8 strategies to prevent breast cancer

Every 30 seconds a new case of breast cancer is diagnosed in the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) . Although there is no sure way to prevent it , making certain lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of developing it.

 

The first strategies you have to implement are focused on maintaining a healthy weight according to your characteristics, being physically active and maintaining a balanced diet, indicates the American Cancer Society . 

So that you begin to take responsibility for your health, we share with you the strategies that you must implement to prevent breast cancer . Follow as many as you can and fit into your life.

 

1. Improve your diet

 

Start by limiting your consumption of red meat and sausages, and eat the equivalent of 2 ½ fruits and vegetables a day. A great option is grapes, rich in antioxidant resveratrol , a substance capable of stopping the development of cancer cells, says the MD Anderson Cancer Center .

 

2. Drink in moderation

 

Having an alcoholic drink from time to time is not harmful to your health, but drinking several glasses a day increases your risk of breast cancer . The National Cancer Institute recommends that you have no more than one drink per day, such as 12 ounces of beer or five ounces of wine.

 

3. Move

 

Start doing at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week. Exercise reduces the production of estrogen , which in large amounts can stimulate the growth and development of cancer cells in the breast, indicates the University of Southern California .

 

4. Breastfeed

 

If you have, or plan to have, children, breastfeed them . Breastfeeding shortens your risk of developing breast cancer , especially if it lasts 1 ½ to 2 years, because it reduces the total number of menstrual cycles and therefore the production of hormones , indicates the American Cancer Society .

 

5. Sleep well

 

Sleeping less than six hours can increase your risk of breast cancer by more than 60%, according to the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine . This is because you stop producing melatonin , which is used to control the amounts of sex hormones released.  

 

6. Maintain your ideal weight

 

Women who gain several pounds after the age of 21 are more likely to develop breast cancer than those who maintain a healthy weight throughout their lives. To achieve this, you must consult a nutritionist, avoid fatty foods and a sedentary lifestyle.

 

7. Watch your medication

 

If you are taking or are going to start hormone replacement therapy or taking birth control pills, consult your doctor about your risk of developing this type of cancer, because it may be higher, according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center .

 

8. Consider surgery

 

Breast removal, while it seems radical, is a 90% effective way to prevent breast cancer if you have a family history of it or a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation , says the National Cancer Institute . To do it you must consult an expert.

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