According to a study, a low-fat diet can go a long way in preventing the recurrence of breast cancer.
The study, headed by Rowan T Chlebowski of Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, studied 2,437 postmenopausal women between the ages of 48 to 79 years diagnosed with breast cancer in early stages.
Chlebowski and his team divided the women into two groups. While both groups were given the same medical treatment, their diet patterns were varied. One group was assigned a dietician and was made to adhere to a low-fat diet. The diet taken by this group had only 15 per cent of the daily calorie intake from fat. Those in the other group were put on a diet that derived 30 per cent of its daily calories from fat.
The study’s findings saw that around 10 per cent of women in the low-fat group saw a relapse as against 12 per cent in the regular diet group. Even though the difference noted was miniscule, the findings were the first indication that alterations in the diet could help fight the relapse of breast cancer.
“The message is that women with breast cancer might consider following a low-fat diet in addition to getting the best medical treatment at the same time,” said Peter Greenwald of National Cancer Institute.
However, the question of how low in fat the diet should be is yet to be answered.
According to Dr Walter Willett, chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, the question is debatable, since the benefits shown in the study might have come from weight loss or other dietary changes like inclusion of higher amount of fruit and vegetables.
In spite of the ambiguity, he and other scientists are unanimous in their guidelines to avert a relapse. Some of those guidelines include:
Eating healthy forms of fat: Fats obtained from seafood, nuts, and high fat fruits like avocados and olives are better than those from products like butter, oils and processed foods.
Substituting fatty foods with healthy ones: Instead of reaching for fat-free beverages and snacks, scientists recommend going for fruits, since they are rich in antioxidants and help prevent cancer.
Lowering fat intake: The abovementioned study indicates that the best diet for women who have suffered from breast cancer is 20 per cent of total daily calorie intake as fat.
Maintaining optimum weight: Obesity is to blame for a number of ailments right from diabetes to cancer to aches and pains. So maintaining a good weight can cut down on the risk of breast cancer.
Cutting down on alcohol: Alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. So cutting down on your daily intake can help. If possible, restrict drinking to special occasions.
