There two kinds of fiber in food, soluble and insoluble. The former is commonly found in vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, lentils, and peas. It easily dissolves in the presence of water and once in the gut, soluble fiber slows down digestion. Meanwhile, insoluble fiber, also known as roughage, is found in whole grains, wheat bran, parsnips, and spinach. This gut is unable to digest this kind of fiber so it just passes through the digestive system. On its way out, insoluble fiber brushes the insides of the colon. This helps eliminate harmful substances so that they don't accumulate in the body.
The protective effects of fiber against breast cancer
There is a growing body of evidence regarding fiber's role in the prevention of breast cancer. Some studies attribute this effect to the ability of insoluble fibers to regulate glucose metabolism and insulin levels. Experts claim that insulin resistance and high blood pressure increase the risk of breast cancer by up to 300 percent. This means that by eating adequate amounts of fiber, you can significantly reduce this risk.
Both insoluble and soluble fiber also have the ability to regulate hormones. This is especially beneficial against estrogen-positive breast cancer since women with this health problem can have estrogen levels that are up to one million times higher than normal.
When estrogen is broken down, the excess is sent to the colon so that it can be flushed out of the body. However, inadequate levels of insoluble fiber inhibit the large intestine from moving things along. So, instead of leaving the body, estrogen is recirculated. This can cause an estrogen overload. If a person has enough insoluble fiber in their body, this problem will not occur and estrogen can be eliminated properly.
Soluble fiber is also beneficial for the prevention of estrogen-positive breast cancer. This is because of its part in hormonal distribution as well as its interactions with the immune system. The gut, which contains 80 percent of the immune system, ferments soluble fiber from different plant-based foods. This process produces byproducts that nourish immune cells, effectively reducing inflammation that contributes to the growth of cancer cells.
Overall, scientific evidence suggest that fiber prevents breast cancer by boosting the immune system, regulating hormones, and keeping the gut healthy. (Related: Fiber-rich diet may drastically reduce risk of breast cancer.)
Dietary tips for preventing cancer
Diet is a major factor in the prevention of all kinds of cancer. Here are some other things that you should keep in mind when building your cancer-prevention diet.
- Avoid sugar and refined carbs -- It's best to limit your intake of soft drinks, white bread, pizza, and sweetened cereals since they are rich in refined carbs. Intake of these foods cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, which consequently increase the risk of serious health problems, like colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and obesity.
- Cut down on processed and red meat -- Many people love eating bacon, sausages, and hotdogs. Unfortunately, these kinds of meat contain high amounts of nitrate preservatives and other harmful chemicals associated with cancer.
- Limit intake of grilled and fried foods -- It's nice to have a cookout every once in a while. But, make sure that not to burn the food that you're grilling since this can create carcinogenic substances. You should also avoid frying your foods since this can turn oils and fats into carcinogenic substances.
If you'd like to read more news articles on how you can prevent cancer naturally, visit Anticancer.news.
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