Healthy Eating to Reduce Your Risk for Breast Cancer

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While no one food or diet can prevent or cause breast cancer, there are certain choices you can make to reduce your risk.

Achieve and maintain a healthy body weight

Being overweight can increase your risk for many chronic diseases, including breast cancer after menopause. Talk to your Clinical Dietitian Nutritionist, doctor, or nurse, if you’re interested in weight reduction.

Limit or avoid alcohol

Research shows that drinking small amounts of alcohol can raise your risk for getting breast cancer. The type of alcoholic drink does not matter. The risk increases with the more alcohol you drink.

One way to lower your risk for breast cancer is to stop drinking alcohol completely. While no alcohol is best, we know this may not work for everyone.

If you choose to drink alcohol, limit how much you drink. One drink equals:

  • 12 ounces of beer
  • 5 ounces of wine
  • 1.5 ounces of liquor

Try these tips to limit or avoid alcohol:

  • Add seltzer or sparkling water to your alcoholic drink. This will water it down so you don’t drink as much of it.
  • Save alcoholic drinks for special occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries.
  • Instead of drinking alcohol, try seltzer with lemon or unsweetened herbal teas.

Tips for eating healthy

Limit added sugars

Such as soft drinks and other sweetened drinks.

Limit refined carbohydrates

Such as baked goods, chips, and white bread.

Decrease portion sizes

Eat until you feel satisfied but not overly full.

Keep a food diary

Keep track of what you eat by writing it down.

Eat mostly a plant-based diet

Choose a variety of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and fiber-rich grains, such as whole wheat, oats, barley, and quinoa.

Limit processed and red meats

Such as bacon, hot dogs, deli meats, pepperoni, and ham.

To schedule an appointment with a Clinical Dietitian Nutritionist at the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast and Imaging Center, call 212-639-7312.

Last Updated

Friday, September 6, 2024

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