| Breast cancer might be a common condition that is | | | | family, women are at much greater risk. |
| often highly treatable, but that doesn't mean | | | | Why Beans? |
| preventative measures shouldn't come into play. If | | | | Legumes are often recommended in anti-cancer and |
| risks for developing this disease are high, women are | | | | overall healthful diets for a variety of reasons. These |
| not powerless to fight back. Eating a diet that is rich | | | | rich sources of fiber, however, also contain |
| in beans can make a world of difference by starving | | | | ingredients that make them very useful in preventing |
| this cancer of its food source - the female hormone | | | | cancer. The phytoestrogens contained in certain |
| estrogen. | | | | beans can block the activity of estrogen, which is |
| Since roughly 200,000 new cases are reported in | | | | known to promote breast cancer. While estrogen is a |
| America each year and some 40,000 deaths are | | | | normal, necessary hormone, it does serve as a fuel |
| attributed to the disease, prevention is an essential | | | | for cancer growth. |
| step to take. Women who reduce their risks for | | | | Studies have found that women in countries |
| developing this disease not only improve their | | | | throughout the Caribbean and also in Mexico are |
| chances for avoidance, but they also very often put | | | | much less likely to develop breast cancer. The low |
| their bodies into better physical health as a result. | | | | incidence rate has been attributed to the fact that |
| Risks Worth Paying Attention To | | | | Hispanic women tend to eat twice as many beans as |
| While not all women who are at risk for breast | | | | their American counterparts. Typical Hispanic women |
| cancer develop the disease, many do. There are a | | | | from these countries eat about three-quarters of a |
| variety of risk factors that point to a need to | | | | cup of beans six days a week. |
| consider prevention by just about every woman on | | | | The beans that top the list in this study include pinto, |
| the planet. Some of the more common risk factors | | | | black beans and garbanzo beans. It's important to |
| include: | | | | note that soybeans have also been shown to help |
| - Simply being a woman: While it's true that men can | | | | prevent cancer cell growth. |
| contract this disease, women are much more likely. | | | | Other Inhibiting Foods |
| Just being a woman is a risk factor. | | | | Beans are not the only foods that have been shown |
| - Age: Women over the age of 60 are at higher risk | | | | to help prevent the development of cancer in breast. |
| for developing breast cancer, but younger women | | | | Certain vegetables have been shown to promote |
| are not immune. | | | | better estrogen metabolism. This, in turn, can assist in |
| - Reproductive history: Women who start their | | | | breast cancer prevention. |
| periods before age 12, enter menopause later in life | | | | Vegetables that are considered cruciferous are |
| and who do not have children until after the age of | | | | generally the best bets for this. The options include |
| 35 are more likely to develop breast cancer than | | | | cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and kale. |
| others. | | | | The link between diet and cancer is one that women |
| - Family history: There does seem to be a rather | | | | should not ignore. Beans may provide a powerful |
| strong genetic tie to breast cancer and family medical | | | | preventative that can help women at high risk avoid |
| history. If a strong history of this cancer runs in a | | | | this potentially devastating condition. |