Are common diets good for breasts?

For example, some people think that drinking too much milk will cause breast cancer? (Many doctors hold a negative attitude and emphasize that they must consult a professional physician if they have any questions). With rare exceptions, data primarily from observational studies suggest that certain dietary factors may indeed modify breast cancer risk. However, methodological issues regarding the measurement of nutrient intake and the role of other factors (such as alcohol consumption) complicate these analyzes and interpretations of the studies.

Let’s discuss the types of diet that are known to be associated with breast cancer risk:

Milk

There have been several studies since the 1990s It is claimed that drinking too much milk may induce various cancers such as female breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and male prostate cancer. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in October 2004 pointed out that milk may be an important inducement factor for female breast cancer. Researchers believe that drinking a lot of milk will increase the level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) in the body, and IGF-I is closely related to taller stature. Several studies have shown that almost every type of cancer is related to IGF-I, a key factor that promotes the growth and reproduction of cancer cells.

In fact, whether drinking milk can promote the occurrence and development of breast cancer depends on the amount of milk consumed and the type of milk consumed. Among patients with breast cancer, many have the habit of eating too much high-fat food.

Personally, in terms of drinking milk, if you drink whole milk for a long time and lack exercise, it may have an impact. If you drink low-fat milk in moderation, there will be no harm and you will consume too much fat. It is just one of the common causes of breast cancer patients, but it does not prove that drinking too much milk will induce breast cancer. Next time you see milk, don’t worry about it to the point of pulling your hair out. Choose low-fat milk and drink it in moderation.

Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet, characterized by being rich in plant foods: fish and olive oil, may reduce the risk of breast cancer.

One clinical trial included more than 4,000 women aged 60-80 years who were randomly assigned to a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts, or a control diet. group (recommended to reduce dietary fat intake), the primary outcome was cardiovascular disease. The researchers followed up for 4.8 years. Compared with the control group, women in the Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil had a lower incidence of breast cancer; women in the Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts had a lower incidence of breast cancer. Of course, this study has limitations, and larger studies are needed to confirm the findings.

Soy/Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant substances. They mainly include isoflavones (distributed in high concentrations in soybeans and other legumes) and lignans (found in many fruits, vegetables and cereal products). The quality of the evidence that a soy-rich diet protects against breast cancer in Western women is low.

Research has shown that among Asian women, higher isoflavone intake (≥20mg/d) can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 29%. Soy intake is not associated with breast cancer risk among Western women. However, the maximum intake level of soy isoflavones is only about 0.8mg/d, which may not be enough to observe the effect.

Fruits, Vegetables

Data on the effect of fruits and vegetables on breast cancer risk is inconclusive, with some evidence suggesting no effect and other studies suggesting they may increase breast cancer risk slightly. reduce.

In a prospective study of 993,466 women observed for 11 to 20 years, total fruit and vegetable intake was not associated with overall breast cancer risk. However, other studies have shown that a diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. A 2010 study showed that a diet high in fruits and vegetables may reduce breast cancer risk.

Fat Intake

The association between dietary fat intake and breast cancer risk is unclear. However, there may be a mild effect when comparing the two extremes of fat intake.

One study found a clear association between the types of meals with the highest and lowest fat intake and an increased risk of breast cancer. In the dietary modification group of the Women's Health Advocacy Project, 48,835 healthy postmenopausal women aged 50-79 were randomly assigned to the intervention group (group meetings were held monthly for an initial year and then quarterly maintenance meetings, with the goal of reducing fat intake) or a control group (receiving nutritional information only). At an average follow-up of 8.1 years, no effect on breast cancer risk was seen in the intervention group. And women in the highest quintile of fat intake had an 11%-22% higher incidence of invasive breast cancer than women in the lowest quintile.

Red meat, processed meat

A few studies have shown that red meat intake is associated with premenopausal breast cancer, but the evidence supporting the association between red meat intake and breast cancer is smaller than that of red meat intake. The evidence for an association with other cancers is even weaker.

In addition, studies have shown that among women who consumed a diet high in red/processed meat, refined grains, sweets, and high-fat dairy products, their diet had no impact on breast cancer risk.

Therefore, it is still controversial whether this dietary factor can affect the risk of breast cancer.