Foods that May Trigger Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is still a leading cancer type in women. Breast cancer patients often have a variety of telltale symptoms, such as irritation on breast skin, nipple discharge, pain around the area of the breast, irritation and pulling on the breast skin, flaky skin around the nipple area, noticeable or alarming change in the breast size, a new lump under your armpit, and breast retraction.
Several scientific studies report that some foods can trigger or contribute to breast cancer development:
1. Alcoholic beverages
Alcohol increases estrogen levels in women. Estrogen is a naturally occurring hormone in the body; it is critical for sexual development. Prior to menopause, the hormone is produced in the ovaries. Right after menopause, the hormone is produced as fat tissue. Studies indicate that these fat tissues contribute to the rise in the number of breast cancer cases.
2. Added sugar
Naturally, the cells in the body require energy to develop. This energy can be found in sugar. Glucose in the body comes from different types of sugary foods in the diet. The sugar is broken down into glucose. Sugar found in the body contains carbohydrates. It accelerates their growth. Cancer cells feed on sugar. In other words, it is possible that if you stop consuming foods with added sugar, it may help stop cancer from developing or growing.
3. Red meat
High-fat diets such as processed red meat increase the chances of developing breast cancer because they contain Trans-fat. Trans fat is the worst type of fat you can consume. It contains bad fats that can raise the bad cholesterol in your body. It also has the upper hand at lowering good cholesterol. This risk is related to several compounds in the meals and not the fat. Besides reducing breast cancer risks, limiting red meat intake coupled with processed meats is highly recommended for a healthy heart. For that reason, you should center your meals around vegetables and fruits. These offer a broad range of nutrients and protective phytochemicals.
4. Processed food
Processed food is known to have a bad reputation because it is considered a diet ruiner. Consequently, it is blamed for several obesity and cancer rates. Processed foods involve macaroni, potato chips, and fast foods. You may be surprised to learn that homemade soup is also a type of processed food.
5. Trans fat
Researchers in the cancer department have proposed several anti-cancer diets. However, none has been clinically demonstrated to reduce the risks of developing breast cancer. If you have an unhealthy weight, you are at risk of developing chronic conditions, including heart disease and cancer. Trans fats are a type of fat containing unsaturated fats. They can be categorized into natural and artificial fats. Bacteria are used to form natural trans fats. This usually happens in the cattle’s stomach. Trans fats make up about 8% of fats in dairy products. Examples of these dairy products are such as milk and cheese.
Regardless of the encouraging advances in the quest for curing breast cancer, there are several groups with less fortunate patients. These individuals die from breast cancer annually. Most breast cancer patients would like to discuss their condition with family but do not want to upset them at the same time. Therefore, they end up keeping their health status to themselves.