| Fiber trumps fat Animal studies have shown that a high intake of saturated fats may increase the risk of breast cancer. Based on this, a research team from the University of Malmo in Sweden devised a study using information gathered on more than 11,000 postmenopausal women. Researchers followed the women for more than seven years on average, gathering data from diet-history interviews, questionnaires, body measurements and national and regional cancer registries. When the data was analyzed, the Malmo team found that women who had the highest intake of dietary fiber were 40 percent less likely to develop breast cancer compared with those with the lowest fiber intake. But for women who combined a high fiber diet with a low intake of dietary fats, the risk dropped even more. In the conclusion to their study, the Malmo authors wrote that, "a dietary pattern characterized by high fiber and low fat intakes is associated with a lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer." But there are different types of fiber, just as there are different types of fats. So what specific foods should postmenopausal women include in their diets to reduce breast cancer risk? First we'll look at fiber. In the e-Alert "Water Works" (9/16/03), I told you about a study of nearly 1,000 heart patients in Milan, Italy. After assessing dietary factors in interviews, researchers determined that a higher fiber intake reduced the risk of heart attack by well over 25 percent. But among those who had the highest intake of fruit and water-soluble fiber, heart attack risk was reduced by an impressive 36 percent. One surprising fact emerged from the collected data: Those with the highest intake of cereal fiber (which is mostly insoluble fiber) actually increased their heart attack risk by more than 10 percent. This was attributed to the fact that the sources of this type of fiber appeared to be refined grains that can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. And it's no secret that many food products claim to be "whole grain" or "whole wheat," but actually contain very little of either. Most people don't eat enough water-soluble fiber to produce the positive results shown in the Milan study. But good quality, water-soluble fiber is easy to come by when a little care is taken to find unrefined sources of these foods. The Malmo study confirms previous research indicating that a low-fat diet may reduce the risk of breast cancer. But that doesn't mean that any food packaged with a low-fat label is a good choice. And it also doesn't mean that you should avoid high-protein foods. Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., wrote about using specific foods to help prevent breast cancer in the December 2002 issue of his Nutrition and Healing Newsletter. Observing that breast cancer risk may be increased by a high intake of saturated fats, omega-6 fatty acids and trans fatty acids, Dr. Wright noted that good amounts of omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease risk. |
 |