Interesting new research showing the important link between gut microbiome and cancer treatment outcomes. Good gut health with an abundance of diverse good bacteria is essential to good health and cancer prevention as well.  You can improve your gut microbiome by eating a high-fiber diet, including fruits and vegetables high in fructo-oligosaccharides such as bananas, dried fruit, onions, leeks, garlic, asparagus and artichokes, as well as grains with resistant starches such as barley or uncooked potato starch, for example. Read the new research findings here: http://ow.ly/ooY150B9cdh

For breast cancer prevention, it's important to eliminate or limit processed, packaged, sugary, fast foods, which:
Decrease appetite suppressing hormones
Increase hunger
Cause weight gain
Increase cellular inflammation
Kill good gut bacteria
Weaken the immune system
"A processed food is a food item that has had a series of mechanical or chemical operations performed on it to change or preserve it. Processed foods are those that typically come in a box or bag and contain more than one item on the list of ingredients."
Here are some unprocessed snack ideas:
Raw or roasted seasoned veggies
Fresh fruit
Dates
Nut butters - all natural
Pitaya and Acai bowls & smoothies
Roasted chickpeas
Zucchini chips
https://www.purplecarrot.com/.../zucchini-chips-with...
Nice cream with frozen bananas
https://www.purplecarrot.com/plant.../vanilla-nice-cream
Cherry Chia Pudding
https://www.purplecarrot.com/plant.../cherry-chia-pudding
No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
https://www.purplecarrot.com/.../no-bakes-peanut-butter...
Purple Carrot

BPA is a chemical that acts like estrogen in the body. Estrogens have been linked to the increased risk of developing breast cancer.  BPA is found in many plastic products, food and formula can linings, dental sealants, and on the shiny side of paper cashier receipts (to stabilize the ink).  Recently, researchers at Duke University Hospital were among the first to discover that BPA helps the survival of inflammatory breast cancer cells. http://ow.ly/k1j150B48sg.  France has banned BPA in food packaging and California lists BPA as being toxic to the female reproductive tract.
Changing to BPA free plastic may not be better. BPA free chemicals BPF, BPS, bisphenol F, bisphenol AP, bisphenol AF, bisphenol Z, bisphenol B are not safe alternatives to BPA.  Learn how to Limit your exposure to BPA at http://static.ewg.org/pdf/ewg_bpa_guide.pdf.

Your immune system is one of the major defenses against cancer. Your diet must be balanced to kill cancerous or precancerous cells without causing deficiencies in your immune system or hormonal changes that can make you frail.  Multiple studies have demonstrated vitamin C to possess cancer-fighting properties, although its effectiveness in preventing cancer is controversial. For people at high risk for cancer, Dr. Valter Longo, PhD recommends discussing with your oncologist the option of taking 6 grams of buffered vitamin C or Ester-C® daily for a few weeks every six months. Vitamin C is not known to have major side effects taken at this level for a few weeks every six months.

Let's talk about the magic of mushrooms for breast cancer prevention!
A number of research studies have discovered compounds in mushrooms that were found to inhibit cancerous tumor growth, increase immune cells (particularly in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment), and inhibit aromatase, an enzyme in breast cancer cells that will produce unwanted estrogen. The most common mushrooms studied are white button, turkey tail, Shitake and Maitake.  Turkey tail mushrooms contain compounds called polysaccharopeptide (PSP) and polysaccharide-K (PSK). PSP and PSK appear to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The compounds in turkey tail may also offer benefits for gut health. It is not recommended you eat turkey tail in the wild. Turkey tail extract is also available in the form of a powder or tea.  Always follow the dosage instructions carefully. Because turkey tail is a fungus, anyone with a mushroom or mold allergy should not use it.  More common and accessible, research has shown that eating just 5 white button mushrooms a day may be sufficient to suppress breast cancer tumor growth.  Learn more about the research at: http://ow.ly/cCTB50AX5Ix and https://nutritionfacts.org/video/breast-cancer-vs-mushrooms/.

Flavonoids, plant polyphenols present in fruits and vegetables, are emerging as promising arsenals for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and other chronic inflammatory diseases.  Many mechanisms of action for flavonoids in the prevention of breast cancer, include anti-estrogenic activity, induction of cancer cell death, prevention of oxidation, induction of detoxification enzymes, regulation of inflammation and the immune system, and changes in cellular signaling.  The main dietary sources of flavonoids include teas (particularly white, green, and oolong), citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, lemons) and citrus fruit juices, berries, cherries, apples, red and purple grapes, cocoa-based products, legumes, onions, scallions, kale, broccoli, asparagus, leafy greens, red cabbage, parsley, thyme, oregano, celery, hot peppers.

The top 4 spices proven to fight inflammation. Cloves, ginger, rosemary, and turmeric. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in tumeric. Curcumin, a bioactive ingredient of the plant Curcuma longa, exerts an inhibitory effect on triple-negative and other breast cancer cells.

Cancer survivors with chronic inflammation may have an elevated risk of recurrence.  Chronic inflammation is associated with increased risk of breast cancer recurrence as it increases estrogen and insulin levels in the body and promotes tumor growth and metastasis.  Inflammation is part of the body’s natural defense mechanism designed to heal injuries and defend the body against foreign invaders but when inflammation goes on too long or becomes chronic it can have damaging effects on health.  An association has been found between breast cancer recurrence and reduced overall survival and increased concentrations of inflammatory markers, such as CRP, a test that can be measured by a healthcare provider.  Inflammation is caused by obesity, bad gut bacteria, stress, a bad diet, alcohol, high blood sugar, toxins, food allergens & sensitivities, and poor sleep quality.
You can control cellular inflammation by eating a whole food, plant-based diet full of anti-inflammatory foods and spices such as cloves, ginger, rosemary, and turmeric, reducing stress, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling your blood sugar, and getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night.