Practical Breast Cancer Estrogen Reduction Tips
For many breast cancers, excess estrogen production is the key stimulator to the disease. When in balance, estrogen is an essential and healthful hormone. It is necessary for strong bones, a healthy heart, youthful skin and a good memory. However, when out of balance and in excess, estrogen plays a major role in breast cancer production.
Therefore, the main objective of an effective breast cancer prevention and breast cancer healing diet program is estrogens detoxification. You MUST DETOXIFY ESTROGEN to prevent and heal breast cancer.
Tip # 1. Eat freshly ground flax seeds
A lignan phytoestrogen found in flaxseed, secoisolariciresinol diglycoside (SDG) has been shown to interfere with mammary (breast) tumor formation in rats. SDG has similar effects on the development of mammary gland as the soy phytoestrogen genistein.
Flax seems to encourage the good estrogen to be created, and at the same time discourage the bad estrogen from developing. Therefore, flax appears to help create a balance of this hormone.
The richest plant source of lignans is found in flax seeds. Flax seed (not oil) helps to block the estrogen receptors (also done by Tamoxifen ). It is also an Omega 3 fatty acid and considered an anti-cancer super food.
Read more on the healing benefits of flaxseeds for breast cancer.
Tip # 2. Eat cruciferous vegetables
Eat cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cabbage and cauliflower. Brightly colored vegetables, especially peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin, squash and carrots.
Research is continually showing the benefits of eating a diet high in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. These vegetables have been proven to prevent all sorts of cancer, including breast cancer.
These vegetables contain compounds called isothiocyanates which are believed to be responsible for the cancer-preventive and anti-carcinogenic activities in these vegetables. Broccoli and broccoli sprouts have the highest amount of the isothiocyanates.
Click on http://www.naturalnews.com/025230_cancer_broccoli_vegetables.html to learn more.
Tip # 3. Limit your intake of refined carbohydrates
That means eliminating from your diet refined white flour, refined white sugar, milled grains, and ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup. These ingredients are all man-made or artificially processed ingredients that are not normally found in nature. You don’t find refined white sugar.
A new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Mile Markers, and Prevention is presenting evidence of the link between the consumption of refined carbohydrates and breast cancer. This case-controlled study looked at the dietary habits of over 1,800 women in Mexico, and found that those who got 57% or more of their total energy intake from carbohydrates showed a 220% higher risk of breast cancer than women with more balanced diets.
This study shows that foods with high glycemic index values — that is, foods that more quickly raise blood sugar levels in the human body — actually accelerate the growth of breast cancer cells and tumors in the human body. Researchers involved with the study propose that the correlation between the consumption of refined carbohydrates and breast cancer could be related to elevated levels of insulin and the fact that many breast cancer tumors are encouraged and supported by high levels of insulin in the body.
The glucose absorbed into the blood stream after the digestion of carbohydrates stimulates the release of the hormone insulin from the pancreas. Insulin affects the action of other hormones in the body including insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and possibly estrogen. A number of studies have suggested that higher blood levels of IGF may be linked to an increased risk of premenopausal but not postmenopausal breast cancer risk. Increased levels of estrogen in the body have been clearly linked to increased breast cancer risk. In laboratory studies, insulin has been shown to increase the proliferation of normal and cancerous breast cells
Excess insulin in the bloodstream prompts the ovaries to reduce SHBG – the binding proteins, thus increasing levels of free estrogens – which can float around and enter target tissues.
Tip # 4. Lose weight to Lower your Insulin Levels
Obese women may have hormonal imbalances that may play a role in triggering breast cancer. One such imbalance is elevated levels of insulin, which stimulates the growth of breast cells in tissue culture. The Einstein study is the first to prospectively identify insulin’s role in breast cancer while controlling for estrogen levels
Weight gain, especially just before and after menopause, increases breast cancer risk. After menopause a woman’s ovaries stop producing estrogen and the primary source for estrogen is a woman’s body fat. Therefore, a woman with a higher level of body fat during the post-menopausal years would be expected to have a higher level of body estrogens than a comparatively lean woman.
