I’ve blogged about breast cancer risks for the last couple years during the month of October. It’s startling the sad connection between the consumption of animals and breast cancer. The good news is women have many ways to mitigate risk including lifestyle choices.
This is common in other chronic illnesses as well. The links between consuming animals and cancer, heart disease, Type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, and other chronic illnesses are quite profound. Here I share a few highlights from what I’ve found about the links and what some leading doctors and dieticians recommend to help mitigate the risk.
As always with anything regarding our health, consult with a physician and do your homework. We have such power to take control over our health decisions. I provide the link to my previous blogs and a plethora of resources at the bottom here if you wish to dig deeper. Please share with me others you find.
Big Picture
- One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with the most common type of cancer, breast cancer, with 290,560 new cases expected in the United States in 2022. The next most common cancers are prostate cancer and lung cancer as stated by the National Institutes of Health.
- Cancer continues to be the second leading cause of death in the U.S. only trailing heart disease via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Some Examples of Risk
- According to a study referenced (Adventist Health Study-2 cohort) by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), they found “that women who consumed 1/4 to 1/3 cup of cow’s milk per day had a 30 percent increased chance of breast cancer. One cup per day increased the risk by 50 percent, and 2-3 cups were associated with an 80 percent increased chance of breast cancer.” The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommendation is three cups per day for adults. How is this possible?
- Dietician Lee Crosby, shared the connection with meat in an interview segment titled, Meat and Breast Cancer Risk. “Women raise their chance of developing breast cancer by 13% with each three ounce serving of meat per day.” First of all, who has a three ounce serving of meat? Also consider if you include meat in breakfast, lunch and dinner at only three ounces you now increased your risk by 39%~…
- One study Dr. Michael Greger references in his book, How Not to Die (pg 190-191), is the 2007 study of Long Island women that found older women consuming the most meat over their lifetimes were found to have 47 percent increased odds of breast cancer. Those with high meat intake who also had low fruit and vegetable intake had 74 percent higher odds.
Some things to consider via Nutrition
- There is a myth about soy and how it relates to breast cancer. The science is pretty clear and PCRM states in one case – “In a recent study, women who consumed more soy lowered their risk of breast cancer by 30%. Whole soy foods like tofu and soy milk contain protective substances called isoflavones. Eating soy is linked to lower breast cancer risk—even (especially!) for survivors.”
- Dr. Michael Greger, in this video via nutritionfacts.org, shares the following findings on the blood in our body fighting cancer cells:
- People on a Standard American Diet (SAD) have blood that will on its own fight off cancer growth by 9 percent (our body’s own healing process)
- People on a Plant-Based Diet have blood that will on its own fight off cancer growth by 70 percent. That is eight times the power of our own body fighting off cancer cells!!!
- Cruciferous vegetables contain cancer fighting chemicals called phytochemicals..attacking growth…. eat those veggies!!! Dietician Lee Crosby state broccoli leads the way. Reference the link under resources for the most powerful fruits and veggies to fight cancer.
- Exercise
- PCRM shares the effects of both physical activity and rigorous physical activity on breast cancer risks here – go to #2. Exercising helps build our immune system and helps with weight loss or maintaining healthy weights.
- Limit Alcohol
- As PCRM states, “Alcohol increases breast cancer risk. This is true for all kinds of alcohol, including beer, wine, and liquor. Even one drink a day increases risk. The less you drink, the lower your risk. Alcohol can increase estrogen levels, and it can cause DNA damage—the first step in cancer.”
- Maintain a Healthy Weight
- PCRM explains (click here and scroll to #4) that, “Excess body weight increases the odds of developing postmenopausal breast cancer. In the Nurses’ Health Study, heavier women (BMI above 30 kg/m2) were found to be 47 percent more likely to develop breast cancer, compared with those with a BMI under 23 kg/m2.”
Summing it up
Let’s Beat Breast Cancer! If we educate ourselves on the route causes to these chronic illnesses and make healthy informed decisions we can knock these out! I hope this can benefit you or a loved one in some way.
– Add Health to Your Life
Resources – references I’ve found helpful in my education of breast cancer and ways to combat:
- PCRM Exam Room Podcast
- Nutritionfacts.org – Dr. Michael Greger
- Which Dietary Factors Affect Breast Cancer Most?
- Is Soy Healthy for Breast Cancer Survivors?
- Eggs and Breast Cancer
- Cholesterol Feeds Breast Cancer Cells
- Fiber vs. Breast Cancer
- The Effects of Hormones in Dairy Milk on Cancer
- Flaxseeds & Breast Cancer Survival: Clinical Evidence
- Breast Cancer Survival, Butterfat, and Chicken
- Need some help eating more or all Plant-Based?
- 21-DAY VEGAN KICKSTART via PCRM (it’s free!!!)
- The Happy Pear YouTube Channel – short and easy video recipes and these twins are ENTERTAINING!
- Email The Healthy Giraffe at alangraff@thehealthygiraffe.com – he loves to discuss transitions, the “whys”, ideas, recipes, and more…
- Come join me and friends for a run, bike, yoga session, and more…group dynamics help in so many ways living a healthy lifestyle…
- The Healthy Giraffe Previous Blogs on Breast Cancer
The Healthy Giraffe 
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