Woman's World

Prevent breast cancer with a sleep mask!

- —Brenda Kearns

Ourrisk of breast cancer has been dropping steadily nationwide— and studies now prove that you can reduce your own risk even further with a few small, simple changes:

● Cut your risk 50% with a supplement duo

Harvard research shows that taking 3,000 IU of vitamin D-3 and 2,000 mg. of fish oil daily can lower your breast cancer risk 50%. When D-3 and fish oil are absorbed by breast tissue, they rev your production of the powerful cancer-fighting compound calcitriol, their studies reveal. Increase your protection with ● a darkened bedroom Just keeping your bedroom dark when you’re snoozing— or using a sleep mask to block incoming light— could reduce your risk of breast cancer 34%, a study in the journal Aging Clinical and Experiment­al Research shows. When you sleep in total darkness, your brain produces more melatonin, a hormone that blocks the formation, growth and spread of suspicious breast cells, says study coauthor Simone Perna, PH.D.

Energize your immune cells ● with carrots Their bright orange color comes from beta-carotene, a nutrient that increases your production of cancerkill­ing white blood cells 33%—and makes those immune cells react faster and more aggressive­ly toward troublemak­ers, say UCLA researcher­s. Three cups weekly will do the trick. (Sweet potatoes, squash and cantaloupe are other good sources of beta-carotene.)

● Check cell growth with kale

Eating a daily 1/2 cup of kale or another cruciferou­s vegetable, such as broccoli, cabbage or bok choy, could send your breast cancer risk down 25%, reports the journal

Antioxidan­ts and Redox Signaling. These vegetables are loaded with sulforapha­ne, a natural compound that forces abnormal breast cells to behave properly, says study coauthor Paul Licciardi, PH.D.

● Shut off cancer genes with spicy turmeric

If you have a family history of breast cancer, adding 1/2 tsp. of turmeric to your daily diet could really pump up your protection! Six recent studies prove that this goldenyell­ow spice helps to shut off the genes that fuel the growth of cancer cells, in turn, cutting your breast cancer risk by as much as one-third. Try adding it to scrambled eggs, rice dishes, soups and marinades.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States