Walter Willett: The Facts on Diet and Breast Cancer

breast cancer diet and nutrition

Read the China Study by T. Colin Campbell and visit web site of drmcdougall.com I have no credentials but read a lot on nutrition. I followed a very low fat, plant based diet in which 80 percent of my intake is brown rice, winter squash, sweet potatoes, whole grain pastas and beans. I take in adequate amounts of leafy greens and yellow vegetables.

There is also a great movie called "The Delicate Balance" it is very informative.

I am 58-year old grandmother. I have abundant energy am rarely sick with colds and flus. Am I bragging, you bet. I wake up in the morning without ACHES OR PAINS. Was a vegetarian for 15 years before deciding to go vegan. In addtion to no meats I then came off dairy and oils and noticed a dramatic change in my energy. I thought I was healthy before, but after doing so my eczema and migraine

headaches stopped.

Now I do realize that just because one is a vegetarian or a vegan does not necessarily mean one is healthy. Only by eating low fat, WHOLE foods seems the way to go. Allowing non-processed foods to be the main part of the diet honors the body best.

Yes this does sound like a commercial, but it rings true to me in how I feel. I babysit for my four grandchildren four full days a week and have the energy and ability to do so.

Just wanted to pass this info on to you. I am no expert , however, I am a living example of eating a vegan, starch based diet and wishing others would review this way of eating and contact the experts with the credentials to offer the credibility on this subject.

There are many other countries that eat a whole foods, no or very litte meat diet. The Peruvian diet is mostly all potatoes and they are thriving! The China Study is a tremendously great book. I was so inspired I actually flew across the country to hear Colin Campbell speak at a seminar in Santa Rosa, California.

I truly think we need to look into what countries get the "big 5" diseases like prostate, breast cancers, diabetes and heart problems. The industrial lands of plenty have the highest rates for the sickest. Eating ridiculously large portioned, very high fat, acidic foods like dairy and meats and oils.

Thanks for reading this,

Judy from New Hampshire

Fatty Liver

Dear Doctor,

my husband suffers from fatty liver and the examination showed that he has also got diabet.

Is it possible that the fatty liver is connected with the diabet and what can be done to fight that?

Thank you in advance

Sona

Willett overstates his conclusions

Dr. Willett's statements suggest that the issue of the relationship of fat consumption to breast cancer risk is now settled in favor of the null hypothesis (i.e. that there is no association). This is overstating and misstating the results of the 2006 JAMA study which is the apparent source for his conclusions. The JAMA study found a non-significant (about 8%) reduction in breast cancer risk in the intervention cohort. However: (1) the intervention group only averaged a fat intake reduction to 24% of total energy intake, which was a level which did not have a significant effect on biomarkers, such as serum lipids, (2) subset analysis suggested greater benefit among women who were most adherent to the prescribed diet, (3) the authors noted that a clearer benefit may yet emerge with more prolonged follow up, and (4) there was a greater benefit noted in the subset which started out with the greatest baseline fat intake. This latter finding offers further support for the hypothesis that more aggressive lowering of fat intake could provide clearer benefit.

Good Carbs

It is certainly important to distinguish between good and bad carbs. Even though good carbs (whole grains, fruits, veggies) are important for health, even those can be abused if we eat too much of them. Too many calories is too many calories!

Reducing Breast Cancer Risk

Limiting fat consumption will limit weight gain, and Willett is clear that weight gain increases breast cancer risk.

There are other behaviors that reduce breast cancer risk. There is good evidence that getting regular exercise, breastfeeding, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding hormone replacement therapy reduce breast cancer risk. Eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and avoiding environmental carcinogen can also reduce risk.

For more information:

www.ReduceBreastCancerRisk.com.

good carbohydrates

Aloha,

Interesting article. Please don't forget to distinguish between carbohydrates like white sugar and bleached white products and complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrtes from whole grains, fruits and vegetables are highly recommneded due to their nutrient density and fiber content.