The National Cancer Institute in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health have published dietary guide lines that can help reduce the risks of many kinds of cancer.

THE DO'S

• MAINTAIN a diet enriched in antioxidant foods. Particularly, five servings of fruits and vegetables each day is recommended. A simple device to help us remember to get a healthy level of antioxidant foods is the concept of "pairing": two fruits for lunch, not one; two vegetables for dinner not one; and one at breakfast. Or mix it up, there are many ways to meet this recommendation.
• REDUCE the level of fat in your diet. While, fats are essential, moderation is the key. High fat diets are clearly associated with many human diseases, including breast cancer.
• SUPPLEMENT your diet with antioxidant vitamins E and C.
• EXERCISE moderation in alcohol consumption. Two or fewer alcohol beverages a day will keep the level of alcohol below the threshold for increased risk of breast cancer.
• ENGAGE in a reasonable and regular program of physical exercise.
• REDUCE the level of iron present in your diet, and keep it down, especially if you are a post menopausal woman or a man over forty years of age. There are many unrecognized sources of iron that can provide greatly more iron than needed, particularly for those in and over the fourth decade. Breakfast cereals, for example, often and unexpectedly provide much more iron than is needed for normal health. Currently, many clinicians recommend giving blood twice a year to reduce excess iron stores.
  

THE DON'TS

• DON'T CONSUME alcohol in excess. While dramatic effects on breast cancer risk are associated with daily ingestion of 60 grams of alcohol (approx. 2.5 oz), most of us should find it easy to stay well below this level.
• DON'T SMOKE. Smoking has been linked to so many human diseases that this warning should need no clarification. Breast cancer and prostate cancer are both increased by smoking.
  
  

Be sure to check out Food To Live For!

Back to Antioxidant Research at Webb-Waring