30 Tips to Prevent Breast Cancer
Updated: May 21
Each year in the United States, about 264,000 breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women. Contrary to popular belief, men can also get breast cancer; although less common, men account for about 2,400 breast cancer cases annually (1). But what if breast cancer could be prevented?
Breast cancer is an illness in which cells in the breast grow uncontrollably. Different types of breast cancer can form in different parts of the breast and spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. When breast cancer spreads to other body parts, it is said to have metastasized.
The two most common types of breast cancer include (2):
Invasive ductal carcinoma. The cancer cells begin in the ducts and then grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread or metastasize to other parts of the body.
Invasive lobular carcinoma. Cancer cells begin in the lobules and then spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. These invasive cancer cells can also apply to other parts of the body.
Symptoms and warning signs of breast cancer include:
New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
Irritation or dimpling of breast skin
Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast
Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area
Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood
Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
Pain in any area of the breast (3)
In my humble opinion, the most crucial aspect of breast cancer awareness is understanding how to prevent it. Many will think you can't prevent it, but I have composed a list with dozens of studies to prove otherwise. These are my tips for preventing breast cancer:
#1 Know Your Body
Regularly examining your breasts on your own can be an important way to find breast cancer early, when it’s more likely to be treated successfully. While no single test can detect all breast cancers early, it’s believed that performing breast self-exam in combination with other screening methods can increase the odds of early detection.
How to examine your breasts (4):
Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
Here's what you should look for:
Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color.
Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling.
If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention:
Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin.
A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out).
Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling.
Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
Step 3: While you're in the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).
Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion about the size of a quarter.
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen and from your armpit to your cleavage.
Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.
Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast using the same hand movements described in step 4.
#2 Get Adequate Sleep
Studies have found indications that aspects of sleep (sleep duration and quality), partially modifiable health behaviors, may be associated with developing aggressive tumor characteristics in postmenopausal women. Sleep behavior is also associated with developing aggressive tumor features, and these associations differ by race (5).
Other benefits of sleep include:
Sleep boosts your immune system
Sleep improves your memory
Sleep restores and energizes
Sleep stimulates creativity
Sleep helps with weight management
Sleep helps you stay mentally and emotionally fit
Sleep improves concentration and productivity
Sleep improves your health
Sleep beautifies - it slows down the aging process
Sleep makes you happier
Sleep can make you eat fewer calories
Sleep can help you experience less pain (6)
If sleep is something you struggle with, I’d recommend Earthley’s educational guide, The Secret to a Good Night’s Sleep, which I co-wrote. This guide uncovers the link between key nutrients and sleep and is packed with facts on balancing these nutrients to improve sleep quality without supplements such as melatonin. To learn more about melatonin, check out my blog, The Truth About Melatonin.
#3 Minimize Life Stressors
Stress is an imminent risk factor with a documented negative impact on the neuroendocrine and immune systems. Chronic exposure to stress has been linked to negative changes in body homeostasis. The role of stress in cancer has been extensively studied (7).
A great way to minimize stress is meditation. Meditation is a set of techniques designed to encourage your ability to train the mind to focus and redirect your thoughts. When mindful meditation is done correctly, it leads to a heightened state of awareness and consciousness with many positive impacts on your health and overall well-being.
Other benefits of meditation include:
Control anxiety
Promotes emotional health
Enhances self-awareness
Lengthens attention span
May reduce age-related memory loss
It may help fight addictions
Improves sleep
Helps control pain
Can decrease blood pressure
To learn more about meditation and how to do it, check out my blog, 10 Reasons to Meditate for Self-Care.
Another great way to minimize stress is yoga. Yoga is a form of Ancient Indian philosophy that combines physical postures, breathing techniques, meditation, and relaxation to aid in spirituality as your body and mind become one.
Some great yoga poses to assist your mental health are:
Child’s Pose
Head to Knee Forward Bend
Bridge Pose
Mountain Pose
Standing Forward Bend Pose
Easy Pose
Eagle Pose
Cat Cow Pose
Corpse Pose
Puppy Dog Pose
To learn how to do each of these poses and what they’re good for, check out my blog, 10 Yoga Poses For Your Mental Health.
