Teens who choose to eat fast food instead of healthy fruits will be reaching for apples instead of burgers after learning of this new study. It shows that teenagers who eat 20 to 30 grams of daily fiber have a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
A group of researchers from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Harvard conducted a study on 44,000 women. They looked at the rate of their fiber consumption during their teenage years.
CBS News reported results of the study, which showed women who had high consumption of fiber during their teenage years of about 28 grams every day had lower breast cancer risk before reaching the age of menopause. On one hand, those who ate less than 15 grams of fiber-rich foods in high school had a higher risk.
Maryam Farvid, the lead author in the study said that, "The results of this study emphasize the role of an early life high-fiber diet on prevention of breast cancer in later life." She also highlighted, "High consumption of foods rich in fiber such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains in early life may help to reduce breast cancer incidence."
She emphasized on the role of eating 25 to 30 grams. In a statement, Farvid said, "Having the recommended 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily would decrease the risk by 30 percent and potentially even greater with higher fiber intake."
Some of the fruits that have high fiber content include pears, apples and raspberries. Cooking meals with green peas, beans, broccoli and whole grain bread will also be beneficial.
Mayo Clinic has added a few more ways on how women will be able to cut their breast cancer risk significantly. This includes limiting alcohol intake, not smoking, losing weight and becoming physically active. By consuming high-fiber food and following the other ways to reduce breast cancer risk, teenagers will have better quality life by the time they reach the age of 40.
