Foods to Include in Your Breast Cancer Diet
Davis notes that a high-fiber diet, with at least five servings of fruit and vegetables daily, is known to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. “Focus on getting 75 percent of your food from plant foods — specifically, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes,” she advises. “But that doesn’t mean you have to become a vegetarian or vegan.”
Cruciferous Vegetables
Options include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower, as well as arugula, bok choy, and kale.
Tip: Eat one serving of cruciferous vegetables daily.
Omega-3–Rich Seafood
Fish such as salmon, sardines, and trout are rich in these protective fatty acids. These options are also safe to eat several times a week, but others, such as tuna and swordfish, may contain pollutants and should be limited to no more than once a month.
Tip: Eat fatty fish three times a week. If you’re a vegetarian or don’t like fish, go for plant sources of omega-3s, such as chia seeds, flaxseed, walnuts, or omega-3–fortified eggs.
Whole Soy Foods
Soy was once considered risky for people with hormone-positive breast cancer, because it can affect hormones. But soy foods are now recognized by the American Institute for Cancer Research as safe and even beneficial to eat, including for women with hormone-positive breast cancer.
Good options include edamame, soy milk, tempeh, and tofu.
Tip: Eat whole soy foods, such as tofu, several times a week.
Protein
“Systemic treatment, such as chemotherapy, affects all of your body’s cells, and you need adequate amounts of protein to repair those cells,” Davis says, adding that many women who lean toward plant-based diets tend to skimp on protein.
For women with hormone-positive breast cancer, who are generally treated with hormone blockers, getting enough protein is particularly important. “When you don’t have enough estrogen in the body, you lose more lean body mass. That’s one reason women who transition to menopause naturally lose lean body mass,” says Davis. “So, you need extra protein to support whatever muscle mass you have.”
Tip: Make sure every meal incorporates a source of protein.
Foods Rich in Calcium and Vitamin D
If you have hormone-positive breast cancer and are put on hormone-suppressing drugs, which lower estrogen levels, you’re prone to bone loss. This makes increasing calcium intake super important, especially if you take these hormone suppressants for five years or longer, says Davis.
Eat plenty of calcium-rich foods, which include cheese, low-fat milk, unsweetened yogurt, soy milk, tofu, broccoli, figs, spinach, calcium-fortified orange juice, calcium-fortified cereal, and beans such as chickpeas. Aim for 1,000 to 1,300 milligrams of calcium each day.
Meanwhile, you also need to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium.
The body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, so spending time outside can boost your intake. Vitamin D is also found in foods, such as eggs, fortified milk, mushrooms, and salmon. Aim for 15 micrograms (or 600 IU) of vitamin D each day.
Tip: Your doctor can use a simple blood test to monitor your calcium and vitamin D levels. If you’re not getting enough of these essential nutrients through your diet, your doctor may recommend a supplement.
Build a Breast Cancer Diet
A good rule of thumb is to eat a varied, colorful diet. That includes fruits and vegetables such as berries and sweet potatoes; spices, such as cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and turmeric; and herbs, such as basil, oregano, and thyme.
Take it one step at a time, Davis advises. Remember that good nutrition can help your body stay strong during breast cancer treatment and beyond.
Consider finding a nutritionist who specializes in working with people who have breast cancer to help you develop an individualized eating plan that suits your needs.
The Takeaway
When you’re going through treatment for HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, focus on eating healthful foods that also provide added health benefits, ones that will help you be more responsive to treatment and avoid side effects. Research suggests these foods include cruciferous veggies like broccoli, fatty fish like salmon, whole soy products like edamame and tofu, and plenty of lean protein and calcium. For extra support, consider working with a registered dietitian-nutritionist or dietitian who can help you create an eating plan.
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