Lose Weight to Protect your Pair

ExerciseTV

By Laurel House




Overweight? More than for the sake of finally getting your butt into your skinny jeans, dropping excess pounds may benefit your breasts too.

You see, that extra fat pumps up your production of estrogen, which can stimulate the growth of breast cells- both normal and abnormal. If the abnormal cells proliferate, they can become a tumor: a breast cancer tumor. How do you reduce your risk? Lose weight. Here's how:

Take a brisk walk and use this Power Intervals walking technique with Leslie Sansone on ExerciseTV.







EAT MORE HEALTHY FOODS
By eating an antioxidant-rich, low-fat diet, and minimizing alcohol consumption, you can reduce your risk of getting the disease. Still, there are some foods that stand out from the rest as best bets to keep your breasts, including:

-Fish- Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, sardines and herring, are said to have cancer fighting properties.


-Red Grapes- Filled with:
Bioflavonoids- powerful cancer-fighting antioxidants
Resveratrol- proven to inhibit the enzymes that can stimulate cancer cell growth
Ellagic acid- a compound that blocks the enzymes that promotes the growth of cancer cells.

-Broccoli, Cabbage, and Cauliflower- (and cruciferous vegetables in general) Rich with Indole-3-carbinol- a chemical that combats breast cancer by restructuring cancer-promoting estrogen cells into healthy cells.

-Grapefruit- Contains Monoterpenes, believed to help wash carcinogens out of the body and inhibit the production of breast-cancer cells in vitro.

EAT LESS PROCESSED, OVERCOOKED, AND FATTY FOODS



-Saturated Animal Fat (red meat, whole-fat dairy ie: butter)- Proven to increase the risk of breast cancer in young women.

-Burned Food- Charred toast and marshmallows may be tasty, but that black char may up your odds of getting breast cancer.


EXERCISE
Beyond diet, studies show that you can actually protect against the accumulation of breast cancer cells with moderate physical exercise, improving immune function and circulation- both essential to fighting off the disease.




What's The Best Type of Activity To Fight Breast Cancer?


Like the turtle and the hare, it's the duration and consistency of activity, not the intensity, that's most important. Ex: a daily brisk 30-minute walk, a cardio class, a bike ride

If it comes to post breast cancer op, exercise has also proven to increase the quality of life for survivors, improving strength, energy levels and overall mood.

It's not an end all be all, and it's not a cure, but living fit is definitely proven to be health promoting, yes, even helping the health of your breasts.



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