Sadly, cancer will continue to be a major health issue globally. It has been reported that the global number of cancer incidents is expected to grow from 14,1 million new cases in 2012 to nearly 25 million new cases in 2032. According to Cancer Research UK, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death for European females.
Surprisingly, men can also contract breast cancer, although in less than 1% of the cases the victim is a man, according to BreastCancer.org.
On the other hand, breast cancer researchers continue to make new breakthroughs year after year. And at the same time, events like Breast Cancer Awareness Month make a profound difference by continuing to educate men and women across the globe about what can be done to prevent breast cancer.
5 natural ingredients that can support breast health.
Research shows that natural ingredients can support your breast health. Amazingly, research indicates that a number of ordinary foods can help stop the development of breast cancer in its tracks by altering pathways that over time can lead to breast cancer.
That’s why we have compiled a list of breast health-boosting natural ingredients that every woman deserves to include in her diet.
Vitamin D
A meta-analysis published in 2021 found that low vitamin D levels are prevalent among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. (1)
The authors noted that vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency may be linked with breast cancer initiation or progression.
One reason is that vitamin D regulates genes in cancer cells, inhibiting their growth and disabling their ability to survive. (2, 3)
For women already suffering from breast cancer, vitamin D may improve survival, reduce recurrence, and reduce all-cause mortality. (4-5)
An analysis published in the British Journal of Cancer found that the risk of death from breast cancer was 42% lower in women with high vitamin D levels, compared to those with low levels. (6)
The medical community is increasingly recognizing that vitamin D can help protect against breast and other cancers. (7)
Pomegranate
Pomegranate fruit is loaded with some of nature’s most powerful antioxidants. Clinical studies have demonstrated pomegranate to be one of the most effective inhibitors of free radicals in all of nature (8-14).
Although mostly known for its positive impact on arterial health, increasing amounts of data shows that pomegranate has cancer preventive properties. Studies involving animals have shown that pomegranate shows efficacy against breast cancer. (15)
This is because pomegranate is filled with polyphenols, which can attack cancer development in as much as seven different ways.
Offers benefits of all parts of the pomegranate plant, including seeds and flowers. One softgel provides equivalent polyphenol content of approximately 24-30 pomegranates.
Few nutritional sources have gained as much scientific validation as pomegranate. The surprising number of benefits attributable to pomegranate include everything from supporting healthy prostate and breast tissue to promoting a healthy heart, joints, liver and kidneys.
Curcumin
Curcumin, the active constituent of the spice turmeric, has been shown to have an impact on all of the major targets involved in the development process of cancer, making curcumin ideal for cancer prevention.
With its multi-targeted approach to cancer prevention, research has shown that curcumin has anticancer properties in breast cancer. (16)
Cruciferous vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage have proven to contain sulforaphane which may act as a breast cancer preventive. (17)
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids abundant in fish. There is good evidence that increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with lower breast cancer risk. (18)
References
1. Voutsadakis IA. Vitamin D baseline levels at diagnosis of breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther. 2021 Mar;14(1):16-26.
2. Radom A, Wedrychowicz A, Pieczarkowski S, et al. Effect of Selected Factors on the Serum 25(OH)D Concentration in Women Treated for Breast Cancer. Nutrients. 2021 Feb 9;13(2):564.
3. Madden JM, Leacy FP, Zgaga L, et al. Fitting Marginal Structural and G-Estimation Models Under Complex Treatment Patterns: Investigating the Association Between De Novo Vitamin D Supplement Use After Breast Cancer Diagnosis and All-Cause Mortality Using Linked Pharmacy Claim and Registry Data. Am J Epidemiol. 2020 Mar 2;189(3):224-34.
4. Griffin N, Dowling M. Vitamin D supplementation and clinical outcomes in cancer survivorship. Br J Nurs. 2018 Oct 18;27(19):1121-8.
5. Shao T, Klein P, Grossbard ML. Vitamin D and breast cancer. Oncologist. 2012;17(1):36-45.
6. Kim Y, Je Y. Vitamin D intake, blood 25(OH)D levels, and breast cancer risk or mortality: a meta-analysis. Br J Cancer. 2014 May 27;110(11):2772-84.
7. https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2021/10/vitamin-d-breast-cancer
8. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2002 28(2-3):49-62.
9. J Nutr. 2001 Aug;131(8):2082-9.
10. Br J Pharmacol. 2005 Jul;145(6):767-74.
11. J Nutr Biochem. 2005 Sep;16(9):570-6.
12. Clin Cancer Res. 2006 Jul 1;12(13):4018-26.
13. Cell Cycle. 2006 Feb;5(4):371-3.
14. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Oct 11;102(41):148813-15. https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2016/11/how-pomegranate–may-protect–against-cancer
16. https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2018/ss/curcumin-starves-cancer-cells-to-death
17. https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2006/10/report_cruciferous
18. https://www.lifeextension.com/newsletter/2013/7/higher-marine-omega-3-intake-linked-with-lower-breast-cancer-risk
