Gut Bacteria and Breast Health: Is There a Link?
This article above agrees with much of what I've been telling my patients for years. Women with frequent use of antibiotics have a much higher risk of developing breast cancer. I am certain this also applies to men and their risk for breast or prostate cancer. Initially, there seems to be little relationship between the digestive system and your breasts (or prostate). However, beneficial bacteria known as probiotics in the digestive system have many responsibilities in your continuing health including metabolizing estrogens and helping your body eliminating the excess. Additionally, these friendly bugs help bolster your immune system, reduce inflammation, activate enzymes, prevent yeast overgrowth and help your body absorb vital nutrients. Frequent use of antibiotics, steroids like prednisone, drinking tap water containing chlorine or chloramine, eating a low fiber diet all contribute to compromised probiotic levels in the digestive system.
Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, yogurt, kim chee, miso and other naturally fermented foods are helpful in keeping adequate amounts of probiotics around in the digestive system. Always, after any antibiotic use I recommend a month of replenishment of a potent mix of prebiotics and probiotics to help prevent yeast, and assist in keeping your protective enzymes up in the digestive system. My favorite supplement for this is HMF Replete. I recommend it for 4 weeks, one packet per day after use of antibiotics. Also, it's always great to take an occasional packet every once in awhile to keep your digestive system balanced and efficient at doing what it does best, which is to eliminate what your body no longer needs. Not all probiotics are created equal. In my practice, where I test patients for bacterial overgrowth in the digestive system and the adequacy of probiotic protection in their digestive system, many people are astounded that they've faithfully taken their over the counter probiotics for years only to find out that they don't culture successfully out of the digestive system. Meaning that the probiotics they've believed to be protective all these years were actually either dead or minimally useful.
Probiotics are living things, they are optimally refrigerated and the dose on the side of the package should be rated at expiration date rather than production date. Keeping your gut healthy and ensuring your digestive system is working smoothly and effectively is one step toward reducing your risk of breast cancer as well as other hormonally related cancers such as uterine, prostate and ovarian cancers.
Further Reading:
5 Easy Ways to Prevent Breast Cancer
What is a Normal Bowel Movement?
Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer and Acne: How are they related?
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