| ■ High-Fiber Diet May Cut Breast Cancer Risk: Study | 07.01.29 |
| Eating large amounts of fiber could help premenopausal women reduce their risk of breast cancer by half, suggests a British study in the International Journal of Epidemiology. The University of Leeds study of 35,000 pre- and postmenopausal women found that those who ate 30 grams of fiber a day were half as likely to develop breast cancer as women who ate less than 20 grams of fiber a day, BBC News reported. A high-fiber diet did not reduce breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. The women were ages 35 to 69 at the start of the study and were followed for seven years. They ate a wide range of diets. The positive effect noted in premenopausal women may be linked to how fiber influences the activity of the female hormone estrogen, the researchers said. Premenopausal women have higher estrogen levels than postmenopausal women, BBC News reported. In order to consume 30 grams of fiber a day, a person needs to have high-fiber cereal for breakfast, have five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and switch from white or brown bread to wholegrain bread. |