#4 Make Sure You're Getting Vitamin D
According to a 2019 review, the benefits of vitamin D are thought to include support for bone health and immunity, as well as resistance against chronic conditions, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and depression–along with infections and viruses (8).
Other benefits of vitamin D include:
Anti-inflammatory effects
Supports heart health
Improves mood
Boosts immunity
Helps muscles and bones (9)
#5 Maintain A Healthy Weight
Managing weight is a challenge for most people in the US. In fact, more than 70% of American adults are overweight. This puts them at higher risk for serious conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. For women, being overweight or obese after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer.
But why is this?
Well, having more fat tissue can increase your chance of getting breast cancer by raising estrogen levels. Also, overweight women tend to have higher insulin levels, another hormone. Higher insulin levels are also linked to some cancers, including breast cancer.
But the connection between weight and breast cancer risk is complicated.
Studies suggest the risk appears to be increased for women who gained weight as an adult but may not be increased among those who have been overweight since childhood. Also, having extra fat in the waist area may raise the risk more than having extra fat in the hips and thighs (10).
#6 Be Physically Active
Evidence linking higher physical activity to lower cancer risk comes mainly from observational studies, in which individuals report their physical activity and are followed for years for cancer diagnoses. Although observational studies cannot prove a causal relationship, when studies in different populations have similar results and when a possible mechanism for a causal relationship exists, this provides evidence of a causal connection.
Some other types of cancer, physical activity may lower the risk of include:
Bladder cancer
Colon cancer
Endometrial cancer
Esophageal cancer
Kidney (renal cell) cancer
Stomach (gastric) cancer
You may wonder how can a measly thing like physical exercise prevent such a deadly disorder. Well, exercising helps with the following:
Lowers the levels of sex hormones, such as estrogen, and growth factors that have been associated with cancer development and progression.
Prevents high blood levels of insulin, which has been linked to cancer development and progression.
Reduces inflammation.
Improves immune system function.
Alters the metabolism of bile acids, decreasing the exposure of the gastrointestinal tract to these suspected carcinogens.
Reduces the time it takes for food to travel through the digestive system, which decreases gastrointestinal tract exposure to possible carcinogens.
Helps to prevent obesity, which is a risk factor for many cancers.
So how much exercise do we need?
Well, according to The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition, released in 2018, they recommend that for substantial health benefits and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including cancer, adults engage in:
150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 to 100 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, or an equivalent combination of each intensity each week. This physical activity can be done in episodes of any length.
Muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week
Balance training, in addition to aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity (11)
#7 Start Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is a ritual focused on detoxifying the lymphatic system. This is particularly interesting to us as we know that most of the glands in the breast tissue and surrounding underarm and chest area are lymph glands. Dry Brushing is popular in many cancer treatment centers today (12).
Other benefits of dry brushing are;
Exfoliates the skin
Improves skin’s appearance
Encourages lymphatic drainage
Stimulates the lymphatic system
Detoxes the body
Increases blood circulation and energy
It may help break down cellulite
To learn more about the importance of dry brushing, be sure to check out my blog, The Importance Of Dry Brushing, where you will also find a list of dry brushes and aftercare products I recommend and how to properly dry brush.
#8 Breastfeed Your Children (if applicable)
Breastfeeding is so important for both mom and baby. Breastfeeding protects babies from allergies, sickness, and obesity, as well as diseases like diabetes and cancer. Breastfeeding also protects against infections, like ear infections (13). As for the benefits for moms, a 2018 study said:
“Maternal benefits of breastfeeding include decreased risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, postpartum depression, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.”
As the study continues, it also says that:
“Infants who are breastfed have a decreased risk of atopic dermatitis and gastroenteritis, and have a higher IQ later in life. Additional benefits in infants have been noted in observational studies (14).”
So it's a win-win for both mom and baby!
