Diet and Breast Cancer Risk Diet, Weight, and Lifestyle Affect Risk of Recurrence

Here is a tool you can add to your cancer-fighting arsenal: a balanced diet. Research is confirming what our grandparents already knew: fresh fruits and vegetables are good for health, meat is for special occasions, and herbs and spices are medicinal. Learn about the foods that help you fight cancer. Load Your Plate With These Healthy Foods: Eat Your Broccoli Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts contain sulphur compounds, which may not smell good to you, but they fight cancer. Broccoli in particular, combats breast cancer -- so eat some every week. Legumes - Earthy Treasures Beans, beans, peas, lentils and peanuts are nutritious, low in fat, high in protein, and richin antioxidants and saponins. While they don't prevent breast cancer, they do boost your overall health. And while we're talking about beans … Soy and Breast Cancer - The True Story Soybeans and soy products are good alternatives to animal-based foods. Soy foods contain the isoflavone genistein, which may help prevent breast cancer, if you start eatingit just before puberty. You can eat soy foods in moderation, and it's easy to add soy to your diet. Onions and Garlic - Don't Turn Up Your Nose! Fragrant and colorful - alliums -- such as garlic and onions, appear in foods all over theworld. They have great nutritional value, and can help fight cancer. Learn how eating onions and garlic is part of eating healthy. Herbs and Spices - Little Powders Pack a Punch You might be surprised how powerful spices are -- not just for zing, but also for your anticancer diet! Several herbs and spices have been compared to effective cancer-fighting drugs. Take a tour of six herbs and spices that fight cancer. Sweet and Low-Calorie Fruits and Berries Fruits and berries are natural sweets that canbe added to entrees or vegetable dishes. On their own, they make easy low-calorie desserts or smoothies . Cranberries are especially packed with cancer-fighting compounds. But what about grapefruit -- is it really safe -- or not? Whole Grains and Seeds - Humble and Healthy Whole grains give you the full benefit of all three parts of the grain, which contain many vitamins , minerals, and dietary fiber. Flaxseeds are a good example of a whole grain you can use daily. Learn how whole grains benefit your health and are easy to add to your diet. Natural Sweeteners: Healthier than Refined Sugars Natural sweeteners are a very pleasant part of eating healthy -- they are low on the glycemic index, so they don't raise your bloodglucose levels like refined sugar does. Cancer thrives on sugar, so using natural sweetenersis better for you. Read about several natural sweeteners. Entrees to Enjoy: Fish or Vegetarian Dishes Fish and seafood are lower in saturated fats than meats, and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids , which fight cancer. But be picky about which fish you choose - some are better for you than others. Branch out and try fish or vegetarian entrees for a change from meats. Drink to Your Health: Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine Coffee and tea contain antioxidants, which can reduce your risk of cancer. Green tea is especially good for you. But those drinks also contain caffeine, which in large quantities might not be so good for your breasts. Read more to find out how caffeine affects your health. Water and Juice - Flush Your Toxins Water and juice helps you to stay hydrated and help your body eliminate possible carcinogens. Juice from fruits and vegetables is easy for your body to absorb, but may contain extra sugar and less fiber than fresh products. Try juicing your own fruits and vegetables, or making smoothies in your blender. Limit or Avoid These Foods and Drink: Meats - Tasty But Not So Healthy Daily servings of red and processed meats can result in too many calories, extra weight, and various diseases. Have meats only on special occasions -- especially if it is fried, broiled or grilled. In fact, start thinking of meat as a condiment. Learn how much meat is safe, and how it should be cooked. Potatoes - High on the Glycemic Index Even though potatoes are a nice way to fill out a supper plate, they aren't that healthy for you. Potatoes are high on the glycemic index, so they can raise your blood sugar levels, which is not good. Learn which varieties are actually good for you. Sweets and Sodas - Over Your Lips and OntoYour Hips Artificial sweeteners (Aspartame and Saccharin) do not seem to increase cancer risk in humans. However, drinking diet sodas,which depend on artificial sweeteners, seem to be linked with weight gain. Excess weight raises your risk of developing breast cancer, and of having a recurrence. Just a Pinch of Salt Consuming high levels of salt, or eating foodsthat have been preserved by pickling, or brining, may lead to increased risk of stomach, nasopharyngeal, and throat cancer. Moderate use of salt with food has not been shown to cause cancer.