It’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in a recent interview with Access Hollywood, breast cancer survivor and Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge spoke out about the role of diet in preventing cancer. ”Our own western lifestyle is one of the reasons that half of us have cancer,” she said. “[T]he meats, the processed foods … and it’s really taxing us, and that’s why we’re seeing this epidemic.”
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The research backs up Etheridge’s view that there is a link between diet and breast cancer. Results from a 26-year study following 86,000 U.S. nurses suggest that women who eat diets high in plant-based foods are less likely to develop certain breast tumors. A 2007 study of more than 35,000 women found that women who ate the most meat had the highest risk of breast cancer.
Etheridge says changes in her diet have made her healthier now than she’s ever been, and she’s not the only one who can benefit from a diet rich in plant-based foods. This month, urge the women in your life to check out the delicious meat-free fall recipes on PETA’s “Living” page. And if you participate in breast cancer charity events, remember to make sure that the charity you’re supporting doesn’t fund cruel, archaic experiments on animals.
Written by Heather Faraid Drennan
