Foods for Prevention
One form of treatment in TCM is the use of food as medicine. Many everyday foods can help prevent and treat breast cancer by helping detoxify the body, expelling a precondition of breast cancer known as “internal cold” and strengthening the liver, stomach, and kidney – the three most important organs for women’s health.
Vegetables – (must be cooked, not raw) Broccoli, Celery, Fennel, Ginger, Cauliflower, Carrots, Scallions Garlic, Eggplant, Radishes, Mushrooms, Spinach, Red beets
Fruits – Kiwi, Watermelon, Dates, Pears, Pineapple, Asian Pears. Lemons
Nuts – Chestnuts, Walnuts, Peanuts, Pine Nuts
Seafood – Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, Lobster, Clams, Oysters
Asian Foods – Seaweed, Quail Eggs, Red beans, Bamboo tips, Black Beans, Chinese red dates, Green tea (any kind except decaffeinated)
Bee Products – Honey, Bee Pollen
Foods to Avoid
Charred and deep fried foods – Both cause a condition known as “internal heat” in the stomach, which can cause a functional disorder of this organ.
Raw vegetables – This weakens the stomach and spleen, two organs essential for breast cancer prevention. Raw vegetables take a great deal more energy to digest than cooked vegetables.
Cold or iced foods and beverages – Your stomach functions best when the food you eat is warm.
When thinking about meals, the goal is to maximize the nutrients your body can absorb from the foods you eat while minimizing the energy required to digest them. To this end, try to eat a varied diet that consists primarily of vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, some grains, and some seafood.
You can start by gradually modifying your existing diet to incorporate as many of the recommended foods as possible. For example, use honey instead of sugar in your tea. Many small adjustments can collectively have a measurable impact on your health.
As important as these dietary recommendations are, do not let following them become a source of stress. Your emotions have a far greater impact on your health than the foods you eat.
*From the book Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Women's Guide to Healing from Breast Cancer by Dr. Nan Lu, OMD, MSC, Lac with Ellen Schaplowsky