Prevent Breast Cancer by Any Greens Necessary

June 13, 2013 by Michael Greger M.D.


Recently a study of 50,000 African-American women was published, a sadly neglected demographic when it comes to nutritional science and, in fact, medical research generally. Certain African populations were among the healthiest on earth, inspiring one of America’s lifestyle medicine pioneers Nathan Pritikin. Sadly, African-Americans currently suffer disproportionately from chronic diseases. The good news is that many of the diseases—such as high blood pressure and diabetes—can be prevented, stopped, and even reversed with a healthy plant-based diet.

The Black Women’s Health Study investigated fruit and vegetable intake in relation to risk of breast cancer. Those who listened to mom and ate their veggies had a significantly lower risk of the most difficult type of breast cancer to treat (estrogen-receptor negative). Were any plants found particularly protective?

Which was associated with lowest breast cancer risk in African-American women? Apples, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, collard greens, grapefruit, oranges, spinach, tomatoes, or sweet potatoes? Check out my 3-min. video Preventing Breast Cancer By Any Greens Necessary to find out the answer.

For more on breast cancer prevention and diet, see my posts from last week Mushrooms For Breast Cancer Prevention and Why Less Breast Cancer in Asia?

More on broccoli and breast cancer:

• DNA Protection From Broccoli
• Broccoli Versus Breast Cancer Stem Cells
• Sulforaphane From Broccoli to Breast

More on carrots in:

• Benzene in Carrot Juice
• Crop Nutrient Decline
• Best Cooking Method

More on collards in:

• Eating Green to Prevent Cancer
• Prevent Glaucoma and See 27 Miles Farther
• Egg Industry Blind Spot