Diet and breast cancer summed up

It may help to prevent breast cancer if you

• Replace animal fats with polyunsaturated fats (in many vegetable oils and margarines) and monounsaturated fats (such as olive oil)
• Eat more isoflavones (found in soy, peas and beans) and lignans (found in vegetables, fruits, grains, tea and coffee)

We are not sure, but it may help if you

• Eat more fibre from wheat bran, cereals, beans, fruit and vegetables
• Make sure you have enough calcium in your diet - from milk, cheese and other dairy foods, green leafy vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage and okra, but not spinach), soya beans, tofu, nuts, bread, and fish where you eat the bones, such as sardines and pilchards
• Eat foods high in carotenoids (chemicals that the body changes to vitamin A) such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, and tomatoes

If you follow these guidelines, you will be eating a healthier diet. This helps you keep your weight within normal limits and can help protect against a variety of chronic health conditions. Reducing your alcohol intake can also reduce your risk of breast cancer and other illnesses.

For some more ideas about a healthy diet go to the healthy eating section of Cancer Research UK's News and Resources website.