Breast Cancer News, Updates: Eating More Fruit During Adolescence May Be Related To Lower Breast Cancer Risk

If you eat a lot of fruit during your teenage years, you may have lower risk for breast cancer, according to a study. Researchers analyzed the diets of 90,000 nurses for over 20 years.

The nurses reported their diet in early adulthood. Half of the nurses also reported their usual diet during their adolescence, according to EurekAlert.

Those who had high fruit consumption during their adolescent years or those who had 2.9 servings of fruit in a day were likely to have around 25% lower risk of diagnosed breast cancer in their middle age. A significant link was also found between the consumption of apple, banana and grapes during adolescence and reduced breast cancer risk.

Breast Cancer Prevention Starts Young

"This study underscores the importance of what a young girl eats for her future health," said Maryam Farvid, one of the researchers, via TIME. Farvid is a research associate at Massachusetts General Hospital and a visiting scientist at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health.

"This study also has an important message for schools and the need to provide students with the opportunity to consume more fruits and vegetables as part of the school meal program," added Farvid. The findings did not show a strong link between vegetables and lower breast cancer risk.

Breast Cancer Study First To Link Fruits And Risk

"This is the first study that specifically shows that high fruit intake during adolescence may be linked with reduced breast cancer risk," Farvid said via United Press International (UPI). Since it was an observational study, the researchers were not able to give evidence of cause and effect evidence and only an association between eating fruit and reduction in breast cancer risk.

While cause and effect may not be established, Lona Sandon said via UPI that studies consistently show that a healthy diet during one's younger years is beneficial. Sandon is the program director in the department of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

According to Sandon, it is also important to see what teens are not eating in lieu of fruit. "Are they eating less candy, cookies, cakes and soda? That may play a role as well," Sandon said.

Did you eat a lot of apples, bananas and grapes when you were younger? Are you asking your teenagers to eat them now? Write your comments below.