Like all cancers, breast cancer cannot be prevented. However, various healthy habits could help women reduce their risk for the disease. The ACS reports that alcohol consumption is a clear risk factor for breast cancer. Risk increases with the amount of alcohol a woman consumes. Drinking two to three drinks per day could increase risk by around 20%. Being overweight or obese increases breast cancer risk, particularly among postmenopausal women. Fat tissue increases estrogen levels in the body, which in turn increases a woman’s risk for breast cancer. Establishing and maintaining a healthy weight cannot prevent breast cancer, but it can help women reduce their risk for the disease. A sedentary lifestyle increases a person’s risk for various conditions and diseases. Women who live such a lifestyle are at elevated risk for breast cancer. Eating right is another way for women to reduce their breast cancer risk. Vegetables, fiber-rich legumes such as beans and peas, fruits across the color spectrum, and whole grains are some components of a healthy, nutrient-rich diet that can help lower breast cancer risk.
