, and that isn’t always a good thing. Some pesticides used on fruits and vegetables have been linked to breast cancer. And exposure to estrogen-like hormones used in
raising livestock may increase
your risk for the disease. By reducing our exposure to hormones and pesticides, we reduce our risk and the risk for future generations.
GO ORGANIC
Organic produce is grown without harmful man-made chemicals. Some organochlorines,
chemicals made of chlorine and carbon, are estrogen mimics linked breast cancer. Organochlorine chemicals are found in pesticides and plastics.
Tip: Visit a farmers' market for locally grown organic fruits and vegetables or ask your grocer to stock organic produce.
CHOOSE HORMONE-FREE MEATS AND DAIRY
When we eat meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, we’re also eating the residue of what those animals ate, including pesticides, growth hormones, and contaminants.
Tip: Choose hormone-free beef or dairy to eliminate those traces of hormones that can enter our bodies and contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer.
PICK ANTIOXIDANT-RICH FOOD
Studies suggest that many women’s cancers can be prevented by eating foods rich in antioxidants, high in fiber and low in fat. Antioxidants protect our cells’ DNA against damage by free radicals—harmful chemicals that are found in car exhaust, tobacco smoke, x-rays and sunlight. Free radicals can attack cell membranes and damage the DNA of cells, which ultimately causes cancer.
Tip: Fill your daily diet with organic fruits and vegetables high in Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Beta-Carotene.
FILL UP ON FIBER
A women’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is directly related to her lifetime exposure to estrogen. Fiber helps the body get rid of excessive estrogen.
Tip: There are two types of fiber, and both are equally beneficial. Soluble fiber can be found in rice bran, oatmeal and barley. Insoluble fiber can be found in
wheat bran
and woody stems of vegetables and fruit.
Monthly Tip for Pure Prevention
Eat Clean Fish
Some fish can be contaminated with PCBs and dioxins, which are known risk factors for breast cancer. Pregnant women and children should be especially careful to avoid exposure. Although PCBs have been banned since the 1970s in the United States, they remain in the environment and are concentrated in predatory species and can be highly concentrated in fish at the top of the food chain. Opt for wild fish, rather than farmed, or when eating locally caught fish, choose smaller varieties such as bluegill, stream trout or yellow perch. Learn more about choosing safe, clean fish at The Daily Green blog, which will be running tips for prevention throughout October.
Take Action to Prevent Breast Cancer
Send an Eat Smart eCard to your family and friends to let them know what they can do to reduce their risk.
  
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