A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce a woman\'s risk of developing breast cancer, according to researchers from New York University and the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France. In the new study, the researchers compared the blood levels of carotenoids (natural chemicals found in vegetables and fruits) in 270 women who developed breast cancer up to 11 years after the blood samples were taken with the levels seen in 270 similar women who remained cancer-free.
On average, women who developed breast cancer had significantly lower levels of a variety of carotenoids before they were diagnosed with cancer than did women without breast cancer, 11% to 21% lower. Overall, those women with the lowest blood levels of carotenoids were more than twice as likely to develop breast cancer as those women with higher levels. This was particularly true for beta-carotene, which is found in carrots and dark green leafy vegetables, and alpha-carotene, found in carrots and tomato-based vegetable juices.
The researchers� advice? \\"Eat as much fruits and vegetables as possible.\\
On average, women who developed breast cancer had significantly lower levels of a variety of carotenoids before they were diagnosed with cancer than did women without breast cancer, 11% to 21% lower. Overall, those women with the lowest blood levels of carotenoids were more than twice as likely to develop breast cancer as those women with higher levels. This was particularly true for beta-carotene, which is found in carrots and dark green leafy vegetables, and alpha-carotene, found in carrots and tomato-based vegetable juices.
The researchers� advice? \\"Eat as much fruits and vegetables as possible.\\
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