There has been much good news from the frontiers of breast cancer research and prevention, but the disease still claims millions of lives each year. A healthy diet combined with a sensible exercise regimen is your best defense against this--and many other--deadly cancers and diseases.
Fruits
Researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California demonstrated that citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits and members of the berry family--strawberries, raspberries and especially blueberries--protected women from breast cancer recurrence.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Choose cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. How do you know your vegetable is cruciferous? When cut, the stem forms a cross.
Colorful Vegetables
Think color when choosing vegetables. A study conducted at UCLA Center for Human Nutrition showed lycopene, a component of red tomatoes and grapefruits contain lycopene reduce the incidence of cancer.
Whole Grains
Consume 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day, preferably in the form of whole grains. Easy ways to add fiber to a diet include switching to whole wheat or white whole wheat bread and choosing blended or enhanced pastas that provide significantly higher fiber than traditional pasta.
Flax Seed
Add ground flax seed to cereal or a smoothie; flax contains alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that protects against cancer, reports the American Cancer Society.
Other Foods
Other foods that enhance health and may prevent breast cancer include olive oil, garlic, salmon and green tea. Enjoy your healthy foods while sitting in the sun--20 minutes of sunshine increases levels of vitamin D.
Tags: breast cancer, whole wheat