#9 Use High-Quality CBD Oil
Although the use of Cannabis is not legal worldwide or even nationwide, in some states where it is legal, it is prescribed and recommended by doctors for a range of medical conditions–including breast cancer. Studies have found that CBD can inhibit the spread of aggressive breast cancer, and other studies have shown that CBD may, in fact, have anticancer properties (15,16).
Although I do not suggest rolling up a blunt and smoking to potentially fight or prevent cancer, I definitely do recommend using a high-quality, full-spectrum CBD oil like Earthley’s Anxiety Calm Oil (formula P), which is formulated with 600 mg of pure-spectrum CBD. This is not a guarantee to work, but studies have had success.
For more information regarding CBD benefits, check out my blog 25 Medicinal Uses for Cannabis. Another great resource is Earthley's dowbloadable guide, What You Need to Know About Cannabinoids, which I co-wrote.
#10 Drink Green Tea
Green tea and its components, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), have been studied for their many medicinal properties (17). A comprehensive review of observational studies found that women who drank the greenest tea had an approximately 20–30% lower risk of developing breast cancer (18). In another study, they discussed green tea’s compounds in breast cancer prevention and treatment while also discussing other multiple mechanisms presented in colon, lung, prostate, ovarian, and other cancers (19).
#11 Cook With Turmeric
Turmeric, a relative of ginger, has compounds called curcuminoids (curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric) and is promoted as an alternative cancer treatment. There is some evidence that curcumin, a substance in turmeric, can lower rates of certain cancers and even kill cancer cells in certain cancers (20).
Other benefits of turmeric include:
It has natural anti-inflammatory compounds
It may help with arthritis
Increases antioxidant capacity of the body
It may improve brain function and lower the risk of brain diseases
It may lower your risk of heart disease
For a more detailed post about turmeric, as well as product recommendations, be sure to check out my turmeric herbal profile.
#12 Consume Bakuchi Seed
Bakuchi is an important herb that is used for its medicinal properties–including breast cancer. In one study, bakuchi seed was used to treat leprosy, jaundice, infections, and tumors with little to no reported side effects (21).
Other benefits of bakuchi seed include (22):
Helping shrink and cover vitiligo patches.
Helping treat skin diseases like ringworm, eczema, dermatosis, itching of eruptions, and itching of red papules.
Helping improve digestion and prevent indigestion.
Helping wounds heal quicker.
Helping remove dandruff and enhance hair growth.
Helping fight free radicals, which helps manage liver injury by preventing hepatic cell damage.
Having chemoprotective, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
When I mention this, the most common question I get is where they can be purchased, although I'ven ever used it personally, after some research, I recommend MB Herbals Bakuchi Powder.
#13 Avoid Mainstream Deodorant
In 2012 a study showed that 99% of breast cancer samples contained parabens, a common carcinogenic ingredient in most deodorants and antiperspirants, as well as toxins such as aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium, tetrachlorohydrex GLY, talc, petroleum, caprylyl glycol, stearic acid, and fragrance (23).
In 2020, when I first dug into the research behind preventing breast cancer, I stumbled across a website with some false information regarding the link between antiperspirants and breast cancer. This led to hours of web surfing to see how many other cancer websites were blatantly lying to their readers. So I searched several sites and found multiple websites dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. Yet, they won’t tell their readers about the dangers of antiperspirants, which I found pretty odd and worthy of sharing, so I wrote my blog, The Truth About Mainstream Deodorant.
#14 Detox Your Underarms Regularly
A study was published in 2007 by the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, where researchers tested samples from 17 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomies. This study found that the women who used antiperspirants had aluminum deposits in their outer breast tissue (24).
An underarm detox may reduce the amount of aluminum that reaches the outer breast tissue. You can try Earthley’s Detoxifying Pit Mask, which is just the thing for helping you transition from chemical antiperspirant to natural deodorant. It can also help those random times you feel a bit more odorous than usual, like during the postpartum stages. Odor is a part of your body detoxing and getting rid of the toxic build-up that chemical antiperspirants cause.
