One good way to evaluate the ability of food to combat breast cancer risk is to compare the diets of women in countries where breast cancer rates are high – such as the United States – to the diets of women in nations with similar levels of economic development where rates are low, such as Japan and Greece. In the former case, Japanese women generally consume diets high in soy, which contains plant estrogens that are weaker than the estrogen produced in the human body. It is believed these weaker estrogens can jump in on estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer cells and perhaps stop their growth and cut off tumor development before human estrogen can get there. Greek women have lower breast cancer rates than American women despite consuming diets with more dietary fat, which would normally be presumed to increase health risk. However, Greek diets are high in olive oil, nuts, and fatty fishes that are sources of monounsaturated fats, which are known to be much better for the body than saturated fats found in red meats and high fat dairy products. In addition, fatty fishes like salmon, sardines, and mackerel contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which receive high grades for their ability to preserve healthy functioning throughout the human body. Mediterranean diets are also known for their heavy use of spices, which contain phytochemicals (a powerful antioxidant) and other healthy nutrients.
The Search Continues
Intuitively, the likelihood of a real connection between dietary choices and breast cancer risk for at least some women seems strong, regardless of what studies have or have not shown up to this point. Anecdotally, there are certainly a significant number of women who have claimed that cleaning up their diets has helped them overcome illness or kept it from recurring, and included in this group are some women who have made these claims about breast cancer. While this may not constitute scientific proof of anything, given the clear connection between diet and health in general it would definitely be prudent for those women who would like to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, or reduce their risk of recurrence if they have already had it, to try and eat as healthy a diet as they possibly can. It may help them avoid breast cancer, and even if it doesn't it will certainly help them avoid other conditions that could compromise their health. At the very least, a healthy diet combined with exercise is the best antidote for obesity, and obesity is a known risk factor for breast cancer.
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