Breast cancer: The influence of diet

The protein complex mTORC is an important regulator of cellular metabolism, growth and proliferation. Higher mTORC expression has been found in breast cancer tissue and has been associated with worse overall survival (Wazir U, et al. 2013). mTORC opposes apoptosis were dysfunctional cells are removed and may for that reason promote cancer growth. One of the things you can do is to make changes to what you eat because low protein plant based diets have been linked to decreased risk for various cancers (McArthy MF, 2011). One of the reasons why this type of food reduces cancer risk may be because it reduces the activity of mTORC1. Data from 91,779 women showed that greater consumption of a plant based dietary pattern is associated with reduced breast cancer risk (Link LB, et al. 2013). A lower intake of saturated fat and trans fat after diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with improved survival (Beasley JM, et al. 2011). A plant based diet will reduce theses fats since saturated fat and trans fat are mostly found in protein from animal sources.

In summary this is what you can do to reduce your risk for breast cancer.

• Eliminate alcohol.
• Reduce IGF-1 a growth factor.
• Reduce mTORC a regulator of cellular metabolism and growth.
• Reduce low grade inflammation.
• Reduce the intake of saturated fat and trans fat.
• A plant based diet will accomplish that.

Learn to Eat:

Recommendations that work. This is not a regular diet program.

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Link LB¹, Canchola AJ, Bernstein L, Clarke CA, Stram DO, Ursin G, Horn-Ross PL. Dietary patterns and breast cancer risk in the California Teachers Study cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Dec;98(6):1524-32. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.061184. Epub 2013 Oct 9.

McCarty MF¹. mTORC1 activity as a determinant of cancer risk--rationalizing the cancer-preventive effects of adiponectin, metformin, rapamycin, and low-protein vegan diets. Med Hypotheses. 2011 Oct;77(4):642-8. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2011.07.004.

Wazir U¹, Newbold RF, Jiang WG, Sharma AK, Mokbel K. Prognostic and therapeutic implications of mTORC1 and Rictor expression in human breast cancer. Oncol Rep. 2013 May;29(5):1969-74. doi: 10.3892/or.2013.2346. Epub 2013 Mar 13.