#15 Avoid Razors With Moisturizing Strips
Some research suggests that deodorants containing aluminum, which is frequently applied and remains on the skin close to the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and affect the hormone estrogen (25). Estrogen can encourage the growth of breast cancer cells, and some scientists have said that the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants could contribute to the development of breast cancer. In addition, it has been implied that aluminum may have direct activity in breast tissue (26). I think it's safe to assume that would be the same for shaving the underarm area. Personally, I love safety razors, but they're not all created equally. Check out my review of the Leaf Razor.
#16 Avoid GMOs
Along with its approval of genetically engineered foods, the FDA in 1993 also approved the use of genetically engineered recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), used to induce dairy cows to produce more milk. studies demonstrate that IGF-1 is an important factor in the growth of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.
Other health risks of consuming GMOs include:
Toxicity
Allergic reaction
Antibiotic resistance
Immune-suppression
Loss of nutrition (27)
#17 Choose Organic Whenever You Can
Organic farming practices are prohibited from using synthetic fertilizers to add nutrients to the soil, sewage sludge as fertilizer, most synthetic pesticides for pest control, irradiation to preserve food or to eliminate disease or pests, genetic engineering used to improve disease or pest resistance, or to improve crop yields (28).
A French study that followed 70,000 adults found that those who ate more organic products had 25 percent fewer cancer diagnoses than those who never ate organic, especially lymphoma and breast cancer (29).
According to Verywell Health:
“Conventionally grown and processed foods including fruits, vegetables, grains, livestock, and packaged items (e.g., cereals and frozen dinners) have all been exposed to an array of chemicals that show evidence of causing cancer in humans. They also may be exposed to hormones, antibiotics, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and artificial additives and could contain genetically modified ingredients.
In contrast, organic crops are grown without chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetically modified (GMO) seeds. Organic animal products like milk, eggs, cheese, and meats come from animals that have been raised without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics; their feed is free from GMOs, chemical pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers. In addition, organic processed and packaged foods prohibit ingredients like artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors (30).”
To learn the regulations, what's really in organic produce, and even learn about the dirty dozen list of 2021 when you read The Truth About Organic Produce.
#18 Avoid Synthetic Fragrance
There’s a dirty little secret the fragrance industry would rather you not know about when you purchase a product with fragrance; it could contain any number of the 3,100 or so stock chemical ingredients used by the fragrance industry (31).
Environmental Working Group (EWG) researchers found more than 75 percent of products listing the ingredient "fragrance" contained phthalates (THAL-ates) which have been shown to disrupt hormone activity, have been linked to breast cancer, and so much more (32).
For more information regarding synthetic fragrances, including sources and tips for avoiding fragrances, check out my blog, The Truth About Fragrance.
#19 Avoid Smoking
Studies have shown that smoking causes a number of diseases and is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in younger, premenopausal women. Research has also shown that there may be a link between very heavy second-hand smoke exposure and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.
Smoking can also increase complications from traditional breast cancer treatments, including (33):
Damage to the lungs from radiation therapy.
Difficulty healing after surgery and breast reconstruction.
Higher risk of blood clots when taking hormonal therapy medicines.
Don’t be another statistic; try to quit smoking if you’re a smoker, and remember, if at first you don’t succeed, try again! Most people are not successful in quitting smoking on their first attempt, but it’s definitely doable; I promise.
#20 Avoid Birth Control Pills & IUDs
Studies suggest an increased breast cancer risk is associated with birth control pills, especially among older women. They found that the risk of breast cancer was greatest among women aged 45 and over who were still using the pill. This group of women was nearly one-and-a-half times as likely to get breast cancer as women who had never used the pill.
This isn’t just for older women, though, studies have examined the use of oral contraceptives as a risk factor for breast cancer, and mixed results exist. Scandinavian researchers have noted an increase in breast cancer in a group of women who were taking or had recently taken birth control pills. Longer use of the pill seemed to increase the risk. Similar research found that 10 years or more after women stopped using birth control pills, their breast cancer risk returned to the same level as if they had never used them (34).
