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The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer at some point in her life is around 13% according to American Cancer Society. Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women after skin cancer.
There are cancer risk factors that you cannot control but it is in your hands to avoid foods and drinks that can increase it.
There is strong scientific evidence that alcohol can cause breast cancer and studies that, although they have not found a direct cause, find that the consumption of other foods and beverages also tends to increase the risk of this cancer.
1. Alcohol
Alcohol is a human carcinogen . Any type of alcoholic beverage (including wine) can increase the risk of different types of cancer , including breast cancer. There is no safe amount to drink. Even those who drink very little alcohol have an increased risk of breast cancer.
The American Cancer Society notes that compared to women who do not drink alcohol, those who drink 1 alcoholic drink a day have an increase of about from 7% to 10% risk, while women who drink 2 to 3 drinks a day have approximately a 20% higher risk than those who do not drink alcohol.
There are different ways in which the risk of breast cancer increases , one of them, because can increase the levels of estrogen in the blood , which is a sex hormone related to the risk of breast cancer.
two. Sugary drinks and foods
The American Cancer Society explains that there is evidence that a diet high in added sugars affects levels of insulin and related hormones in a way that can increase the risk of certain cancers.
In an investigation of 2016 shared by the American Association for Cancer Research, mice consuming a diet rich in sugar as the typical American diet were more likely to develop mammary gland tumors similar to human breast cancer.
Research thus far has not shown evidence of a direct link between sugar and breast cancer. However, consuming a lot of sugar can indirectly increase the risk of breast cancer by promoting obesity.
3. Fried food with saturated fat
Some studies have linked the consumption of unhealthy fats with an increased risk of breast cancer.
In a European study that evaluated more than 337, 000 women in 06 countries during 10 years, the researchers found that the women who ate more saturated fat had about a 30 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than those who ate less. The research was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. High fat intake may increase levels of estrogen itself.
Foods such as butter, palm and coconut oil, Cheese and red meat have high amounts of saturated fat.
4. Red meat and processed meat
The World Health Organization reported in 2015 that red meat probably causes cancer. Diets rich in red meat have been primarily associated with an increased risk of colon, rectal, pancreas, and prostate cancer.
Some studies have also found link between red meat and an increased risk of breast cancer. In a study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, it was found that young women who ate greater amounts of red meat had a 22% more breast cancer risk later in life.
5. Refined carbohydrates
Older women who consume a lot of refined and starchy carbohydrates such as white bread and French fries may have a higher risk of a form of breast cancer.
A study with 335, 000 European women published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a link between high “glycemic load” and breast cancers lacking receptors for the female sex hormone estrogen.
The American Cancer Society notes that it is possible that by avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors such as a healthy diet reduces the risk of cancer.
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