During the 80’s, it was said that all tumors could be attributed to the diet. Nevertheless, with the present data, it is not possible to formulate accurately which are the cancers related to the diet and which are the ones derived from other causes. Food is very important anyway, because once you’ve been diagnosed for breast cancer (or any other variety of this difficult disease), the diet is one of the main concerns you must be aware of. That’s why you need a specific guide in the topic of “diet and breast cancer”.

Foods are very complex mixtures of nutrients, which include additives and well-known bad substances (as preservatives, whitening components, etc). These mixtures can be completely altered by the conservation and baking processes. Diet and breast cancer are related beyond the genesis of the condition, that’s the main reason why we will briefly review the main dietetic factors that have been related to the cancer, and the strategies for its anticipation.

Fats and Obesity

A saturated fat rich diet, favors the development of breast cancer –either if its origin is spontaneous or produced by chemical agents-, which could be produced because the saturated fats determine higher numbers of estrogens to circulate (a type of feminine sexual hormones). In a vaguer form, fat rich diets and overweight also have been related to colon, ovaries, uterus or pancreas cancer.

Fibers, Fruits and Vegetables

It has been said for so long that a vegetables rich fiber diet can reduce the risk of suffering colon cancer. This could be due to the related process of increasing volume and transit speed of lees, a process that reduces the concentration and the exposure time to carcinogen elements in the intestine.

Carcinogen Elements in Foods

If you don’t pay any attention to a diet for breast cancer, you’re avoiding the basic fact that many foods can contain natural carcinogen substances, like caffeine –related to bladder cancer–, fungus like aflatoxin — related to liver cancer–, polluting agents of industrial residues or pesticides. The nitrate consumption has been related to stomach cancer; the nitrates are reduced to nitrites by the bacteria of the alimentary canal, with production of substances of carcinogenic effect called nitrosamines. Frozen and smoked fishes -and cured meats- are especially rich in nitrosamines. Also it has been indicated that the consumption of meats cooked over coal generates aromatic hydrocarbons, which are carcinogenic. In addition, many foods contain these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as smoked tuna, coconut oil and sausages.

Related Posts: