It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, and while much of the discussion revolves around reminding women to get their mammograms, I want to take it a step further.
Certainly, get screened. That’s vital. But let’s shift the discussion from detection to prevention.
What can women do (and health care providers discuss) to help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer?
- Check your vitamin D levels. While 30 to 80 ng/ml is considered normal, 50 to 100 ng/ml is optimal. There’s lots of research to back up that optimal vitamin D levels reduce the risk of breast cancer. Here are some natural ways to increase your vitamin D levels.
- Manage your weight. For post-menopausal women, excess fat can increase estrogen levels, which increases breast cancer risk.
- Be conscientious of the products you use, both on your body and in your home. Beauty, personal care and cleaning products often contain chemicals that mimic the body’s natural hormones. This causes a disruption in the endocrine system and increases rates of breast cancer.
If you have any questions about how you can improve your health, don’t hesitate to schedule a call with us.
