Many factors can contribute or mitigate the risk of breast cancer, but one important aspect to consider is your diet. Nutrition can play a crucial role in cancer prevention—and some common foods may be even more powerful than you think. In a recent TikTok, Dr. Shintani, a Harvard-trained board-certified MD and nutritionist, highlighted a few specific foods that one study suggests could significantly inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.
“To find out what foods fight breast cancer, a research project was conducted in which actual breast cancer cells were cultures in petri dishes,” Dr. Shintani explained. “Extracts of various foods were added to each petri dish to see their effect and results were fascinating.” The findings? Eleven foods showed incredible cancer-fighting properties, stopping or slowing cancer growth. Find Dr. Shintani’s top recommendations based on these findings below.
@drshintani 11 of the best foods that fight breast cancer. Such as garlic, leeks, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale and more.#healthtips #shintani #drshintani #nutritiontips #nutritiontips #breastcancer #cancer #alliumfoods. #cruciferous. #brassica #broccoli#. #garlic.#brusselssprouts. #anticancer Canyons – Official Sound Studio
Breast Cancer-Fighting Foods include Garlic, Leeks, Scallions, & More
According to Dr. Shintani, this study identified 11 powerful foods that help prevent and fight breast cancer, based on their ability to block cancer cell growth. In his TikTok, he divided these foods into two categories, based on their effectiveness at blocking the growth in the petri dish:
Foods that stopped cancer growth almost completely
"Seven of the foods stopped the growth of cancer almost completely," Dr. Shintani noted, highlighting the following:
- Garlic
- Leeks
- Scallions
- Brussels sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Kale
Not only are these foods highly effective when it comes to breast cancer prevention, but they're also delicious—and so easy to add to healthy recipes. Sign us up!
Foods that blocked cancer growth by 90-95%
Those seven foods aren't the only ones that can make a difference, though. "Four foods blocked breast cancer growth by 90 to 95 percent," Dr. Shintani added. The following foods can have a significant impact:
- Broccoli
- Radish
- Savoy cabbage
- Onions
Stir fry, anyone?
Incorporating These Foods into Your Diet
The fact that these foods are so effective at fighting breast cancer is already good news, but what makes it even better is the fact that they're so versatile and widely available. Try adding garlic, leeks, and onions to soups, stews, or roasted vegetables. Meanwhile, tasty cruciferous vegetables like kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are fantastic options to add to salads, stir-fries, or smoothies—or just as a side dish on your dinner plate.
So, there you have it. When you add these foods to your daily diet, you can not only support your overall health through nutrition, but also potentially lower your risk of breast cancer. Easy as that!
