As we conclude the Breast Cancer Awareness month, we thought it would be helpful to share a powerful, natural way to reduce your chances of acquiring breast cancer.

There are different factors at play when people develop breast cancer. This includes your lifestyle habits, the environment, genetics and family history. We can’t control all of these, but we can try to eat healthy and get regular exercise — both of which can help protect against cancer.

Avocados have become pretty popular in recent years. They have so much key nutrients and can be eaten in so many different ways. The versatile, savory fruit may even offer some protection against breast cancer.

The “power” of Avocados

Avocados are not claimed to have a miracle cure, but they can contribute to a balanced and healthy diet.

Based on a research on the potential health benefits of avocados, researchers from the University of California, Los AngelesTrusted Source found evidence that specific extracts of avocado can reduce the growth of prostate cancer cells and oral cancer cells.

It concluded that the phytochemicals (active chemical compounds in plants) in avocados make them potentially beneficial for cancer prevention. There are no significant studies conducted yet on avocado extract and breast cancer directly. The results from the prostate studies mentioned above, however, are relevant for anyone who is on a healing path with breast cancer. Some of the same cancer-causing mechanisms exist for breast cancer as with most reproductive cancers in both men and women.

Some studies connected lutein intake with breast cancer prevention directly. According to the Harvard-sponsored Nurses’ Health Study, consuming foods that contain lutein, such as kale, spinach and avocados, can lower the risk of breast cancer. A 2014 Chinese study also found that higher serum levels of lutein were connected with a 51 percent reduction in breast cancer risk.

Avocados are also a a high-fiber food, contain significant amounts of essential nutrients like B vitamins and potassium, can help make your hair and skin glow and are great for brain health.

KEY NUTRIENTS IN AVOCADOS

B VITAMINS – help you turn food into energy. They also support nervous system and blood cell growth. A 1-cup serving of raw avocado gives you around 30% of your daily target of folate, as well as a good amount of vitamin B-6 and niacin. A 2011 report followed breast cancer rates over a nine-year period in women who had little access to fortified foods and supplements, meaning they got most of their nutrients from unprocessed sources.

LUTEIN – a carotenoid, a naturally occurring plant pigment found in avocado. A 2018 study published in the journal Molecules examined the ability of lutein to interfere with the growth of breast cancer cells.

FIBER – One cup of raw avocado provides around 10 grams of fiber, which is about 40% of your daily dietary fiber requirement. According to one 2012 reviewTrusted Source, diets high in fiber may help protect against breast cancer.