Search Body Detox

The Breast Health Detox Diet

by Dr. Susan Lark

Published 03/05/09

The incidence of breast cancer has increased dramatically over the past two decades. During the 1950s, it was estimated that one out of every 20 Americans would develop this disease. These estimates have been revised many times over the last 40 years as the incidence of breast cancer has skyrocketed. It is currently estimated that one out of every eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. This is a staggering number.

Breast cancer tissues, like other malignancies, invade and destroy normal tissue (unlike benign tumors, which remain confined in a specific area). Breast cancer cells start in breast tissue. In later stages of the disease, the cancerous cells spread to other parts of the body near or adjacent to the breasts such as the lymph nodes, or to distant sites such the liver and the bones. 

Research has shown that nearly 70 percent of all breast cancers are estrogen-receptive, meaning they feed off of estrogen. In fact, epidemiological data suggests that the incidence of breast cancer is highest in women with higher blood estrogen levels. That's why so much of the effort surrounding breast cancer prevention has focused on decreasing the amount of estrogen in the body or blocking its activity.

An Excellent Anti-Cancer Tool

Detoxification is the process of neutralizing or transforming substances that would normally be poisonous or harmful and eliminating them from your body. Without detoxification, toxic substances would accumulate, impairing your health and interfering with the function of all your vital organ systems.

The liver is the primary detoxification organ and the main interface between ingested and internally-created toxins and all body cells. If liver function is impaired, estrogen will not be efficiently metabolized and excreted. This can lead to elevated estrogen levels in the body, which in turn can lead to breast cancer.

The liver can literally re-grow brand new liver tissue-as much as one-third of its total mass at a time-if given the chance. To lighten the liver's workload so it can focus more energy on cleansing and rejuvenating, you should consider a mild detox diet. 

Eat a predominantly vegetarian diet, with emphasis on raw, organic salads and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Eggs, free-range poultry, and soft-textured fish such as salmon are permitted. Avoid fatty or processed foods, refined white sugar and flour, alcohol, caffeine, and non-essential drugs. Drink chamomile or peppermint tea and mineral water. Make your last meal of the day the lightest, so that your liver can spend the night rejuvenating instead of detoxifying food byproducts. The longer you follow this diet, the more refreshed your liver will become.