How to Reduce Your Risk of
Breast Cancer
BY DR SANDRA CABOT McRAE. MBBS, DRCOG.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. The majority of women who get breast cancer do NOT have a family history of the disease, so being aware of the other risks is essential for protecting yourself.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE LOOK AND FEEL OF YOUR BREASTS
Do this while showering, getting changed or looking in the mirror. Better yet ~ during your regular daily self care practice using the Natural Breast Care products and routines from this site. Being aware of what is normal, will help you to detect any breast changes such as a new lump, change in breast size or shape, nipple discharge, redness or dimpling, or unusual pain. If you notice any of these changes, see your doctor.
KEEP YOUR BREAST TISSUE HEALTHY
The minerals iodine and selenium are naturally concentrated in the breast tissue because they are needed to protect breast tissue from excess inflammation. Studies have shown that iodine and selenium can improve the health of breast tissue and reduce cyst formation. This is most helpful for women with fibrocystic breasts. Vitamin D and zinc support healthy immune function which reduces inflammation in the whole body.
ALLOW YOURSELF TO SWEAT
This is true especially when exercising, as sweat is a source of elimination for toxins that you do not want accumulating in the lymph nodes (glands) in your armpits and breast tissue.
LOOK AFTER YOUR LIVER
Drink plenty of water and increase your intake of liver friendly foods. Avoid foods that are high in processed vegetable oils, and refined carbohydrates and sugar such as white rice, most breads, baked goods, processed foods, crackers, biscuits, chips, and soft drinks; these foods will promote the development of a fatty liver.
A fatty liver will not detoxify your blood stream efficiently.
Check out these healthy food swaps to make now: https://www.cabothealth.com.au/7-simple-swaps-lower-carb-meals/
The liver is the only organ that can break down fat-soluble toxins that mimic oestrogen and can build up in breast tissue causing unwanted changes.
In the liver there is the phase one and two detoxification pathways – these are biochemical pathways where fat soluble toxins are made water soluble so they can be excreted in watery fluids such as the bile, urine, saliva and sweat. It is only your liver that can do this. If this does not occur these fat-soluble toxins can accumulate in the fatty tissues of your body which includes your breasts.
Today we have high exposures to environmental toxins such as heavy metals, dyes from printing and hair colours, plastics, alkyl-phenols, PCBs, phthalates, paints, insecticides etc., – thousands of tons of these chemicals go into the environs around the world every year and gets into the food chain and water supply. An enormous amount of research literature associating toxin exposure to disease has been published.
This is why it is so important to support the phase 1 and 2 detox pathways in your liver with specific nutrients as found in “Livatone Plus.” The efficiency of these detox pathways is highly nutrient dependent.
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Examples of foods that enhance the phase one and two detox pathways in the liver are
Sesame seeds and tahini
A component of sesame seeds has demonstrated protection of liver cells (hepatocytes)
Cruciferous vegetables
These are a rich source of bi-functional modulators to balance both detox pathways in the liver and include watercress, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, broccoli sprouts and Brussel sprouts. The cruciferous vegetables contain phyto-nutrients such as sulforaphane which is a potent inducer of phase 2 liver detox enzymes
Curcumin from turmeric
Speeds up phase two detox pathways (increases glutathione production which is a powerful antioxidant in the liver).
Milk Thistle (Silymarin)
This herb is clinically proven to repair liver damage.
DIET PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE DETOX PATHWAYS IN THE LIVER
Protein deficient diets – impair detox pathways in liver = deficiencies of the amino acids (methionine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, taurine) are the most dangerous deficiencies.
Methyl donors
Methylation is done in the phase 2 detox pathway and plays an important role in liver function, especially the biotransformation of fatty toxins (lipophilic xenobiotics). Methyl donors support these functions, and they are – the amino acids methionine and the nutrients folic acid, Vitamin B 12, and Vitamin B 6. Abnormal methylation plays a key role in the toxicology of heavy metals and toxic chemicals to the body.
Phyto-nutrients - these are found in raw fresh fruits and veggies and are potent inducers of the phase 2 enzyme detox pathways in the liver. These include vitamin C, bioflavonoids, and anthocyanins (purple pigments in foods), chlorophyll (green pigments in foods), carotenoids (yellow and orange pigments in foods) are powerful protectors of the liver.
These antioxidants are increased by a diet abundant in raw fruits, fresh raw vegetable salads, cooked vegetables, and raw vegetable juices – see the book Raw Juices Can save Your Life.
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Watch your alcohol intake as more than one standard drink daily significantly increases your risk of breast cancer. Aim to have at least four alcohol-free days a week. Tyrosine pure mood food powder is an amino acid that stimulates the reward system of the brain which can help to reduce alcohol and sugar cravings.
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT
According to research by the University of Melbourne, women who are overweight, insulin-resistant or have elevated blood sugar levels may have a higher risk of advanced breast cancer. Fat tissue releases inflammatory hormones and chemicals that can be cancer-causing.
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Regular exercise will help a lot to keep your weight under control.
Dr Cabot’s book ‘The Breast Cancer Prevention Guide’, gives you a comprehensive plan to reduce your risk of breast cancer, as well as providing information for women who currently have breast cancer on how to improve their survival chances and reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
Dr Cabot graduated with honours in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Adelaide South Australia in 1975.
As part of her extracurricular medical training, she studied herbal medicine, acupuncture, and nutritional medicine. This was considered somewhat unusual for a medical student during this era, as such treatments were still considered questionable. This did not deter Dr Cabot’s inquisitive spirit, as at a young age she could see beyond the limitations of drug orientated medicine.
Dr Cabot began her medical career in 1980 as an Obstetrician-Gynaecologist and practised in Sydney Australia. During the mid-1980s she spent 6 months working as a volunteer doctor at the Leyman hospital, which was the largest missionary hospital in India. Here she studied tropical and infectious diseases and tended to the poor indigenous children and women with obstetric emergencies.
When Dr Cabot returned to Australia, she decided to become an author. Her first book titled “Women’s Health” was an authoritative holistic health guide. Subsequently she wrote more groundbreaking books including the award-winning Liver Cleansing Diet book which was translated into 11 languages.
Dr Cabot is a commercial pilot and flies herself to seminars throughout Australia, visiting regional areas to educate people about integrative medicine.
Dr Cabot has done many Angel Flights in her Beechcraft Baron 58 aircraft and over 40 years has raised considerable funds for numerous charities.
She has conducted health seminars all over the world and has lectured for The American Liver Foundation and the Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Society.
Dr Cabot believes important health issues for people today include
The prevention of diabetes.
The use of specific foods and nutritional supplements to treat and prevent diseases in all age groups.
Educating doctors about the proper use of nutritional medicine.
Accessible integrative treatment of mental and emotional illness.
A well-educated community where people have the confidence and knowledge to find the best health care.
Dr Cabot and her colleagues do telehealth consultations.
You can listen to her amazing podcasts on www.sandracabot.com
You can email Dr Cabot and her brilliant team at info@cabothealth.com.au