Thu, May-16-19, 01:29
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Plan: Muscle Centric
Stats: 238/153/160
BF:
Progress: 109%
Location: UK
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Breast cancer: Eating less fat cuts risk by a fifth, study shows
Quote:
From The Times
London, UK
16 May, 2019
Breast cancer: Eating less fat cuts risk by a fifth, study shows
Women aged over 50 can cut their risk of dying from breast cancer by a fifth by eating smaller portions of meat and having one extra serving of fruit and vegetables a day, the first trial of its kind has shown.
The two-decade study of 49,000 women found that even a slightly healthier diet could make a dramatic difference to a woman’s risk of suffering fatal breast cancer. Women have been urged to cut down on meat and dairy products or choose lower-fat options after the study found evidence that such changes could lengthen their lives.
About one in nine women will develop breast cancer and rates have increased by about a fifth since the 1990s, with obesity thought to be contributing. Better treatment has led to death rates falling by more than a third since the 1970s, but 12,000 people a year still die of the disease and the number is projected to rise again as the population ages.
Most diet studies find it hard to tease out the effect of what people eat from other aspects of their lifestyle, but the latest research is the first gold-standard trial of the issue. Thousands of women in the United States aged 50 to 79 were randomly told in the 1990s to carry on with their normal diet or were coached to adopt a healthier lower-fat diet.
On average those on the diet reduced fat from 32 per cent of their calories to 25 per cent and added an extra daily portion of fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and stuck with it for more than eight years.
During the 20 years of the study, there were 3,374 cases of breast cancer and women on the diet were 21 per cent less likely to die of the disease, according to results to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) annual meeting in Chicago. Rowan Chlebowski, of the University of California Los Angeles, lead author of the study, said: “Ours is the first randomised, controlled trial to prove that a healthy diet can reduce the risk of death from breast cancer. The balanced diet we designed is one of moderation, and after nearly 20 years of follow-up the health benefits are still accruing.”
Women made changes such as choosing lower-fat options, eating less butter and cheese, avoiding fried food and having smaller portions of meat, he said. “This is a change that is achievable by many because it represents moderation, achieved by 19,000 participants.” It remains unclear whether less fat, more vegetables or fewer calories contributed most to the reduced risk.
Excess weight has been shown to increase risk, but although women on the lower-fat diet lost about 3 per cent of their body weight, Professor Chlebowski’s team said the findings could not be explained by weight loss. Instead he suggested that healthy eating reduced harmful chronic inflammation.
Tony Howell, of Manchester University, cautioned that while it was impossible to ignore such an impressive trial, it did not show that eating fat was the key issue. “Women should try to maintain a healthy weight, exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and cut down on alcohol. Those are the three major risk factors,” Professor Howell said.
Susan Jebb, of the University of Oxford, said the findings were good news, with women in the trial reducing their fat intake by roughly the equivalent of a 4oz steak a day. “This is achievable and not some extreme low or no-fat diet,” Professor Jebb said.
Tips for a healthier diet
• Choose skimmed or semi-skimmed milk
• Have a smaller steak
• Grill meat instead of frying
• Cut down on cheese
• Avoid sausages and bacon
• Replace butter with olive oil spread
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https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/...shows-cs8r2qr6p |
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