8 Foods That Can Help Prevent Breast Cancer, According To A Doctor

Breast cancer is a disease we hear talked about regularly-and for good reason. In the U.S. alone, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. That's a scary statistic, but there are things women can do to reduce their risk-and Dr. Kristi Funk, a board-certified breast surgeon and cofounder of the Pink Lotus Breast Center, wants to teach you all about them.

In Dr. Funk's book Breasts: The Owner's Manual, she talks about ways women can reduce their risk of cancer, make informed treatment choices, and optimize outcomes if sick. A big part of risk reduction involves making smart food choices.

Funk explains it like this: The food you eat can alter your estrogen levels, new blood vessel formation, inflammation, and immune system function. That's important, because those factors affect the environment cancerous cells live in within your body. Eat the right foods and it's easier for healthy cells to protect against bad cells.

I spoke to Dr. Funk earlier this month-which, not coincidentally, is Breast Cancer Awareness month-about what foods she recommends women add to their diet to stay healthy. Here are some of her top picks: