Healthy Diet, Healthy Breasts

Eating a healthy diet provides many benefits for your body, but can it keep your breasts healthy and help prevent breast cancer?

While there are several factors, such as family history, that can increase your risk for breast cancer, diet and physical activity could reduce your risk.

Eating a healthy diet might lower your risk for certain types of cancer, including breast cancer (and it might decrease your risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes).

Some studies have shown a link between a lower risk of breast cancer and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry and low-fat dairy products. One example is women who eat a Mediterranean diet along with mixed nuts and extra-virgin olive oil. They might have a reduced risk of breast cancer.

Other factors in lowering breast cancer risk are:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Doing moderate to vigorous physical activity
• Avoiding alcohol or limiting how much alcohol you drink

Talk to your doctor about breast cancer prevention and screening and your risk factors, as well as the benefits of a healthy diet.