How Can Eating A Plant-Based Diet, And Maintaining A Healthy Lifestyle Reverse Breast Cancer


Breast cancer: the most common prevalent form of cancer in women globally. There were 2,088,849 new cases diagnosed only in the year 2018. That makes up 12.3% of the total cases worldwide. Like most cancers, it isn't age-specific. It can happen to anyone at any age, although it has been proved that risks go up as age progresses. It is predicted that 1 in 8 women will at some point in their life suffer from breast cancer. But fortunately for us, the progress of science has made the treatment of breast cancer not only a possibility, but an easy to avoid catastrophe.

Recent studies have proven that some of our daily habits might be contributing to our risk of getting cancer. Use of tight bras with underwires for several hours a day can be one cause, over-consumption of alcohol and smoking might be another. All these can be simply countered by using bras without underwires or sticky bras or reducing the use of alcohol and smoke that enters our body.

One cause that can be harder to counter is being overweight or simply having a bad diet. it's harder but not impossible and can be attained by shifting over to a more plant-based diet and keeping a more active lifestyle.

  1. Have fewer animal products:

Animal protein contains insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which is crucial for cell development. Studies proved that reduced intake of animal protein improved the chances of the person's body is resistant to cancer cells. A study in 2011 verified this scientifically by showing how a person's IGF-1 levels dropped by up to 20% after they stopped ingesting animal products.

  1. Have more fibrous foods:

Consumption of foods high in fiber reduces a person's risk of breast cancer by 62%. Every 20g of fiber consumption has been associated with up to 15% reduction in the occurrence of breast cancer, provided that at least a minimum of 20g is taken.20g might not seem like much, but if we keep in mind that the average person gets less than 15g in a day, it becomes evident how deprived most people are of fibrous foods in their daily lives.

  1. Have more foods rich in omega-3 fats:

One main source of omega-3 fats is flaxseeds. These seeds also contain about 100 times more lignans than other foods obtained from plants. Lignans are phytoestrogens that curb the release of endogenous estrogen, an excess of which is linked to breast cancer.

  1. Have more green tea:

Green tea is a well-known antioxidant. Any anti-cancer diet would be incomplete without it. It helps in protection against not just breast cancer but many other types of cancers too. It contains epigallocatechin-3 gallate which may act against urokinase (an enzyme crucial for cancer growth). Just one cup of green tea contains around 150mg of this cancer-fighting chemical.

  1. Have more tomatoes:
    Another antioxidant-rich food we can incorporate into our daily lives to better our odds against cancer is tomatoes. The chemical that gives tomatoes their superpower is lycopene, proven to assist against a wide variety of cancers. Cooking tomatoes make this substance more easily available to our bodies.
  1. Have more garlic and onion:

Both onion and garlic contain active Sulphur compounds that can be used to block the formation of nitrosamines which are a well-known carcinogen. This carcinogenic compound is responsible for several types of cancers, including breast and lung cancer. For once, the more overpowering the aroma of the garlic and onion, the more useful it is.

  1. Have more cruciferous vegetables:

Vegetable such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc. Offer various benefits to us. Not only are they rich in minerals and nutrients, but also contain an element known as glucosinolates which amplify the body's ability to suppress cancer. These vegetables also provide healthier pathways for the metabolism of estrogen which would otherwise result in the generation of harmful byproducts. this also assists in the regulation of estrogen levels that may otherwise be a contributor to a higher risk of cancers.

Dietary regulation isn't the only way to improve our body's natural ability to fight tumors. Back in 2006 a study looking into the effects of physical activity on the chances of onset of cancer found out that just two weeks of walking every day made the subjects' blood more hostile to cancer. The blood taken from these subjects were 20-30% more efficient in suppressing the growth of tumor cells. Thus walking every day is a simple yet effective way to improve your body's self-defense.

A good food regime and active lifestyle are indeed a surefire way of making our health better and reducing our risk of getting breast cancer, none of these replace proper medical treatment. We don't encourage skipping out on visits to the doctor and staying home in an attempt to cure yourself.

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