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Category: Health

Avoiding estrogen may mean avoiding breast cancer

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a good time to remind ourselves of ways to reduce the estrogen overload that may lead to breast cancer, says Kathy Loidolt, author of the e-book "Shopper's Guide to Healthy Living."

Loidolt reminds us that many foods and items we purchase can cause our bodies to produce estrogen.

Watch for these top-five links to cancer and try to avoid them. Your body will thank you and reward you with better health. Men, you can get breast cancer too, so read on.

1. Soy - A well know source of plant protein and other nutrients, but less known as a phytoestrogen. Soy may be causing your body to make more estrogen and is an ingredient in many foods that you probably don't realize. Check the ingredients of your granola bars, cereal, chips and many more items. You will be surprised. Avoid soy whenever you can to reduce your exposure.

2. Plastics - Plastics and other petroleum products are often called xenoestrogens. Exposure to plastics, whether in your food, drinks or the air causes the same estrogen increases we want to avoid. Plastics are tough to avoid in today's society. Look for ways to use glass containers whenever possible and never, never heat plastic - in your microwave, in your car or anywhere. It releases even more of the poisons into your overwhelmed body.

3. Household candles - Petroleum products that get into your body through the lungs, produce estrogen. Candles warm the home and smell good. So if you're going to burn them, purchase the healthy kind from health food stores.

4. Drinking alcohol - The New England Journal of Medicine has identified a "clear link" between drinking alcohol three times or more per week and a 50 percent increased risk of breast cancer.

5. Processed food - Processed junk food, sugar and white flour have been linked to breast cancer. Women who ate the most refined carbs were more likely to have breast cancer.

What can we eat to help ourselves? You guessed it - omega three oils and raw fruits nuts and vegetables are the best foods. If you eat meat or dairy, make sure it is hormone free.