By EJ Linehan
High Fiber Foods Such as Chickpeas Can Help Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer
As you likely know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) was started in 1985 and is currently organized by major breast cancer charities to increase awareness of the disease. I’m sure you’re used to seeing experts appear on popular morning shows every October, giving advice on topics such as foods to eat in order to lower breast cancer risk. Which brings us to chickpeas (garbanzo beans) being a great food source that helps lower the risk of breast cancer!
ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) hosted guest-nutritionist Rachel Beller today. Beller, along with Robin Roberts, gave a presentation demonstrating three of Rachel’s ten commandments for weight management and prevention of breast cancer. The second commandment involves eating a high-fiber diet. Beller states, “There’s a lot of research showing that a lot of women on a high fiber diet can decrease their breast cancer risk by 16%. And its good for weight loss.” One of the foods she strongly recommends is chickpeas!
In researching Rachel’s claims, John Hopkins Medicine does state: “High fiber intake may have a positive benefit by altering hormonal actions of breast cancer and other hormonal-dependent cancers. Daily fiber intake should be 25 to 30 grams of insoluble and soluble fiber.” They also include a suggested list of whole foods by plant family you should eat. They also recommend chickpeas!
We want to be clear, we are not suggesting chickpeas are some magic food that prevents breast cancer. But we are proud to make snacks that are part of a healthy lifestyle that can help to reduce breast cancer risk.
You can more of Rachel's tips here.
Sources: Wiki, John Hopkins Medicine, Beller Nutritional Institute