Emma Derbyshire, Dietitian for the Meat Advisory Panel, advises that a good diet is key to recovery as well as prevention of cancer.
Emma DerbyshireLatest statistics from Cancer Research highlights that breast cancer diagnoses have reached an all-time high, with around 1 in 5 women under the age of 50 years now being diagnosed with breast cancer.
While there are many reasons for this, some of which include genetic, hormonal and lifestyle reasons, a good diet may have its own role to play, both in the sense of cancer prevention but also for recovery.
Firstly, it is advisable that women aim to drink moderate amounts of alcohol, which is no more than two to three units a day. Surprisingly, this is the equivalent to just one 175 ml (medium glass) of wine. Alcohol has been shown to increase Estrogen levels, a known risk factor for breast cancer.
There is also some new evidence that eating folate-rich foods i.e. dark green leafy veg may help to reduce levels of oxidative stress (a risk factor for cancer) by neutralizing reactive oxygen species; a product of alcohol metabolism. Equally, eating antioxidant rich foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables may also help to reduce breast cancer risk, by acting in a similar way.
There has been quite a lot in the media recently about red meat, saturated fat and cooking temperatures being risk factors for breast cancer. However, when studies are adjust for other lifestyle factors e.g. body weight this link seems to disappear.
Ideally, while meat eaten should be lean i.e. have the fat trimmed off, these news stories should not put women of eating red meat. Lean red meat is a good source of iron, vitamin D, selenium and a number of B vitamins, all of which are essential for general health and well-being. Including red meat within the diet is also important given that latest UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey results highlighted that females up to the age of 64 years were at increased risk of iron deficiency.
For more information about red meat in the diet, please visit www.meatandhealth.com
Tagged in Breast Cancer Women's Issues