Six Common Myths About Breast Cancer Diet

Say No to Soya Products, Chicken, and Sugar? 

It is believed that many patients with breast cancer have a lot of questions about their daily diet, not knowing what food they should eat or not. There is some information about a certain food such as soy products and meat as carcinogenic, worrying that it will accelerate the deterioration of their disease.

What are the dietary considerations for breast cancer patients? Are these true or false? In this article, we will dispel six common myths about breast cancer diets.

“One Size Fits All” for Soy-based food?

Many breast cancer patients avoid eating soya and soy-based food because they are afraid that it will cause excessive intake of hormones that could worsen their condition. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the consumption of soy products increases the risk of cancer or worsens the condition.

Soya products are rich in protein, dietary fiber, and vitamin B. These are excellent alternatives to processed or red meat, so patients are advised not to panic and miss out on the opportunity to achieve a balanced diet. However, it is important to note that some soy-based supplements may contain high doses of isoflavones. It is therefore important to seek advice from a registered dietitian or healthcare professional before purchasing or consuming.

Does Meat Consumption Accelerate Cancer? Is It Necessary to Stop Eating Chicken Completely?

Studies have shown that eating too much processed meat (e.g. sausages, bacon) and red meat (e.g. beef, pork, lamb) increases the risk of cancer. However, most patients are concerned about eating chicken because some believe that this type of meat has hormones that can affect a patient with cancer. 

For peace of mind, it is advisable to buy meat from reliable sources or pay attention to meat labels and choose meat products that are labeled as “hormone-free”.

Does Sugar “Feed” Cancer Cells?

The human body needs to consume enough carbohydrates to give the body the energy it needs. Without enough energy, the body will not have the strength to fight the disease. However, there are several types of carbohydrates:

a) Complex carbohydrates such as starch and dietary fiber 

b) Simple carbohydrates such as sugars are naturally present in food including fructose in fruit, glucose in honey, lactose in milk, and added sugars in foods. 

Some food items with high sugar content include pastries, cakes, biscuits, fruit drinks, and soft drinks. The unhealthy sugars are the added ones, such as granulated sugar and corn syrup, which only provide calories but have no nutritional value. Its excessive consumption may even increase the risk of obesity, which indirectly increases the risk of cancer. Hence, it is advisable to avoid these sugars if possible.

Eating Exclusively Organic Food, Being Succeed in Fighting Cancer?

There are no studies to show that organic vegetables are more effective in fighting cancer than non-organic ones, but it is certain that eating plant-based foods is beneficial in fighting cancer, whether organic or not, as long as they are fruits and vegetables.

One of the reasons why many people choose organic vegetables is to avoid pesticides. If you are worried about pesticides, it is advisable to rinse the vegetables thoroughly with warm water and consider peeling, but you may miss out on some nutrients.

Can Patients With Cancer Eat a Vegetarian Diet?

Patients with cancer can be vegetarians. However, if you simply want to eat healthily and prevent cancer, a vegetarian diet is not the only way to go. An improper diet can even put you at risk of malnutrition.

If you are a strict vegetarian or a vegan, you should pay attention to the adequacy of nutrients such as protein, iron, vitamin B12, and calcium, and consult a dietitian before planning a vegetarian diet to ensure balanced nutrition.

Do Nutritional Supplements Help Fight Cancer?

Many patients ask what nutritional supplements are available to help control their disease. According to the World Cancer Research Fund, patients are not encouraged to take nutritional supplements to prevent cancer or improve their condition.

If you are concerned about nutritional deficiencies and wish to purchase certain nutritional supplements or consume other proprietary Chinese medicines or herbal products, it is advisable to consult a dietitian or healthcare professional to ensure safety, as over-consumption of some nutrients may even increase the risk of cancer, so special care should be taken before purchasing.

Original article published at 6 common myths about breast cancer diet, https://her2morrow.com.hk/%e8%b1%86%e6%96%99%e9%9b%9e%e8%82%89%e7%b3%96%e4%bb%bd%e9%80%9a%e9%80%9a%e5%94%94%e9%a3%9f%e5%be%97-%e4%b9%b3%e7%99%8c%e9%a3%b2%e9%a3%9f6%e5%a4%a7%e5%b8%b8%e8%a6%8b%e8%bf%b7%e6%80%9d-2/, last accessed on August 2022.