CLEVELAND–Nearly one in eight women will get breast cancer in her life, but doctors say a few lifestyle changes can help prevent the disease.
“Healthy diet, high fiber and low in saturated fats, said Dr. Jill Dietz of the Cleveland Clinic. “Exercising and keeping your body weight ideal. These are easy things that we can do to decreasing our risks for developing breast cancer.”
Research shows that exercising a recommended 30 minutes a day–about three times a week–can help boost the immune system.
In addition, doctors recommend limiting alcohol intake. Dr. Jill Dietz suggests drinking less than five drinks per week.
However, Dr. Joseph Baar of University Hospitals says it’s important to eliminate as much of it from your diet as possible.
“The less you drink the better, at least from a breast health standpoint,” Baar said. “What alcohol does is it interferes with the liver’s ability to get rid of higher levels of estrogen. So you have a higher level in your body if you take alcohol just because your liver isn’t eliminating it.”
The doctors said it’s important to note that men also have estrogen, and alcohol intake will also increase their risk of getting the disease.
Baar said because of the lack of sunshine, it’s also important for women to get more Vitamin D. He admits the connection between Vitamin D and breast cancer health is not clear, but it’s a good vitamin for people to consume.
“There’s no harm in getting some sort of Vitamin D supplement through over the counter medications,” he said. “Or if you’re fortunate enough, even going down to a warmer climate, even for a week, might generate enough Vitamin D to make up for any deficiency you might have.”
Though some men and women will inherit breast cancer genetically, Baar said it’s best to think ahead. And women 40 and older should schedule an annual mammogram because early detection is often key to survival.