- Frequent alcohol consumption can increase the risk of contracting this disease by 20%.
October 2018. We know that a balanced diet can help prevent health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes, Nutrition Specialist Amanda Amigo, RDN – of the Maroone Cancer Center of Cleveland Clinic Florida – explains how diet can also affect the risk of suffering from breast cancer.
There is no specific food tested that increases the risk that women suffer from developing breast cancer, but specialists warn about the effects of drinking alcoholic beverages for this disease.
“High alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer,” says Amanda Amigo. “Women who drink an alcoholic drink per day compared to those who are not drinkers really have a very small increase; but if women drink between 2 and 3 alcoholic beverages daily, if they have an increase of about 20% risk of developing breast cancer. ”
Regarding specific diets, specialist Amanda Amigo said that research suggests that following a Mediterranean-style diet may reduce the risk of breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and these plant-based foods are rich in antioxidants. Introducing antioxidants can help protect cells from damage, and therefore, may decrease the risk of breast cancer.
On the other hand, soy contains compounds called phytoestrogens, which have a chemical structure similar to human estrogen. High levels of human estrogen have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. However, research suggests that eating whole-grain soy foods, such as tofu, may reduce the risk of getting this disease.
“There have been several large observational studies that have shown that women who have a high intake of whole soy products have a lower risk of developing breast cancer,” said Amanda Amigo. “Studies that have analyzed patients who have survived breast cancer show that those who have a high intake of soy products as a whole have a lower risk of mortality.”
Another common question about cancer is whether sugar “feeds” cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, sugar does not make cancer grow faster; however, consuming a lot of sugar can lead to weight gain that may increase the risk of breast cancer.
