Invasive breast cancer will impact 12% of women in the United States – that is one in eight women. There are proven, natural methods that can help to reduce your risk. Wouldn’t it be amazing if all women did these so we could bring down that growing statistic?

• Nutrition

According to the World Journal of Clinical Oncology, diet plays an important role in reducing your risk of breast cancer. They noted fermented foods containing lactic acid and probiotics reduced the risk of cancer and could also potentially have a role in the treatment of cancer.

A review of current studies was explored and researchers found that a balance of fatty acids similar to those of traditional Mediterranean diet, the consumption of fruits and vegetables, dietary fiber intake, vitamin supplementation are, along with the intake of probiotic products, the most extensively studied by the negative association to breast cancer risk[i].

• Vitamin (hormone) D

Vitamin D really isn’t a vitamin, but rather a hormone precursor. Vitamins come in through foods and supplements, but D is a chemical that we make from sun exposure. However, for since so many refer to it as a vitamin, for simplicity sake, we will refer to it as vitamin D.

Vitamin D has widespread actions throughout the body and results from preclinical and clinical studies state that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of developing cancer and that adding vitamin D supplements is an economical and safe way to reduce cancer incidence and improve cancer prognosis and outcome[ii]. Fatty fish such as tuna (pole caught, low mercury), mackerel, salmon and egg yolks are great sources of vitamin D.

And, just like humans, mushrooms have can produce their own vitamin D. So if you buy mushrooms from the store, studies have shown that they are able to generate over 20 mcg per serving after being placed in sunlight for a couple of hours in the midday sun[iii].

• Green Tea

A study from NIH's National Cancer Institute found that women who drank green tea women who drank green tea daily had 20% less urinary estrone and 40% less urinary estradiol levels than women who drank green tea less than one time per week.

Researchers state that the polyphenol in green tea called EGCG is what is providing the benefit. Green tea extracts and supplements are available if you prefer that method of drinking green tea.

• DDT Exposure

Even though DDT was eliminated from use in the U.S. decades ago, there are still measurable amounts in our soil. We also import foods from other countries that still use DDT or that stopped using DDT much later than the U.S., making it difficult to avoid.

Infrared sauna has been found to help reduce the amount of DDT in the body. Also, detoxification through CEASE therapy has helped many adults. If you are interested in reading more about a woman’s journey through her CEASE DDT detox, please click here.

• Regular Breast Screenings

Self-checks for abnormalities are recommended monthly and yearly screening is generally recommended by physicians, however, in recent years, there has been much controversy surrounding mammography and its benefits.

For those seeking a safe, non-invasive screening tool, thermometry is highly recommended. Unlike traditional mammography, thermometry does not use any radiation and since the Susan G. Komen Foundation recommends limiting radiation, thermometry is a safe screening tool