In Sacramento, there's competition between the low-carb neo-Paleo dieters and the vegans and vegetarians regarding which diet is more likely to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. You see the natural food aisles of food markets increasing with more interest in organic fruits and vegetables locally.
And you also see a movement toward younger groups asking for grass-fed organic red meat, usually a no-no among vegetarians against breast cancer. Which diet is touted in the latest studies? The newest research link between breast cancer and diet now is related to lowering insulin blood levels through food in order to lower the risk of developing breast cancer. But which is more related to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, dense breast tissue or diet? See, Dense breast tissue hikes risk of cancer - Health - Cancer - msnbc.com.
There's a war between the vegan carb-centric diet and the low carb diet. In one study, women who go on a low carb diet just two days per week have a lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who follow a standard calorie-restricted diet every day of the week, in order to lose weight and lower their insulin blood levels. See the Los Angeles Times article for December 9, 2011, Low-carb diets beat low-cal for cutting pounds and cancer risk. Also check out the article, High Carb Diets and Breast Cancer Risk.
The more fruit you eat, for example, the higher your blood levels of insulin go to lower the sugars in your blood. On the other hand, fruit has a high amount of antioxidants and nutrients you need. So what do you do? Balance is a key word. Find out how your blood glucose and insulin levels react to what you eat. Sharp insulin and sugar spikes or steady?
Vegans often say that a raw-foods diet, at least the majority of the time can reverse certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, those on the paleo-type low carb high fat high animal protein diet say that diet rather than a vegan diet lowers the high insulin levels.
On the other hand, insulin also can become high on an all-meat, no vegetables diet. Long-term high blood insulin levels are known to raise cancer risk. These findings were presented by scientists from Genesis Prevention Center at University Hospital in South Manchester, England, at the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The reality is that longer-term additional studies are required using more participants. See, Preventing breast cancer: bras, vitamin D, low GI carbohydrates.
On one hand you have a weight loss goal. On the other hand what you need really are reduced insulin levels. If you want to prevent breast cancer, what scientists are aiming for in the studies is getting their participants to have reduced insulin levels. Conventional diets may not work because your body responds to food with an individual genetic signature and expression. See, Could Cutting Carbs Cut Breast Cancer Risk?
So now, who do you believe, the vegans that say a vegetarian/vegan diet can help reduce the risk of getting cancer? Or the low-carb enthusiasts who say cutting carbs may cut breast cancer risk? In the newest study, that was presented two days ago at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, researchers from England assessed the impact of three different diets on the weight and insulin blood levels in 115 women.
A third of the participants followed a calorie-restricted, so-called Mediterranean diet every day, while another third went on a diet that restricted carbs in addition to calories, but for just two days a week.
A third group followed a low-carb diet two days a week as well, but they were allowed to eat unlimited protein and healthy fats. According to the article, "Could Cutting Carbs Cut Breast Cancer Risk?" both of the two-day, low-carb options resulted in greater weight loss than full-time dieting. On average, women on the so-called "intermittent" plans lost about 9 pounds, while women following the daily, calorie-restricted Mediterranean plan lost around 5 pounds.
Insulin resistance -- which decreases the ability of cells to transport glucose from the bloodstream -- also decreased more significantly among both low-carb groups, dropping by 22 percent among women on the low-calorie version, and by 14 percent on the unrestricted fat and protein plan.
Women who adhered to daily calorie restriction saw a drop of only around 4 percent. Since more studies are needed, the best way to tell is to find out whether your own insulin levels pour out too much when you eat a high carb versus a low carb diet. Then find your balance somewhere in between where you're not getting way too high amounts of insulin pouring out from what you're eating. The key is balance for the individual because of different metabolic responses to food.
Check out Dr. Weil's video on foods posted at the Huffington News health site that may lower the risk of developing breast cancer, " The problem is for a lot of women that most of the superfoods are vegetables and fruits. See, 7 December Superfoods. Without knowing your body's metabolic response to high vegan complex carbs and low-carb diets, which one will more likely cause your body to secrete too much insulin each time you eat a meal?
Other studies say high-fat diets are worse for prevention of breast cancer, including various types of high-fat dairy products. Other studies say a vegetarian diet lowers your risk of developing breast cancer. See, Cancer and the Vegetarian Diet. So who do you believe---low carbs or vegetarian diet to lower the risk of developing breast cancer?
See the articles, 12 Dietary Changes that Will Lower Your Cancer Risk | Ask Dr. Sears® and also check out, Prevent Breast Cancer with Vitamin D and a Vegan Diet. Maybe the diet you choose needs to agree with your genes and metabolic response to the particular food. And for men, BBC News | HEALTH | Vegan diet 'cuts prostate cancer risk'.
Also see, Vegetarian Diet Linked to Low Breast Cancer Risk | Divine-wellness. The big issue for most women and men is who to believe--those who say low-carbs help to lower the risk of breast cancer and those who say vegetarian diets do the same? Maybe it's the people's response to the food that's individual? Or perhaps a balance works out when it comes to food requirements for your body. In any case, the research continues.
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