It also helps maintain the heart and healthy bones. Because women with a high lifetime exposure to estrogen may be at higher risk for breast cancer, it is important to understand how lifestyle and environmental factors may affect the levels of estrogen in her body. The foods that women eat can affect levels of estrogen in their bodies. Diets that are very low in fat, and high in fiber may decrease the levels of estrogen in the body. Certain dietary factors may increase breast cancer risk directly by increasing levels of estrogen in the blood, and indirectly by affecting obesity.
Obesity is thought to increase the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.
Phytoestrogens are plant estrogens found in foods like soybeans, tofu, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and certain spices and herbs. A diet rich in phytoestrogens has been proposed as a way to decrease breast cancer risk. Most phytoestrogens are not stored in the body, but are quickly broken down. Phytoestrogens are weak estrogens, and may prevent stronger human estrogens from binding to the estrogen receptor. If the weaker estrogens bind to the receptor instead of the stronger ones, there may be less breast cell division.