7 Natural Ways to Prevent Breast Cancer

It’s important to remember that your body’s immune system is set up to recognize and destroy cancer cells in the right environment.

1. Get Enough Sleep. Sleep restores the body and it’s during sleep that our bodies metabolize stress hormones. Aim for eight hours per night. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Sleep in a dark room. For breast health, be certain there is no light (except from the moon) in the room where you sleep. Not even a night-light. Not the light from a clock. Not the little lights on electronics. Turn off your mobile and household WiFi.
   
2. Eat a healthy diet. Aim for a diet that keeps your insulin, oestrogen and eicosanoids balanced. Include lean protein at every meal. Reduce or eliminate sugar in all forms, including alcohol and packaged foods. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Include a good source of iodine from food or as a supplement, as well as Omega 3 fatty acids. Eat seaweed as a vegetable - at least a half-cup serving per week. Wakame, kombu, kelp, and alaria are especially effective, but sea palm fronds, hijiki, nori, and dulse may be used on occasion. Note: It is also well-documented that alcohol consumption increases the risk of breast cancer, even in small amounts. But, this fact doesn’t stop most women from enjoying a glass of wine regularly and for many this is not a problem. I believe the reason is that enjoying the pleasure and ritual of a nice glass of wine over dinner with friends is greater than the fear of breast cancer!
   
3. Exercise regularly. The benefits of regular moderate exercise are innumerable and studies show that physically active women have a decreased risk of cancer. You don’t have to join an expensive gym. Keep it simple with activities that you will stick to, such as walking with a friend, a regular yoga class or dancing to music in your kitchen.
   
4. Optimize Your Vitamin D Levels. The best way to get your vitamin D is from safe exposure to sunlight. But many people need to take a supplement. I suggest taking 5,000 to 10,000 international units of Vitamin D per day. The idea is to maintain a therapeutic level between 50-70 ng/ml.
   
5. Get Social. Get off your mobile, computer, tablet or whatever, and get out with friends. Volunteer in your community. Take up a new activity, such as dancing or yoga. Having a fulfilling social life improves your immune system. When your immune system is healthy it naturally kills off pathogens and rogue cells that can lead to disease.
   
6. Cultivate a Practice of Self-Care and Self-Love. This is the most important factor in creating health because carving out time to care for and love yourself unconditionally feeds your cells the positive thoughts and emotions they need to reproduce in a healthy way. There are many things you can do to cultivate this type of practice, such as meditate, say positive affirmations in front of the mirror, use Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT, or Tapping), keep a gratitude journal, walk in nature, or simply take time to breathe in and out through your nose fully (this stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system). Do whatever supports you. And, remember, every emotion you have is associated with a biochemical process in your body. So, allow the emotions of pleasure, receiving, and generosity to flow through you regularly.
   
7. Lovingly massage your breasts. This is an extension of self-love. Regular, pleasurable breast massage is a perfect way to promote breast health! I suggest 5 minutes per day where you lovingly touch your breast without looking for any perceived abnormalities. Check out our guide on page 58. And, go bra less as much as possible. This helps stimulate lymph flow, which releases toxins from breast tissue. It can also feel wonderful!
   

Dr. Christiane Northrup is a leading authority in the field of women’s health and wellness, which includes the unity of mind, body, emotions, and spirit.

VISIT drnorthrup.com for videos and articles about all aspects of health.

READ Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup

Susun Weed recommends red clover tea to help support breast health. She is the author of highly recommended book ‘Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way’.

DRINK RED CLOVER BLOSSOM INFUSION - Red clover is a potent anti-cancer herb. It contains ten times more phytoestrogens than soya, and in a more complete form. I have seen it clear in situ cancers and pre-cancerous polyps hundreds of times. For breast health, I drink red clover infusion regularly.

To prepare:

• Place one ounce, by weight (about a cup by volume), of dried red clover in a quart canning jar.
  
• Fill the jar to the top with boiling water and lid tightly.
  
• Let steep for four hours or overnight.
  
• Strain and drink.
  
• Refrigerate excess and drink within 24-36 hours.
  

Read more at breasthealthbook.com

What I have seen over many years is that women who are most at risk for breast cancer are those who have difficulty nurturing themselves and receiving pleasure. Women often feel that taking care of themselves and enjoying themselves means they are selfish. But, it’s the most important thing you can do for your health and for everyone else! It’s like when flight attendants on a plane instruct you to put your oxygen mask on first before assisting the person next to you. You can’t continually give from a place of depletion without paying the consequences. So, if you do nothing else to create healthy breasts, I recommend you do what is necessary to nurture and love yourself. This means you learning how to receive.

In order to learn how to receive, follow these 3 simple steps:

1. Hold an intention to connect with your higher power and to be open to receiving whatever you are meant to receive. You don’t have to be religious. Don’t be afraid to ask your higher power for guidance.
   
2. Release your expectations of what will happen when you do step 1.
   
3. Wait for a response. Be open to noticing any changes in patterns in your life that relate to your original intention. Those changes may be something subtle, something physical in your body, or you may receive an overt sign.