#21 Limit Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy
Research has been conducted and concluded that the use of postmenopausal estrogen therapy (ET) and postmenopausal combined (estrogen-progestogen) hormone therapy (CHT) is associated with increased but different risks of breast cancer (35).
Other risks associated with taking hormone therapy include:
An increased risk of endometrial cancer (only if you still have your uterus and are not taking progestin along with estrogen)
Increased risk of blood clots and stroke
Increased chance of gallbladder/gallstone problems
Increased risk of dementia if hormone therapy is started after midlife. HT started during midlife is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Monthly bleeding (if you have a uterus and take cycled progestin [estrogen for 25 days of estrogen/month, progesterone for last 10 to 14 days/month, 3 to 6 days of no therapy])
Irregular spotting
Breast tenderness
Mood swings
Fluid retention
Headaches (including migraine)
Skin discoloration (brown or black spots)
Increased breast density makes mammogram interpretation more difficult
Skin irritation under estrogen patch (36)
#22 Avoid Antidepressants
This doesn't just start and end with hormone medications, but antidepressants as well. Both the pre-clinical and clinical data are mixed in terms of showing an association between AD use and breast and ovarian cancer. The possibility that ADs may exhibit a bi-phasic effect, whereby short-term use and/or low-dose antidepressants may increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, warrants further investigation (37).
Other risks associated with long-term antidepressant usage include:
Decreased libido
Problems with sexual performance
Insomnia
Blood clots
Increased risk of internal bleeding
Weight gain
Suicidal thoughts or behavior
Addiction
Inability to feel emotions
High blood sugar levels
Tachyphylaxis (sudden decrease in response to a drug) (38)
Instead, use food as medicine and nourish your body with foods rich in nutrients such as:
Beta Carotene
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
To learn more regarding nutrients to improve mental health, be sure to check out my blog, Foods To Improve Mental Health.
#23 Limit/Avoid Ionizing Radiation
Surprise, surprise–radiation is on this list. Research has found that ionizing radiation is an established breast cancer risk factor, and the risk increases linearly with dose. Age at exposure is a consistent modifier of the radiation-related breast cancer risk, with the highest risk seen for girls exposed before age 20 years and zero to minimal risk detected for women exposed after menopausal ages (39).
Other risks associated with ionizing radiation exposure:
Genetic changes
Cataract formation
Skin reddening
Temporary hair loss
Skin death and scarring
Temporary sterility
Permanent sterility
Mucosa lining loss
Reduction of blood cell production (40)
#24 Limit/Avoid Meat Consumption
Research suggests that there is a link between meat and cancer. One study found low-meat and meat-free diets linked to lower cancer risk (41). Researchers have found that those who are vegan or plant-based appeared to have the lowest rates of cancer of any diet. Not to mention research has also shown that eating lots of fruits and vegetables is linked with lower cancer rates (42).
Other benefits of adopting a plant-based lifestyle include:
High in fiber
Supports your immune system
It may reduce inflammation
Helps maintain a healthy weight
It may reduce your risk of diseases
It may improve the appearance of your skin
It may help with mental clarity and thinking clearly
Lighter environmental footprint
For more information pertaining to the benefits of limiting meat consumption, check out my blog, Why Adopt A Plant-Based Lifestyle.
#25 Limit/Avoid Processed Foods
Research suggests that highly processed foods are tied to higher risks of cancer. Breast cancer, in particular, was associated with greater consumption of mass-produced, ultra-processed foods. These foods may often contain sugar, salt, and fat while lacking vitamins, fiber, and other nutritional value (43).
According to U.S. News & World Report, the worst cancer-causing foods are:
Red meat (beef, veal, pork, lamb, and goat)
Processed meat (hot dogs, luncheon meats, ham, and bacon) (44)
Processed meat is also linked to chronic diseases such as:
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (45)
#26 Limit/Avoid Dairy Consumption
Studies have found that consuming as little as 1/4 to 1/3 cup of dairy milk per day was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer by 30 percent, and the more you drink, the higher your risk may be. By drinking up to 1 cup per day, the associated risk increases to 50 percent, and for those drinking 2 to 3 cups per day, the risk increases further to 70 to 80 percent (46).
