Diet and breast cancer: keys to healthy eating

On a day like today, in which the world commemorates World Breast Cancer Day, in which pink loop will be more present than ever, as a symbol of awareness of a disease that affects thousands of women.We wanted to focus on food, both in its preventive function against cancer and for the role it plays in patients, once diagnosed, which are in treatment to combat the disease.And to put some light on this issue, we have spoken with Emilia Gómez Pardo, Cris scientific advisor against cancer for prevention and nutrition issues, who has not hesitated to share useful advice.

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One of the key questions is whether the diet, if healthy eating habits can help us prevent breast cancer, what is your opinion about it?

From Cris against cancer we always remember that cancer prevention following a healthy lifestyle is not opinionable, it is a reality that today does not admit replica, as well as the positive relationship between food and cancer prevention.However, it is very important to clarify that there is no evidence that specific foods or specific nutrients exercise beneficial or adverse effects against cancer, in the same way that there is not that dietary supplements provide benefits benefits and even some supplements in dosesHigh are known that they can increase the risk of cancer.On the contrary, there is international consensus in the definition of a food pattern, which includes a series of food and excludes others, which protects from cancer, and in the same way there is consensus in the definition of the food pattern that increases the risk of suffering from theillness.

With a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains and fish, up to 30% of breast cancers can be avoided.The protective role of this diet in breast cancer is due to its fiber wealth (its consumption is related to a lower risk of breast cancer), carotenoids, antioxidant compounds, vitamins, and healthy fats.The consumption of healthy fats from mostly plant foods, such as olive oil, nutthe decrease in risk.

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According to Cris against cancer, there are studies that indicate that the diet is directly involved in the initiation and development of various types of tumors, such as colon or breast cancer.A fact that makes us reflect, isn't it?

Undoubtedly, the annual increase of new diagnoses is a very worrying fact that has a lot to do with the western lifestyle, in which sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and the main consequence of these two bad life habits prevail, overweight . The changes in the feeding of the Spaniards that have been happening over the last years are being very harmful to health. We have decreased the consumption of products that protect health and help face the disease and have increased the consumption of harmful products that only increase the risk of different pathologies. The majority intake of plant foods, legumes, vegetables, cereals and fruits, has been replaced in an important proportion with animal products and high energy density, richer in fats and sugars. They are very numerous studies that point in this direction and that They demonstrate that this current way of feeding, characterized by being not very nutritious and poor in antioxidant and anti -inflammatory compounds, contributes very importantly to the increase in diseases, including cancer.

Are there foods that we should rule out from our diet if we want to try to prevent cancer?

To reduce the risk of cancer in general and breast in particular there are, from Cris against cancer we recommend recovering those food habits that scientific evidence defends high and clearly and eliminating those that, with the same forcefulness, recognizes as harmful.You have to, first, minimize the consumption of red meat (WHO is very clear: 200 grams a week), reduce the possible consumption of processed meats, ultraprocessed foods (poor in nutrients and calories rich), drinksalcoholic and sugary.And secondly increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts.

Read also: What relationship does meat consumption with colon cancer have?

However, diagnoses of people with breast cancer do not cease.What dietary recommendations would you give patients who are going through a breast cancer treatment process?

The question that every patient is asked at some point when cancer is diagnosed is what can and what can I not eat? Asks that it is not always easy to answer.While the guidelines to follow for cancer prevention are very well documented, there is still uncertainty in relation to nutrition during their treatment.Although diagnosed people are receptive to health promotion, in a recent study it is revealed that they follow poorer diets than healthy individuals.A possible explanation could be the difficulty in making changes in habits and adopting a healthier diet at a complicated moment without clear and forceful evidence that your survival will improve.

Today, and with science in the hands, the diagnosed of cancer is encouraged, whenever possible, to follow the same general advice that occurs for cancer prevention.

How should their diet take care of trying to face the treatment in the best possible way?

Traditionally, dietary advice to patients has focused on maintaining energy and nutrient intake with the intention of mitigating the effects of nausea and toxicity caused by different therapies. In addition to general recommendations, it is likely that challenges ariseSpecial nutritional during treatment due to the side effects of therapies.It is very possible that adjustments are needed towards a greater contribution of calories and protein, since the requirements of both are very high due to metabolic demand and the inflammatory situation secondary to the process itself.

But how to get these calories, these proteins and these nutrients with quality foods?What is the best to eat?Anything goes?It is important that the diagnosed person knows the importance of good diet and must receive professional advice based on scientific evidence, which allows them to understand and incorporate general guidelines while allowing them to face particular situations, and in a wayindividualized, which emerge during the process.

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During the treatment, in addition, moments may arise when there are food problems, how can we address them?

Cancer treatment is often accompanied by important changes in eating habits and differences in the way the body uses nutrients.There are people who lose weight because of the side effects of therapy that make eating unpleasant, nausea, changes in flavor, loss of appetite.Sometimes, therapy itself affects nutrient absorption.Other people can gain weight with medications, reduction of physical activity or emotional food and stress related to diagnosis.

In spite of the possible side effects described, not all of them will appear throughout the treatment, since each person and response to it is different.Therefore, individual approach is important.What, how, how much and when of each of the food groups integrated in the healthy pattern must be established by a professional and depending on the person, their nutritional status, their food customs and particularities of their own process.

Is the lack of appetite normal when you are in a breast cancer treatment process?

Tiredness, discomfort and lack of appetite are some of the side effects of the disease and its treatment that can hinder the follow -up of sufficient and healthy diet.This can cause malnutrition, which in turn increases fatigue, weakness and inability to deal with treatment.Published scientific studies show that a good nutritional status improves tolerance to oncological treatment so eating becomes an essential action and, on numerous occasions, it can become a challenge, to maintain energy and cope with the side effects of the treatment.

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Does food help to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy?

A healthy diet reduces toxicity and improves the effectiveness of therapies.There are already many scientific evidence in favor of the patient's nutritional status has a direct relationship with the prognosis of the disease and with the level of intensity of side effects.Oncological patients who follow adequate nutrition are better and have fewer complications.A healthy diet helps healing and increases survival facilitates better tolerance and efficacy of treatments and plays a role in handling symptoms improving the general functioning of the body.

And once the treatment ends, that the patient heals, how should his diet be?What should take into account a patient who has overcome breast cancer in relation to her diet?

Recommendations for survivors do not differ in anything from those aimed at prevention.As a general recommendation, continue with the same eleventable feeding pattern (which you can know in the Cris Oncosaludometer against cancer) lead an active life and try not to gain weight and stay in a healthy weight range, which will avoid, asScience says, the appearance of new episodes.

A healthy, vital eating

The expert also summarizes us, to finish, the 5 keys to a healthy eating to prevent and combat breast cancer

1. Incrementar el consumo de frutas y verduras -mínimo de cinco raciones al día- incluyendo variedad de texturas, colores, aromas y sabores.
2. Los alimentos procedentes de los cereales, pan, arroz, pasta, etc., que sean preferentemente integrales. Incrementar el consumo de legumbres y de frutos secos.
3. Potenciar el consumo de pescado y asegúrese de incluir pescado azul, y carne blanca frente al de carne roja
4. Cuantos menos productos ultraprocesados y carne procesada, mejor.
5. Evitar el consumo de alcohol y las bebidas azucaradas.