Research shows that women who eat more cruciferous vegetables have better survival odds. Cruciferous vegetables encompass broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, collard and cabbage. A study was conducted on women in China and was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Nechuta, Xiao Ou Shu, M.D., Ph.D. was the chief investigator in this study. She wanted to look at the role of cruciferous vegetables in breast cancer survival among women. This was a prospective study of 4,886 Chinese breast cancer survivors who were diagnosed with all types of breast cancer, ranging from stage 1 to stage 4 between the years 2002 and 2006.

After analyzing all the data, the researchers found that a higher cruciferous vegetable intake during the first 36 months after breast cancer diagnosis was associated with the following:

  1. a reduced risk of dying from any cause
  2. a reduced risk of dying from breast cancer
  3. a reduced risk of the breast cancer coming back

There was a dose dependent relationship; the more of these vegetables the women ate, the better their health turned out.

Cruciferous vegetables are high in beneficial plant compounds called isothiocyanates and indoles. A lot of previous research has shown them to have protective effects against a range of different cancers. Vegetables are good for you for so many reasons. Please try to eat as wide a variety of vegetables each day as possible.

If you have an underactive thyroid gland you can still eat cruciferous vegetables; just don’t eat them raw. When these vegetables are raw, the goitrogens they contain inhibit the ability of your thyroid gland to absorb iodine. This can worsen hypothyroidism and iodine deficiency. Cooking inactivates goitrogens.

Other tips for keeping your breasts healthy:

Avoid being overweight

Overweight and obese women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, are more susceptible to the cancer recurring and are more likely to die from breast cancer than women of a healthy weight. Gaining weight after menopause particularly increases the risk of breast cancer. A trial involving more than 60,000 women found that women who are overweight, insulin resistant (have Syndrome X), or have high blood sugar are 50 percent more likely to be diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. Women who carry excess weight on their abdominal area have higher blood levels of the hormone insulin, which acts like a fertilizer for any cancerous cells present in the body. Berberine helps to lower elevated insulin and is a wonderful remedy for insulin resistance.

Obese women also make more estrogen in their bodies than slim women do, and estrogen is known to fuel the growth and development of most types of breast cancer. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that in obese women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more, estrogen concentrations are between 60 and 219 percent higher than in thin women. The natural herbal phytoestrogens in Femmephase capsules help to modulate the effects of excess estrogen in your body.

Minimize alcohol

Alcohol is a well established factor that raises the risk of breast cancer. The more you drink, the higher your risk. Alcohol consumption is known to increase the risk of several types of cancer, including that of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, colon, liver and breast. Alcohol increases the level of free estrogen in the bloodstream and it stimulates the liver to release a protein called insulin-like growth factor 1. This protein stimulates cells in the body to grow and multiply. If a tumor is present it will act as a fertilizer and fuel its growth.  Metabolizing alcohol uses up a lot of folic acid in your body. Folic acid is required for healthy cell division and deficiency can increase the risk of damage to genetic material (DNA).

It is the amount you drink that determines your risk of breast cancer. It makes no difference which type of alcohol you drink; it is the alcohol itself (ethyl alcohol) and quantity consumed that is significant. Women who drink between one and two alcoholic drinks per day increase their risk of breast cancer by ten percent. Women who consume more than three drinks a day have a 30 percent increased risk of breast cancer. This is a significant figure and many women fall into this category. If you drink alcohol at home, the glasses you use more than likely hold far more than one standard drink. One standard drink of wine contains only 150 ml. The average bottle of wine contains seven standard drinks. However, when poured at home, two large glasses can really total four standard drinks. If you are trying to cut down on drinking, taking a magnesium supplement in the evenings has a calming and relaxing effect and makes it easier to fall asleep.

Avoid bright light at night

Some studies have suggested that too much night light can boost cancer rates. Too much exposure to artificial light at night can inhibit the body’s production of melatonin, a hormone essential for regulating the body’s clock. Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland in the brain and it controls the body’s day-night rhythm (circadian rhythm). Melatonin production peaks at night, when the eyes cannot detect light and it helps you to sleep.

Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant and in experiments it has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Animal experiments have shown that light-induced melatonin suppression at night increases tumor growth. In humans, six out of eight studies have shown that women who work night shifts have a higher incidence of breast cancer. Other research has shown that blind women have a lower incidence of breast cancer, as they have high melatonin levels.

To increase your melatonin levels try to be asleep by 11 pm at the latest and make sure your bedroom is as dark as possible. Try to avoid turning the light on at night, as this will interrupt melatonin production in your brain. Walnuts are a great source of melatonin, so try to include them in your diet often.

Melatonin is available in supplement form and it can significantly improve sleep quality and quantity in people who struggle with insomnia.

Give your breasts the nutrients they need

Vitamin D, selenium and iodine have all been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer in numerous studies. These nutrients help improve the health of your mitochondria and keep the DNA inside your cells safe from damage. In this way they help reduce the risk of breast cysts and lumps. These nutrients are found in Breast Health capsules.

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.

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