8 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer

How much control do we really have in preventing breast cancer? Given that inherited high-risk genetic mutations only account for an estimated 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers, there’s a lot left to environmental factors, such as lifestyle, diet, and exposure to environmental toxins through the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the products we use.

This video shares how chemicals alter the body and what types to avoid. Below I share 8 steps we can take to reduce or eliminate significant risk factors with breast cancer.

8 Steps to Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer

Kick the can. Cans are lined with BPA and epidemiological studies have linked BPA exposure to breast cancer‐related factors.
Ditch plastics for food (storage, reheating). Research suggests that all plastics may leach chemicals if they're scratched or heated
Ditch teflon pots and pans. Exposure to these chemicals (PFAS & PFOA) is linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental harms, and reduced effectiveness of vaccines. PFAS exposure is also associated with health outcomes thought to increase the risk of breast cancer.
Go organic. Or at least prioritize buying the Dirty Dozen produce in organic. Dirty Dozen in 2020 is Strawberries, Spinach, Kale, Nectarines, Apples, Grapes, Peaches, Cherries, Pears, Tomatoes, Celery, Potatoes
Include whole soy. A diet consisting of moderate amounts of whole soy has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer, including recurrence. More on Eating for Breast Health here.
Avoid fragrances. Fragrance is a catch-all term for hiding dozens of chemicals known to be carcinogens, neural toxins, endocrine disruptors, immunodeficiency, and have been linked to the increased rate of cancer, among other things. Check out the Ingredient Spotlight: Fragrance.
Avoid parabens. Parabens can penetrate the skin and act like a very weak estrogen in the body -- potentially turning on the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers.
Make a clean swap. Download the EWG app, so you can scan your current skincare & bath products easily. Sometimes the answer is just a barcode scan away. If you want a safer swap, I can help with that!