Guide To The Foods That Aid In Breast Cancer Recovery

September 28, 2023

Breast cancer is the type of cancer in which cancerous cells form in an individual's breast tissue. Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer found in women in the United States. In fact, skin cancer is the only form that affects more women. Approximately 276,480 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States each year. Of this number, about 42,170 will die.

There are many treatment options for breast cancer available to individuals. Some patients choose to treat breast cancer without surgery, which typically means receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. Immunotherapy for cancer is also a common method of treatment. Of course, everyone wants the best treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Thus, many patients will undergo surgery for breast cancer, such as a mastectomy. Others will try holistic breast cancer treatment and breast hormone therapy. However, once patients are recovering from breast cancer, they need a healthy breast cancer diet to decrease the chances of their cancer returning.

Kale And Spinach

Green vegetables contain carotenoids, which are an important factor when it comes to reducing cancer resurgences. These carotenoids are responsible for the color of certain vegetables that we eat, such as pumpkins, carrot, kale, and spinach. The claim that eating kale can reduce a woman's chances of breast cancer from returning is backed by science.

In a medical study conducted from 1995 to 2000, 1551 women who had been recently treated for breast cancer were put into a diet intervention trial. This trial introduced carotenoid-rich foods into their diets. Out of these 1551 participants, the study found that 205 women had a reoccurrence. Similar studies have concluded similar results. Breast cancer survivors who want to lower their chances of breast cancer recurring again in the future, incorporating kale and spinach into their diet is essential.

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Fatty Fish

Individuals who are recovering from breast cancer should consume a significant amount of fatty fish. This is because fatty fish contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. These acids lower the chances of breast cancer returning dramatically. They can also help prevent the cancer from spreading. Major acids that fatty fish contains include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). DHA reduces bone metastasis, while both of these acids slow down the increase of breast cancer cells that grow in the body. In clinical studies, researchers also found that eighty-nine percent of women with a higher intake of fish experienced a lower risk of suffering from breast cancer. The best types of fatty fish for breast cancer recovery include salmon, trout, mackerel, and tuna.

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Citrus Fruit

Eating a good balance of citrus fruits is another diet technique that can help with breast cancer recovery. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, contain vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for overall immune system health. Additionally, research studies suggest that vitamin C has a significant role in reducing the spread of cancerous cells. Grapefruit is particularly powerful for breast cancer recovery. This is because grapefruit also provides beneficial protection against breast cancer because not only does it contain vitamin C, but it also contains lycopene, which is a carotenoid.

Citrus fruits also contain antioxidants. These are important for the body because they affect how cells grow. This means that they can potentially stop cancer growth and directly influence certain enzymes that can break down cancer-causing chemicals in the body.

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Beans

Eating a variety of beans is quite helpful for breast cancer recovery. Specifically, it reduces the chances of breast cancer returning. This is because beans contain enterolactone, a substance that causes cancer cells to become sensitized to radiation therapy. In other words, it strengthens the course of treatment against the cells, and it is more likely that the radiation treatment will be successful in eradicating these cancerous cells.

Researchers have found that ingesting black beans can stop or influence angiogenesis, which is the growth of new blood vessels. Cancer cells will create their own blood vessels, which will increase the blood supply of the tumor, causing it to expand. As cancer cells rely on being able to create their own blood vessels, individuals need to ingest food rich in tannin that stops or influences angiogenesis. Doing so means that they have directly stopped the cancer cell's ability to spread or grow in their body.

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Blueberries

Breast cancer survivors may want to consider adding blueberries to their diet. Blueberries contain a very important phytochemical called pterostilbene. This phytochemical reverses the mutation of cells by stopping cancer cells from growing. This eventually kills the cancer cell.

Blueberries also help breast cancer survivors because they destroy free radicals in the body. A free radical is oxygen in the body that has split into a single atom without having an electron. As electrons are generally in pairs, these atoms will look for electrons to bind to in the body. When this happens, and they combine with a new electron, it can cause significant damage to our cells and is responsible for the cause of many diseases in the body, including cancer. Thus, adding this fruit to one's diet offers up a strong layer of defense against the return of breast cancer.

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