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BREAST HEALTH AND DIET
John G. Connor, M.Ac., LAc.
June 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Excerpts from the above article:
Fat. A diet high in fat - especially animal fat - is known to increase the risk of breast cancer. A high fat diet produces chemicals in the intestine that bacteria convert to carcinogenic estrogens. These estrogens can then be stored in the fatty tissue of the breast making cells in this area more susceptible to cancer growth. In some studies, overall fat intake has shown a modest increase in risk, but fried food and refined fat (hydrogenated and transfatty adds) continues to demonstrate a much stronger and more conclusive risk factor. Obesity, particularly in women with upper-body fat, is a significant risk factor. (For a recent study confirming this please read "Very low-fat diet helps after cancer" in our Health News section.)
Trans fats or hydrogenated oils found in margarine and vegetable oils are linked with an increase in breast cancer. Avoid canola oil, safflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, sesame oil as well as margarine.
Saturated fats found in dairy products and red meat cause the body to produce higher-than-normal levels of insulin according to Arnot. In a study at the Univ. of Toronto, Pamela Goodwin, M.D. found a 283 percent increased risk of breast cancer in women with high insulin levels.
Cooked meat mutagens. Heterocyclic amines (HCAs), a food derived mutagen found in "blackened" or overcooked meat, has long been shown to induce breast cancer in rodents. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated a strong association between eating overcooked meats and breast cancer in human subjects.
Alcohol. According to Simone, women who have 2 to 4 alcoholic drinks per week have a 2 to 3 times higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who dont.
NUTRITIONAL AND HERBAL SUPPORT
Siberian ginseng. One study found that Siberian ginseng produces an immune-boosting effect on white blood cells in both cancer patients and healthy controls. This study pointed to Siberian ginseng's ability to stimulate resistance and boost the Immune system in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer.
Evening primrose oil is an abundant source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). In one study GLA killed human breast, lung and prostate cancer cells selectively. It may work by causing deadly free radicals to form in cancerous -- but not in normal -- cells.
Vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene are all effective free radical scavengers. Free radical scavengers might counter the free radical damage that is the result of radiation therapy. Free radicals can initiate irregular cellular behavior and DNA damage, causing some cancers to proliferate at a faster rate.
Shiitake mushrooms contain lentinan which is an immune booster and which may also prevent the increase of chromosomal damage induced by anticancer drugs. In a study at Osaka Univ. on breast cancer patients lentinan when added to the chemotherapy made the patients live longer. Lentinan also prevents chemicals and viruses from triggering cancer and is considered one of the most effective agents for controlling small metastases. Lentinan is not yet legally marketed in the United States.
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