epidemiology study found that, among women previously diagnosed with breast cancer, those consuming one or more servings of high-fat dairy products (e.g., cheese, ice cream, whole milk) daily had a 49% higher breast cancer mortality, compared with those consuming less than one-half serving daily.

Research funded by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and the World Cancer Research Fund, found that women who consumed 1/4 to 1/3 cup of cow’s milk per day had a 30% increased chance for breast cancer. One cup per day increased the risk by 50%, and 2-3 cups were associated with an 80% increased chance of breast cancer.

Red and Processed Meat

Studies, such as the UK Women’s Cohort Study, show that red and processed meat, like hot dogs and bacon, can increase breast cancer risk. The Nurses’ Health Study II found that premenopausal women who ate the most red meat had a 97 percent higher risk of a common type of breast cancer. The NIH-AARP Study involving nearly 200,000 women found a 25 percent higher risk for breast cancer in those eating the most red meat, compared to those eating the least.

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Resource

Let’s Beat Breast Cancer

The foods we eat and other lifestyle choices can have a powerful effect on our health.

Further Reading

Resource

The Cancer Survivor's Guide - Second Edition

Find out how foods fight cancer and the advantages of a high-fiber, low-fat, dairy- and meat-free diet. Includes updates from the latest research, special prostate and breast cancer sections, tips for making the dietary transition, and more than 130 recipes.

Can a Plant-Based Diet Reduce Hot Flashes?

Join a free 12-week research study to test whether a low-fat plant-based diet can reduce your hot flashes!