With milk production equaling over 100 million metric tons here in the United States and over 530 million metric tons worldwide in 2020, this may not be what some people want to read.
Risks associated with consuming milk include:
Increased risk of broken bones
Increased risk of diabetes
Increased risk of ovarian cancer
More than 20% of the Daily Recommended Allowance of saturated fat
Contains pus
May cause antibiotic resistance
Contains hormones
For more information regarding the risks of dairy, check out my blog, The Truth About Cow's Milk.
#27 Limit/Avoid Soy Consumption
The effects of soy on people with breast cancer are unclear. Because there isn't enough reliable information about the effects of soy in females with breast cancer, a history of breast cancer, or a family history of breast cancer, it's best to avoid using soy supplements until more is known (47).
Although soybeans do have some health benefits, we must remember that most non-organic soy products are brimming with GMOs causing them to have less nutritional value and more toxic effects due to the chemicals involved in the genetic modification process. Soybeans contain compounds like phytate, which may interfere with the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals that are crucial for vegan and plant-based dietary demands. These same anti-nutrient compounds may also cause digestive issues due to a reduction in the gut’s barrier functions resulting in inflammation that causes these digestive problems.
Soy is often used as a medication
May increase the risk of hypothyroidism
May cause high levels of TSH
It’s also recommended to use caution if you have medical conditions such as:
Asthma
Cancer
Under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism)
Kidney stones
Milk allergy
That’s not counting soy intolerances, sensitivities, and allergies.
To learn more regarding the potential risks of soy consumption, check out my blog, The Truth About Soy Products.
#28 Limit/Avoid Processed Sugar
Research has found that in older women, a strong correlation was found between breast cancer mortality and sugar consumption. A possible connecting link between sugar consumption and breast cancer is insulin. Insulin secretion occurs in response to blood glucose levels and could be excessive if the regulatory mechanism is overtaxed by large sugar intake (48).
Other reasons to avoid excessive amounts of sugar include:
It can cause weight gain
It may increase your risk of heart disease
Has been linked to acne
Increases your risk of type 2 diabetes
It may increase your risk of cancers
It may increase your risk of depression
May accelerate the skin aging process
Can increase cellular aging
Drains your energy
It can lead to fatty liver
Increased kidney disease risk
Negatively impacts dental health
Increased risk of developing our
Accelerates cognitive decline (49)
#29 Avoid Plastic Drink & Food Containers
Research suggests that all plastics may leach chemicals if they're scratched or heated. Research also strongly suggests that at certain exposure levels, some of the chemicals in these products, such as bisphenol A (BPA), may cause cancer in people (50).
BPA can also be found in:
Canned foods
Toiletries
Feminine hygiene products
Thermal printer receipts
CDs and DVDs
Household electronics
Eyeglass lenses
Sports equipment
Dental filling sealants (51)
BPA isn’t the only concern, and BPA-free bottles shouldn’t be what they sell you. Unfortunately, Bisphenol S (BPS) and Bisphenol F (BPF) may disrupt the function of your cells in a way similar to BPA. This is one reason I normally choose glass bottles over plastic (52).
I normally recycle old kombucha bottles since their glass and super durable, but here’s an alternative glass bottle option you can order here.
#30 Limit/Avoid Alcohol Intake
Although there are some benefits to an occasional glass of wine, research consistently shows that drinking alcoholic beverages — beer, wine, and liquor — increases a woman's risk of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Alcohol can increase levels of estrogen and other hormones associated with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Alcohol also may increase breast cancer risk by damaging DNA in cells (53).
Other cancers linked to alcohol use include:
Mouth
Throat
Voice box
Esophagus
Liver
Colon
Rectum (54)
⚠️ Warning: The Holistic Hipppie is not a functional medicine practitioner. The FDA has not evaluated these statements. This content is not medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or replace medical guidance. The Holistic Hipppie assumes no liability for the application of the information discussed.
What do you do to protect yourself from breast cancer?
