Diet and Breast Cancer Risk
Only five to ten percent of breast cancers are considered hereditary; that is, they are caused by a faulty gene that has been passed down from generation to generation. The vast majority of breast cancers are caused by something else; we still don't have a specific clue that can lead us to a definitive cause for the disease. Many theories have been proposed, all of which have their supporters.
In all likelihood, diet probably plays a role in the onset of some cancers, including breast cancer. Results from some major studies have shown that the rates of breast cancer in certain countries are far lower than those of the United States. Is a healthier diet responsible? Or is it the consumption of certain culture-specific foods? Studies to date have not been conclusive, yet the data are too convincing to ignore.
Take Asian women, for example. Large-scale studies have noted the sharply lower rates of breast cancer for Asian women in their native countries, as compared with much higher rates for Asian immigrants-and their descendants-in the United States.
These studies have shown that breast cancer rates for Asian women increase significantly once they begin living in the United States. And the risk increases even further for second- and third-generation Asians residing in the United States.
(Interestingly, back in Japan, traditionally low breast cancer rates are now increasing at a significant pace. Is this the result of the gradual "westernization" of Japanese society? Nobody knows for sure.)
The reasons for the increased risk of breast cancer among immigrant women who come to the United States remain elusive. Western diets high in polyunsaturated fat could be a factor. Fat intake may lead to higher levels of the hormone estradiol, an estrogen hormone that has been linked to increased breast cancer risk.
Unfortunately, obesity is at an all-time high in the United States. And this unhealthy situation is may be responsible for many health-related problems, including a higher rate of breast cancer. According to the American Obesity Association, 22 percent of the total adult U.S. population-39 million people-meet the criteria for obesity.
The bottom line: Whether you have cancer or not, a healthier diet that is low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables is a great first step toward minimizing the risk of breast cancer or its recurrence. And why not throw in a little soy or olive oil in the process. It certainly can't hurt, and it may taste good!
SOURCE:
I Flunked My Mammogram!, B2Z Publishing, Inc. (http://www.mabcie.com)