Insulin tends to be higher in people with a high sugar, simple carbohydrate diet as well as with overweight individuals. Remember also,, abdominal fat also increases estrogen.
Choose sugar wisely…NOT artificial sugar and that includes Splenda. Use natural sugar such as Turbano or Stevia (does not increase insulin) from your health food store. Honey is a great natural sugar but will increase your blood sugar and therefore, insulin. Eat complex versus simple carbs: brown rice, whole wheat breads, wheat pasta, sweet potatoes. Lower sugar fruits include cherries, plums, grapefruit and peaches.
Tip # 5. Exercise
Many studies have shown that regular exercise provides powerful protection against breast cancer. Aim for 30 minutes or more of moderate aerobic activity (brisk walking) five or more days a week. Consistency and duration, not intensity are key!
Physical activity protects women against breast cancer. Regular exercise reduces insulin levels which reduces the growth of abnormal cells, and exercise lowers circulating estrogen.
Tip # 6. Eat a high fiber diet
Estrogen is eliminated through the liver and then through the bowel. Fiber binds to the excess estrogen in the intestines so it cannot be reabsorbed back into the bloodstream and our bodies. Fiber increases the bulk of stool and increases how fast we eliminate, ideally every 12-18 hrs. . Insoluble fiber is best for binding estrogen
In a recent study (Dec 15 2008, Journal of Clinical Oncology) researchers found that high-fiber diets reduced recurrence of breast cancer by 31 percent in women with high estrogen levels. In the study, almost 3,000 breast cancer survivors were assigned to either a high-fiber diet (8 fruit and vegetable servings/day, plus 16 oz of vegetable juice), or a comparison diet of just five servings of fruit and vegetables/day.
Insoluble fiber intake may lower breast cancer risk because it slows carbohydrate absorption and lowers glycemic response and insulin levels. Eating foods like oatmeal, barley, quinoa and buckwheat plus squash and green vegetables may help,
Eat only whole grain bagels, breads, cereals, crackers, tortillas, and pasta. This maximizes the intake of fiber, which may fight breast cancer by lowering levels of estrogen in the body
Eat nuts. Nuts are a great source of fiber and another likely breast cancer foe-monounsaturated fats.
Tip # 7. Drink green tea
Green tea is one of the strongest available antioxidants that protect us from the pathways causing mutations and unhealthy cells and therefore prevents the growth of breast cancer cells.
Many studies have shown that green tea antioxidant EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) significantly slow breast cancer growth in female mice.
The EGCG in green tea prevents breast cancer cells from growing by binding to a specific enzyme. This health benefit of green tea is especially important in cancers of the prostate, breast, and lung.
Drink 4 cups per day. Use pure green, not flavored tea . Steam approximately three minutes to gain the best therapeutic effect.
Only green tea is beneficial NOT black tea
Both green and black tea are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, but black tea is fermented much longer than green tea, a process that destroys certain polyphenols. USC researchers say these specific tea compounds lower the estrogen levels in women’s blood, while black tea elevates it. This is key because estrogen has been found to promote the growth of some breast cancers.
At Nagoya University Medical School, Japan, researchers initiated breast cancer in rats. The animals were divided into groups that received no treatment or treatments of various antioxidants including green tea extract.
When the experiment ended, there was 93.8% survival in the green tea extract group compared to only 33.3% survival in the control group that received no treatment. The survival rate for the other antioxidants was between 70-80%.
Click here tor read more on the healing benefits of green tea for breast cancer.
Avoid alcohol
Many, many studies have found a link between alcohol and breast cancer. Having just two drinks a day increases breast cancer risk by 40 percent, but American women who drink alcohol and also take the supplement folate, tend to have a lower risk for breast cancer.
Even a drink or two a day of alcohol may raise the risk of the most common type of breast tumors-those fueled by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, according to one of the largest studies if its kind.
