Help Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer (after skin cancer) among women in the United States. Nearly one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. Nearly 85% of those cases occur in women with no family history of breast cancer.

While some risk factors are unavoidable (being female, aging), there are some lifestyle risk factors that may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. These include:

• Staying physically active
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Avoiding or limiting alcohol
• Consuming a diet high in non-starchy vegetables, calcium and Vitamin D, and carotenoids (yellow, orange and red pigments that give the characteristic color to pumpkins, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, salmon, lobster and shrimp)
• Following a Mediterranean diet (plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and other grains, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds; olive oil as a primary fat source; and dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry in low to moderate amounts.

Try this recipe for Italian Vegetable Bake as a tasty way to boost your intake of non-starchy vegetables, Consider substituting the green pepper with a red or yellow pepper to power up the carotenoids in this dish!   

Do you need help eating smarter? Our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists can design a program that meets your nutritional needs while considering your lifestyle, finances and cooking abilities.
Call 603.663.8739 to schedule your appointment.