Eating to prevent breast cancer: when it comes to protecting against breast cancer, food may be your best medicine. Here are 10 superfoods that can significantly lower your risk for the disease.(EAT SMART: FOOD)

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It's easy for women to fear breast cancer. Like our hectic schedules and the environment around us, it seems out of our control. But in actuality, a woman's diet, something within her control, can be the most powerful force in significantly deterring breast cancer. The rate of breast cancer in Americans--one out of every eight women--is one of the highest in the world. But foods, natural herbs, and exercise can significantly reduce your risk. "Just one of these recommended changes can cut your risk in half," says Christine Horner, MD, author of Waking The Warrior Goddess.

The more estrogen a woman is exposed to over her lifetime, the higher her risk of breast cancer. According to Horner there are both "good" and "bad" estrogens. We are bombarded daily by bad estrogens from cosmetics, plastics, metals, and toxins in the air. But good estrogens can come from foods, especially plants. "Plants not only offer vitamins and nutrients, there's also a whole classification of phytochemicals that are like natural medicines," says Homer.

It's never too soon or too late to start making preventive dietary choices. Choose organic foods, and start young women on organic dairy in particular. One of the biggest contributors to breast cancer is rBGH, a growth hormone given to many cattle in the U.S. to increase milk production. The hormone causes IGF-1 in cows, and "there is no stronger stimulant for breast cancer than high levels of IGE," says Homer. And for women who have breast cancer, DNA is not static--we may have the ability to turn certain genes on and off, says Homer. Diet can help change cells and reduce many side effects of Western cancer treatments.

So where should you start? "A diet full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant compounds supports the detoxification pathways and protects cells--a giant step on the path of disease prevention," says Holly Lucille, ND, RN.

The following 10 foods will inspire you to make small, tasty changes to your diet and help you feel in control of your breast cancer prevention.

1. Flaxseeds