Unfortunately, breast cancer is far too common within the United States. In fact, according to BreastCancer.org, it's expected that 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in American women throughout 2018 -- including an additional 63,960 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. About one in eight U.S. women (12.4%) will develop invasive breast cancer durimg the course of her lifetime.
It's important to note, however, that a breast cancer diagnosis, though horrible, scary, and life-changing, doesn't mean anyone should ever even think of giving up. There is always a chance. There is always hope. And there is always going to be something worth fighting for. In order to improve your chances of combating breast cancer, exercising more, improving your diet, and living a healthier lifestyle can drastically help.
Thanks to breakthroughs in today's nutritional sciences, a strategic diet can actually be one of the biggest factors in minimizing the risk of breast cancer. Research has repeatedly shown that specific foods and certain nutrients can act as preventative medicines. According to Provision Cares, changing what you eat and how you exercise can prevent as many as 30% of breast cancer diagnoses.
Here are some of the best nutrients available that can help combat breast cancer:
Omega-3
Foods like walnuts, oysters, flaxseeds and salmon can produce Omega-3, which are essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce naturally. Inflammation can easily damage healthy tissues within the body, but Omega-3s fatty audits can help prevent inflammation.
Fiber
Several studies suggest that women who consume 30 grams of fiber each day have a significantly lower risk (32%) of developing breast cancer. Food high in fiber like beans, nuts, oats, lentils, and whole wheat bread can help lower amounts of estrogen, reducing the overall risk of breast cancer.
Carotenoids
A Harvard study shows that high amounts of carotenoids can lower rat risk of developing breast cancer by as much s 28%. Carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and mustard greens are great for offering carotenoids.
Folate
According to a recent study, women with the higher folate levels have a 44% lower risk of breast cancer than those with the lowest folate levels. Folate can be found in lentils, spinach, various beans, asparagus, chickpeas, avocado, liver, beets, dill and strawberries.
Sulforaphane
Everyone knows that vegetables are essential for a healthy lifestyle, but specifically eating cruciferous vegetables can actually help prevent breast cancer and other cancers. These vegetables contain sulforaphane, which is a protective compound found in plants that helps prevent cancer. Here are some of the foods that have been found to contain sulforaphane: broccoli, cabbage, arugula, kale, and brussels sprouts.
Sadly, though dieting and lifestyle changes can help, more still needs to be done. Proton therapy can reduce radiation exposure to healthy tissue, which is important in left-sided breast cancer, since the cancer will located near the heart and lungs. No matter what news you get pertaining to a breast cancer diagnoses, you should never give up. There are so many people out there who are willing to help you throughout every step of the way. Start eating healthier, exercise more, and think positive -- good luck!
