Breast Health 101

Breast Cancer. We all have heard and know of it and/or know someone who has been diagnosed. We also know some preventative strategies, such as breast self-exams, mammograms and breast screenings. But what else can be done?

It's been shown that the risk factors for breast cancer development (including family history, genetics, and prolonged exposure to estrogen) account for only 30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer.  That means 70% of women have risk factors related to lifestyle choices.  Thus, reducing the negative effects of chronic stress and optimizing immune function are powerful ways to minimize the risk of developing breast cancer.

Considering a breast tumour can take years to actually form and develop, here are a few tips on natural approaches to breast cancer prevention.

Exercise - 4 hours per week can result in 37% reduction in risk

Stop smoking (an obvious I hope!)

Increase your vegetable intake to 5-8 servings/day, including colourful veggies for their anti-oxidants & eating cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts) to make estrogen less toxic to breast tissue (by a remarkable compound called Indole-3-carbinol)

Choose Organically grown foods to minimize exposure to herbicides/pesticides

Decrease or avoid sugar - a known immune suppressant

Improve lymphatic function by dry skin brushing before a shower. This will help your body to eliminate toxins that specifically accumulate in breast tissue (and everywhere else for that matter!)

Minimize bra wear! (You know what I mean ladies!) - When you are home, take your bra off and please, do NOT sleep with your bra on. Its been shown that wearing a bra for more than 12 hours a day increases breast cancer risk by a factor of 6! And, try to wear stretchy, cotton bras without underwire to allow movement and removal of toxins from breasts via the lymphatic system.

Do your breast self-exams! Don't be lazy - it can save your life.

Many of these tips can be translated into general health, over and above breast health. Altogether, its the little changes we make to our lifestyle that have BIG, life-saving results!

 

Comments

[Tamara]

I like this one. You know, my mom is a two-time breast cancer survivor. Neither time did her tumors show up on a mammogram. I urge my patients to ask for ultrasound as that's how her tumors were eventually identified and I believe it is a more thorough exam.
Thank you.
Tamara

[dr.shamira]

Absolutely Tamara - I agree. Congratulations to your mother - what a resilient survivor she is!