Many women know at least one friend or family member who has battled breast cancer at some point. What exactly is it? Breast cancer begins when a person’s breast cells begin to grow rapidly. Breast cancer occurs almost entirely in women, but men can also be victims to this disease. Though there are risk factors to developing breast cancer, there are thought to be ways to help prevent it. Here are some foods that might help to battle breast cancer:

6 Foods That Might Prevent Breast Cancer

Blueberries

This tasty fruit is a great source of antioxidants and contains chlorogenic acid, a cancer-fighting nutrient. Blueberries have the highest antioxidant power of any fruit or vegetable. They contain anti-inflammatory compounds and can also help with joint pain from arthritis.

Pomegranates

The crunchy seeds in a pomegranate contain ellagic acid, an antioxidant that can inhibit breast cancer development. You can enjoy the health benefits of pomegranate by scooping the seeds out of the fruit and eating them as a snack, on a salad, or by drinking pure pomegranate juice.

Beans

According to Natural Health Magazine, researchers found that women who consume legumes at least twice each week can lower their risk of developing breast cancer when compared with those who don’t consume beans as often. It’s believed that black beans can block the circulation of estradiol, which encourages the spread of estrogen-drive breast cancer.

Broccoli

Sulforaphane, often found in broccoli, is a compound that can strongly inhibit cancers. Researchers believe that it can slow the rate of breast cancer cell growth.

Walnuts

Aside from the plethora of other health benefits walnuts provide – such as increasing metabolism and improving heart health – this nut may stop the development of breast cancer tumors. Researchers from the Marshall University School of Medicine stated that the omega-3s, phytosterols, and antioxidants in walnuts are what slow the growth of cancerous cells.

Mushrooms

A study published in the International Journey of Cancer found that women who consume 10 grams of mushrooms per day decrease their risk of developing breast cancer by 64% when compared to those who don’t eat them. Portobellos, button, shiitake, and cremini mushrooms have anti-cancer properties and contain more antioxidants than pumpkins, carrots, or tomatoes. It’s the ergothioneine and selenium that can reduce the risk of cancer as well as cardiovascular disease.

Do you consume any of the foods on this list? Which are your favorites?