According to statistics it has been estimated that 1 in 8 women in the country could develop breast cancer at some point in their life. Over the world, close to 2 million people were diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2018 alone. Hence, the potential risk of you developing breast cancer is relatively high, especially if you:

• Are obese;
• Have had a personal history of tumor in the breast like lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or other such conditions;
• Have already had breast cancer;
• Naturally began your periods at an early age, and/or you began your menopause at a late age;
• Have never been pregnant or have had children after the age of 30;
• Are undergoing hormonal therapy currently during your menopause;
• Are exposed to hereditary gene mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2;
• Were/are exposed to increased levels of radiation;
• Are addicted to alcohol.

There is no particular medicine or food for preventing or curing breast cancer yet. However, there are certain foods that can be avoided to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. The healthy choices you make about your diet can certainly reduce your risk by at least 30%. Here are two types of foods linked to breast cancer; it is best if you can avoid them.

Processed foods

Processed, pre-packaged, ready-to-eat foods are high in salt, nitrites, sugar, and preservatives. As per a recently published study, the more processing any food item goes through, the higher is the risk of developing many types of cancers, including breast cancer. It is the additives introduced in mass-produced foods like processed meats, bakery products, sauces, dehydrated soups, frozen meals, baked goods, and sugary cereals that enhances the risk of breast cancer in women. These are convenience foods that are easy to purchase and consume off store shelves, and merely make you feel full. In addition to not providing any kind of nutritional value, these foods, on the contrary, increase breast cancer risk.

Red meat

In August 2019, a report was published stating that the consumption of red meat was linked to increased breast cancer risk in women, especially after menopause. The reasons for this were not just the consumption of hormone-riddled red meat, but also the release of specific toxins when red meat is cooked at high temperatures like when they are charred, grilled, barbecued, or deep-fried. While more in-depth study is required to corroborate this research further, it is postulated that red meat contributes to increased invasive breast cancer risk in women by at least 20%. This is true especially for women who eat plenty of red meat during their teen and early adult lives. This is because their mammary glands are more vulnerable to the effect of carcinogens released during the cooking process of red meat.

Keep this in mind and enjoy a healthy, colorful combination of plant-based foods like antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Keep yourself well hydrated with clean water. Include a modest amount of physical exercise in your daily regime to keep your body and mind fit. This can eliminate most diseases, especially breast cancer, to a significant extent.