| In 1940, the risk of a woman getting breast | | | | vegan diets can help prevent and even reverse it. |
| cancer was one in 20. Today that number is one | | | | A vegan diet is a plant-based diet where all animal |
| in eight. Risk factors for breast cancer include | | | | products such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, |
| genetics, family history, and diet. Western diets | | | | and dairy are avoided. |
| have changed dramatically since 1950- and not for | | | | There are several ways that a vegan diet |
| the better. As our food is filled with more | | | | reduces the risk of breast cancer. When our body |
| preservatives, toxins, and unnatural fillers and as | | | | is overloaded with toxins, it is unable to fight off |
| fast food restaurants appear on every corner, | | | | disease. However, the body naturally wants to |
| cancer rates consequently have skyrocketed. | | | | heal itself and we can help it do that by eating the |
| The best cure is prevention. The National Cancer | | | | proper nutrition. According to The American |
| Institute estimates that as much as 80% of | | | | Journal of Clinical Nutrition, "People consuming a |
| cancer cases are preventable. Maintaining a | | | | low-fat vegetarian diet tend to have higher levels |
| healthy diet is the number one thing you can do | | | | of natural killer cells, which appear to make the |
| to prevent yourself from getting breast cancer. A | | | | immune system more effective in destroying |
| diet low in sugar, dairy, and meat and high in leafy | | | | tumors." |
| greens, fruits and vitamin D can prevent disease | | | | A diet high in animal fat, especially the carcinogens |
| and promote well-being. | | | | found in cooked red meat, and the fat-soluble |
| Vitamin D is an immune system booster that aids | | | | hormones found in milk from cows can be toxic |
| the body in attacking breast cancer cells by | | | | to your system. According to Arthur Upton, |
| preventing them from dividing and multiplying. | | | | former Director of The National Cancer Institute, |
| "Vitamin D is a key component in helping the | | | | "Both breast cancer and colon cancer have been |
| body respond to many different kinds of assaults | | | | generally associated with the level of consumption |
| and stimuli," says Robert Heaney, Ph.D., professor | | | | of animal fat." |
| of medicine at Creighton University. "In the | | | | A diet high in fruits and vegetables is beneficial |
| absence of it, you're asking the body to defend | | | | because of the phytochemicals found in produce, |
| itself with one hand tied behind its back." | | | | which aid the immune system in destroying |
| You can get vitamin D from mushrooms, dark | | | | tumors. Plant-based dieters tend to get the |
| leafy green vegetables, fish oil, soymilk and rice | | | | recommended amount of servings of produce |
| milk. In the summer, spend some time in the sun. | | | | while those following a typical Western diet do |
| Sunlight exposure stimulates vitamin D production | | | | not. |
| in the skin. According to Dr. Oz, host of The Dr. | | | | Western countries have much higher rates of |
| Oz Show, fair-skinned people need about 10-15 | | | | breast cancer than Asian countries such as Japan |
| minutes of sunshine a day while darker skinned | | | | where the diet is much lower in animal fat. When |
| individuals can benefit from up to an hour of sun | | | | Japanese women are raised on Western diets, |
| exposure. In the winter months Dr. Oz | | | | their breast cancer risk dramatically increases. |
| recommends taking vitamin D supplements. | | | | "A Harvard Medical School study of more than |
| In addition to getting enough vitamin D, maintaining | | | | 90,000 women revealed that the women who |
| a healthy diet is key to breast cancer prevention. | | | | ate the most meat were nearly twice as likely to |
| Breast cancer survivor Elaine Sloan attributes her | | | | develop breast cancer as those who did not eat |
| vegan diet to keeping her cancer-free for 17 | | | | much meat," says Sloan. "Personally, I don't need |
| years since her diagnosis. | | | | another study to tell me that meat, eggs, and |
| "Before my mastectomy, I ate lots of eggs, | | | | dairy products are unhealthy and vegan foods are |
| cheese, and other dairy products," says Sloan. "I | | | | wholesome and beneficial. I can feel the difference |
| knew I had to make some changes if I wanted | | | | for myself." |
| to live a long, healthy life. My son suggested I | | | | Following a vegan diet has many health benefits. |
| consider a vegan diet. After reading that high-fat | | | | "Since I switched to a vegan diet, my energy |
| diets may well contribute to breast cancer, I | | | | level has increased, my cholesterol level has |
| knew that going vegan would be a step in saving | | | | decreased, and I feel healthier overall," says Sloan. |
| my life in the future." | | | | "But the best health benefit is the peace of mind I |
| Studies have shown that a diet high in animal | | | | get from knowing that I'm much less likely to |
| products and dairy- which is full of hormones and | | | | have a breast cancer relapse. |
| saturated fat- can cause breast cancer, while | | | | |