Breast cancer kills about 700 women per day or one every two minutes.

Many of these can be avoided with proper nutrition.Here we will outline some of the ways to avoid cancer. None of these mentioned involve medications, surgery or chemotherapy.

Consult with your health care provider if you feel that you may have cancer.

Please consult with your physician if you discover a lump, lesion, or any unusual mark or unexplained change in your breasts. Perform breast self-examinations once a month and get the recommended testing as advised by your family physician. In the meantime arm yourself with the knowledge of certain behaviors and foods which will aid you in remaining healthy. Please find a link to a video demonstrating how to perform a breast exam at the end of this article.

Amino Acids nourish cancer tumors.

Scientists are still researching amino acids and their effect upon certain cancers. Phenalyalanine and tyrosine, for yet unknown reasons, seems to feed tumors. Reducing one’s intake of these two amino acids seems to aid in shrinking tumors.

Beta carotene reduces cancer risks.

A study performed in Norway and conducted on cigarette smokers found that smokers who ate a diet high in yellow and green vegetables were one third less likely to get cancer.

A balanced diet is vital.

Copper is beneficial to heart health, pregnancy, maintaining proper cholesterol levels, and helping to build hemoglobin. Before rushing out to purchase this micronutrient, however, you need to understand that too much copper blocks the trace element selenium. Selenium works hard to protect us from cancers. Too much copper stops selenium from performing its job.

High levels of copper were found in several patients with Hodgkin’s disease, and a large variety of cancers. It is better to obtain copper from natural sources, than to take a cancer providing supplement so as to keep your nutrients in balance.

Foods containing copper are:

• Dark chocolate

• Nuts

• Shellfish

• Oysters

• Liver

• Poultry

• Fruits

• Kidney

• Dried legumes

Diets in America are high in fats.

A diet that is high in fat and processed foods leaves little or no appetite left over for the consumer to eat properly. A balanced diet requires one to eat several helpings of fruits and vegetables a day. To eat a balanced diet that will assist in cancer prevention and treatment, enjoy several of the foods listed in the next section daily.

Photo source

These particular foods are recommended for breast cancer protection:

• Asparagus (Vitamin A)

• Barley (Antioxidants and lignans)

• Beans (high in magnesium and saponins)

• Broccoli (I3C and sulforaphane; both cancer fighting compounds)

• Brown rice (the fiber in brown rice reduces risks by 38%)

• Brussels sprouts (protectant compounds such as sulforaphane)

• Bulgur (heals and repairs damage from environmental chemicals)

• Cabbage (I3C and sulforaphane; both cancer fighting compounds)

• Cauliflower (contain phytonutrients which fight cancer)

• Cherries (contain antioxidants and Vitamin C)

• Cranberries (Contain Ellagic acid, flavonoids and antioxidants)

• Fiber (Staying regular and moving waste quickly from the body aids in protecting us from harmful chemicals)

• Fish (reduce prostaglandins which promote cancer)

• Flaxseed (does the same as fish with the added benefits of fiber and contains lignans)

• Garlic (several compounds within garlic fight and protect us from cancer)

• Guava (contains one of the strongest antioxidants, lycopene)

• Lime and lemon zest (limonene)

• Milk (Contains Vitamin D)

• Mushrooms (phytochemicals contained in mushrooms reduce the risk by 58%)

• Olive oil (rich in Vitamin E and polyphenols – use extra virgin olive oil)

• Onions (contain sulfur compounds)

• Oranges (contain Vitamin C and limonene)

• Tangerines  (contain Vitamin A, C and antioxidants)

• Tea (contains phenols and antioxidants)

• Whole grains (the fibers in whole grains slash cancer risks by 34%)

Avoid these products.

• tobacco/nicotine
• marijuana
• caffeine (limit or avoid)
• saturated fats
• limit salt and sodium
• tight bras

References:

• Healthier at Home - Don R. Powell, PhD.
• How to Perform a Breast Self Exam
• How to be your own Nutritionist - Steven M. Berger, M.D.
• http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/foods/fn595w.htm#intro
• The Doctors Book of Food Remedies – Selene Yeager and the Editors of Prevention
• Women’s Encyclopedia of Health & Emotional Healing – Denise Foley, Eileen Nechas and the Editors of Prevention