As most breast cancers are estrogen receptor positive, higher than normal blood levels of estrogen can increase the risk of breast cancer.
.
So where is estrogen hiding in our food?
.
Dairy is by far the biggest culprit. It is a hormonal liquid from pregnant cows and is thought to account for 60 – 80% of dietary estrogen consumed.
.
With all the delicious alternatives these days it’s easy to swap over to almond milk or any one of the other milk alternatives. I also use nutritional yeast instead of cheese. It’s like flaky Parmesan cheese and can be found everywhere from health food shops to major supermarkets like Coles & Woolworths.
.
Red meat, such as beef, lamb and pork, have been classified as a Group 2A carcinogen which means it probably causes cancer. It also contains endocrine disruptors that upset your hormone levels.
.
Just in case you didn’t know the World Health Organization has classified processed meats including ham, bacon, salami and frankfurts/sausages as a Group 1 carcinogen (known to cause cancer) which means that there’s strong evidence that processed meats cause cancer.
.
As a nation we eat way too much animal protein. Even if you ate a day’s worth of calories from brown rice and broccoli you would get the quality & quantity of necessary protein. Remember a serve of protein is the size of a deck of cards. So begin by eating smaller portions, then progress to only eat animal protein once a day or less.
.
I would also encourage you to begin exploring FIBRE rich plant based sources of protein like beans, lentils and whole grains (all animal protein including dairy has ZERO fibre).
.
Alcohol promotes elevated estrogen levels due to the alcohol getting preferential treatment in the liver. You can read about that here – https://naturallynic.com.au/alcohol-free-experiment/
.
Extra body fat, especially around our middle, produces estrogen. You can read about that here – https://naturallynic.com.au/the-breast-cancer-risk-factor-that-we-are-not-talking-about/
.
And last but definitely NOT least, unbalanced blood sugar levels affect your hormones. By ditching the sugary treats and eating more complex carbohydrates like fruit, vegetables, whole grains & legumes you will keep your glucose and insulin levels down.
.
This may seem overwhelming if you are reading this kind of information for the first time – I know it was for me! But I encourage you to take baby steps.
.
For more information grab a copy of my FREE e-book ‘3 Simple Shifts to Optimise Your Health After Cancer.
