More and more studies showing now that the type of foods we

eat can genetically modify our bodies and the risk of all

major diseases.

       For years, researchers have studied the role of diet

in breast cancer. By comparing different countries,

researchers found strong links between high fat diets and

breast cancer risk. The disease is rare where the diets are

very low in fat and where rice and other plant products are

dietary staples. For example, before 1950, the rice-based

Japanese diet drew less than 10 percent of its calories from

fat. Breast cancer was exceedingly rare. But over the years,

as Western influences have altered Japanese eating habits,

breast cancer rates have climbed dramatically.

        These international studies are just one line of

evidence, however. Case-control studies are another research

tool in which researchers compare diets of cancer patients (

“case”) with those of healthy women of similar age and

background ( “ control”). Such studies have also shown a

links between fatty diets and higher risk of breast cancer,

and even on cancer patient’s chances for survival. One

study tracking Canadian breast cancer patients for ten years

found that for 5 percent increase in saturated fat in diets,

the risk of dying of breast cancer shot up by 50 percent.

          How does fat do its dirty work? Fat increase the

amount of estrogen in the blood. In turn, this hormone

stimulates breast cells in such a way that cancer is more

likely to occur and is more aggressive. Fatty foods also

leads to obesity which itself is linked to higher estrogen

levels in the blood. Increased estrogen levels are also

linked with early menarche ( onset of first period), also a

breast cancer risk factor.

          Despite such evidence, doubts about the fat

connection have persisted, fueled mainly by the results of a

large study of nurses run by Harvard University in which

researchers found no association between fatty diets and

breast cancer rates.

          Why the conflicting results? Unlike the

populations examined in international studies, the nurse

were a fairly homogeneous group, all eating fairly high-fats

diets. No group in the study was following anything similar

to a traditional Asian diet or other low -fat diet.

          As important as it is to get fat off your plate,

it’s just as important to pile on the vegetables and other

healthful plants foods. Their fiber helps cut breast cancer

risk by naturally decreasing estrogen levels. Plants foods

are also rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and other

vitamins which protect cells against damage. Unlike animal

products, most plants foods have little fat and do not store

up large amounts of pesticide residue.

       A brisk morning walk- or any other regular exercise-

also helps cut breast cancer risk.

       Of course, the good fats ( omega 3 and 6), known as

essential fatty acids are vital to one’s health. Their

paramount importance comes from the facts that they

constitute the membranes of every cell in the body,

therefore the ones allowing nutrients into the cells(to be

processed) and toxins out of the cells ( to the eliminated).

The major organ helping fats metabolism is the liver,

therefore ensuring that the liver always works well one can

reduce breast cancer risks.