Wholesome Diet Help Black Women Dodge Cancer Bullet

Black women who consume certain foods can protect themselves from breast cancer, say researchers.

To study the link between a woman's dietary patterns and breast cancer risk, 50,778 participants were followed through the Black Women's Health Study.

The study revealed that 2 dietary patterns existed among the cohort of women:

• Western: refined grains, processed meat, and sweets
• Prudent: whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and fish

The prudent diet was associated with a significantly lower risk of breast cancer in women with a body mass index (BMI) less than 25 in postmenopausal women.

Researchers conclude that the study's findings suggest that some black women who adopt the "prudent" diet may protect themselves against breast cancer.

The findings are published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2009 Jul 8. [Epub ahead of print]