The short answer is no. There is nothing you can eat that will cure or prevent breast cancer. However, maintaining a healthy diet and healthy body weight boosts your immune system, keeping your health at optimal levels, and in this sense lowering your risk of developing the disease.
Research on diet and breast cancer is ongoing—although there is not enough conclusive “evidence” to prove that diet lowers your risk, studies show that a low fat diet may reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Follow these nutritionist endorsed guidelines for optimal health. For more specific advice, schedule an appointment with a registered dietitian.
- Maintain a healthy bodyweight. Using the body mass index as a guideline will help.
- Eat your fruits and veggies. You can’t go wrong eating five or more cups of each per day.
- Only 20 percent of your daily caloric intake should come from fat. Be careful, as fat is hidden in so many of our foods. The easiest and most obvious way to cut down on fat is to avoid fried foods and condiments like margarine. Instead replace them with healthier fats such as olive oil and avocado.
- Omega-3 fatty acids are your friend. Sources include: fish, winter squash, olive oil, flax seeds, walnuts, and soybeans.
- Omit trans fats, red meats, charred and smoked foods from your diet.