Food Choices & Breast Cancer

Surviving breast cancer is a victory all women can rejoice in breathing a little easier knowing you’ve conquered a brutal enemy that wanted to take you down.  But once you are told you are in remission, there will continue to be that nagging fear of what if.  What if it comes back or what if I’m not doing everything I can to prevent a recurrence?

It is very common to ask these questions after battling a serious disease.  One answer that is becoming more and more credible through scientific research is the food choices we make each day.  A recent study from the journal Nutrients suggests and recommends that survivors of breast cancer consume more foods containing a compound called polyphenols. There is strong evidence from various research that foods containing polyphenols appear to be protective against breast cancer and the recurrence of it.

Why polyphenols may reduce breast cancer recurrence

It is believed that around 30% of all cancer in developed countries is due to diet-related factors with breast cancer being no exception.  It is also known that obesity, lack of exercise and to a lesser extent, even alcohol increase the risk of developing this disease. But once a woman has survived breast cancer, she will need guidelines advising her on how to increase her odds preventing a recurrence. 

This is where dietary intervention plays a role.  Polyphenols, a plant compound primarily known for its antioxidant benefits, appears to play an important part in reducing inflammation and cancer recurrence in the following ways:

·        They decrease cancer cell proliferation

·        They block pro-inflammatory cytokines or endotoxin-mediated kinases and transcription factors involved in cancer progression

·        They increase histone deacetylase activity

·        They interfere with both estrogen receptor (ER) and tyrosine kinase receptor (TKR) signaling which induces cell destruction

It is becoming clearer that inflammation in the body promotes breast cancer tumor growth with links to obesity and metabolic syndrome.  Women who gain weight in adulthood and overweight postmenopausal women have a greater risk for breast cancer than lean women.  The Western style dietary pattern of a meat-based, saturated fat, low fiber, high sugar food consumption only promotes a more pro-inflammatory environment encouraging growth of cancer cells. This is where consumption of polyphenol-rich foods is thought to have a positive effect on reducing an inflammatory environment.

Smart food choices breast cancer survivors should make

When women choose a healthier diet of foods containing polyphenols, she will be taking steps of reducing the chance of breast cancer recurrence.  Here are some dietary changes any women, breast cancer survivor or not, should adopt daily:

·        Use more olive oil

A polyphenol called oleocanthal has been found through research suggesting that it may selectively kill cancerous breast cells while leaving healthy cell intact.  Use olive oil in cooking, for salad dressings and dipping whole grain breads into.

·        Drink coffee

Coffee contains various polyphenols which inhibit harmful oxidation processes in the body providing a protective effect.  More definitive studies are needed to conclusively determine coffee’s role in reducing breast cancer recurrence but for now it appears to have a potential benefit for breast cancer.

·        Foods containing flavonols

Flavonols are the major polyphenolic sub-group of flavonoids.  Foods containing these polyphenols include tea, onions, broccoli, green peppers, apples and citrus.  Beans and lentils also contain these rich sources of polyphenols which have shown a significant inverse association of inhibit breast cancer.

·        Consume soy

Estrogen is believed to play a role in the development and progression of breast cancer so if there is a nutritional intervention blocking the production or that can reduce the action of the hormone is should be effective in reducing recurrence of the disease.  Soy foods have been shown to protect against breast cancer mainly because of the soybean isoflavones which are natural estrogen receptor modulators.  

Summing it up

In summary, here are simple steps a woman can take to reduce the chance of breast cancer recurrence:

·        Consume at least five servings of vegetables and fruits each day.

·        Particularly consume foods high in flavonols such as onions, broccoli, apples, and citrus foods.

·        Both green and black tea are protective due to their polyphenol compounds.  Consider drinking up to 3 cups of green tea daily.

·        Consume a moderate soy protein consumption of 5-10 grams a day from non-fermented soy products such as soymilk and tofu.

Adopt the Mediterranean diet.  This plant based diet consists of using more olive oil, legumes, whole grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish, all of which are rich in polyphenols.