Certain fruits and vegetables, fatty fish, fermented foods, beans, herbs and spices, whole grains, and walnuts can help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Steer clear of alcohol, fast food, fried foods, processed meats, added sugar, and refined carbs.
DNA damage and genetic mutations may cause breast cancer. Inheriting mutations in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, can likewise increase your risk, as can obesityTrusted Source.
Lifestyle also plays a critical role. Research links smokingTrusted Source, estrogen exposure, heavy drinkingTrusted Source, and certain dietary patternsTrusted Source — including Western diets high in processed foods — to an increased risk of breast cancer.
Notably, studies associateTrusted Source other eating patterns, like the Mediterranean diet, with a reduced risk of breast cancer. Moreover, specific foods may even protect against this disease.