Breast Cancer Fighting Foods

Here's another topic on cancer fighting foods.....when things are going good, it's tough to come up with interesting subject matter on a daily basis :)

You can lower your risk for breast cancer by reaching for the right foods, according to five new studies. A woman can cut her chance of cancer by as much as two-thirds with good nutrition and weight management. Even a woman who carries the BRCA 1 or 2 gene can reduce her risk. Denise always tells me to fill my diet with lean protein and plentiful produce—to help keep my weight in check and provide cancer-fighting compounds, more for the weight but any cancer fight stuff is frosting on the cake.

Broccoli

Sulforaphane—a compound in broccoli—reduced the number of breast cancer stem cells (which cause cancer spread and recurrence) in mice, according to research from the University of Michigan. Eating broccoli may not deliver enough sulforaphane to achieve the same effect, but to get the most you can, eat your broccoli raw or briefly steam or stir-fry the green florets. (Boiling destroys some of the sulforaphane.)

Salmon

Taking fish-oil supplements for at least 10 years can shrink your risk of ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer, according to a study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. It’s thought that the omega-3 fats in fish oil reduce inflammation, which may contribute to breast cancer. But you can skip the supplement aisle, say the study’s researchers, and eat about 8 ounces of oily fish (salmon, sardines, tuna) a week. Alway's a favorite of our family.

Olive Oil

Another reason to reach for extra-­virgin olive oil: when researchers in Barcelona gave rats with breast cancer a diet in which fat came predominantly from extra-virgin olive oil (versus corn oil), they found that the olive oil’s antioxidants and oleic acid (a mono-­unsaturated fat) quelled growth of malignant cells.

Parsley

Research scientists found that this herb can actually inhibit cancer-cell growth. Animals that were given apigenin, a compound abundant in parsley (and in celery), boosted their resistance to developing cancerous tumors. Experts recommend adding a couple pinches of minced fresh parsley to your dishes daily.

Coffee

Drinking about two 12-ounce coffees a day may lower your risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer, says a recent study in Breast Cancer Research. One possibility is that coffee’s antioxidants protect cells from damage that can lead to cancer,more research is needed, so don’t up your intake based on these findings just yet. You can contact us for one of those fancy Keurig Coffee Makers though.....