Breast cancer takes 25 percent of the pie chart for the most common types of cancer in women.  This simply tells us that 1 out of 4 women diagnosed to have cancer has cancer of the breast. What is scary is that the population of breast cancer patients is expected to rise to 1.5 million worldwide in 2010.

Though the occurrence of breast cancer is hard to predict and that modern technology is only limited to making hypothetical evaluation of a person’s likelihood of getting breast cancer, the methods to prevent breast cancer and its development to a mature stage are very significant to lower down the number of victims.

Early diagnosis is a key factor in the prevention of the possible growth and spread of breast cancer cells. A consensus has been made among medical experts that the best approach in fighting breast cancer is prevention.

According to statistics, around 50 percent of women with breast cancer are from developing countries. This entails the possibility of an unhealthy lifestyle. A study sponsored by Britain’s Medical Research Council and Cancer Research concluded that though breast cancer can be triggered by a person’s genetic make-up, an unhealthy lifestyle has stronger influence over a person likelihood of developing breast cancer. This indicates that despite having a history of breast cancer or any type of cancer, having a healthy lifestyle and keeping a natural diet to prevent breast cancer can be an effective approach.

Benefits of Watercress in Fighting Breast Cancer

Breast cancer tumors require more blood in order to develop. They will then begin to stimulate the tissues surrounding them to develop more blood vessels. The process of developing blood vessels require the help of a protein function called the Hypoxia Inducible Factor or HIF. Phenylethyl isothiocyanate or PEITC has been proven by studies published in the British Journal of Nutrition to have significant effects to the development of breast cancer tumors by stopping the HIF and thus hindering the tumor to further develop. PEITC has also been observed to have apoptosis effects, or the killing of cells to some cancer cells despite them being resistant to chemotherapeutic agents. Phenylethyl isothiocyanate is naturally found in one of the most versatile vegetables, the watercress.

The beneficial effects of PEITC contained in watercress in breast cancer cells was supported by the Watercress Alliance, a group dedicated to the study and promotion of watercress. The researchers have observed significant effects of watercress extracts to the growth of cancer cells and the HIF activity. This only shows the benefits of watercress in fighting breast cancer. Though the study is only a pilot of the series of studies needed to establish the significance of watercress in the prevention and possibly the cure of breast cancer, researchers added that regular consumption of watercress, along with a healthy lifestyle and proper exercise, are significant moves to make and may prove sufficient in preventing breast cancer.

Other Natural Substances that can Help with Breast Cancer

Aside from watercress, there are other food sources that have the potential of preventing breast cancer. 

Ellagitannins from Pomegranate Shows Potency in Inhibiting Breast Cancer

According to a study conducted in the Division of Tumor Biology in the City of Hope Research Hospital and was published in Cancer Research Prevention, a publication dedicated to the recent studies in cancer research and prevention, ellagitannins compounds found in pomegranate show significant contribution in the inhibition of cancer cells. Other sources of ellagitannins are fruits like strawberries and cranberries as well as nuts like pecans and walnuts. A richer source of ellagitannins is raspberry; a cup of raspberries can contain as much as 40 milligrams of the essential substance.

Pepper and Turmeric Inhibits the Propagation of Stem Cells in Cancer Tumors

Piperine and curcumin in pepper and turmeric respectively have shown potency in inhibiting the growth of stem cells in the formation of breast cancer tumors. This is according to a study published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Journal. High doses of the two substances were applied to cancer cells and had been observed to inhibit the growth of stem cells.

The author of the research said that the lesser number of stem cells there are, the less likely the cells are to develop into a full-blown breast cancer tumor. Other mass manufactured drugs used for breast cancer like tamoxifen have toxic side effects to the body. A helpful tip to prevent breast cancer therefore, is to incorporate turmeric and pepper into your daily diet. These spices have also shown efficacy in preventing lung tumors and colon cancer.

Daily Mushroom Consumption Can Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer by 66 Percent

Mushroom consumption of around 10 ounces a day has shown significance in reducing the risk of breast cancer in women by 66 percent. This is according to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer as one of the tips on how to prevent breast cancer.

Australian cancer researchers from the University of Western Australia recruited over 2000 women of Asian descent, with half of the participants already diagnosed with breast cancer. After analyzing factors such as family history, age, exercise habits, and diets, the researchers found out that the women whose diets included mushroom were most likely to be breast cancer free. They also factored this with green tea consumption and the result was a reduction of breast cancer risk by 90 percent.

300 grams of mushroom a day may be a lot of fungi for a day’s meal. But mushroom can be incorporated in just about any dish. Together with other fruits and vegetables containing natural substances proven to have significant effects against breast cancer, you can reduce your breast cancer risk to zero.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Tips on How to Prevent Breast Cancer through Lifestyle Modification

Lifestyle modification has been one of the most advised methods of preventing the onset of breast cancer in women by medical professionals. According to the study of the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) on breast cancer risk factors, women can minimize their risk of having breast cancer by maintaining a healthy body mass index, being physically active and proactive breastfeeding. This is supported by 873 studies conducted by different cancer research institutes. The non-genetic risk factors have much more significant influence to the development of breast cancer than hereditary syndromes by 47 percent.

The AICR and the WRCF published a study regarding preventable causes of breast cancer around the world. An estimated 38 percent in the United States, 42 percent in UK, 28 percent in Brazil, and 20 percent in China are preventable through increase in physical activities, reduction in alcohol intake, and keeping a healthy body mass index. This concludes that healthy diet that includes sufficient amounts of needed nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and natural compounds that have shown indications of being potent in offsetting the growth of cancer cells and an active lifestyle is essential in keeping yourself breast cancer free.

Sources
nutraingredients.com
naturalhealthontheweb.com
cancer.org
en.wikipedia.org