Breast cancer with diet: lifestyle modification

Published

3 years ago

October 28, 2023

Fruits and vegetables can help maintain a balance diet

/home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fruits-and-vegetables-can-help-maintain-a-balance-diet.jpg&description=Breast cancer with diet: lifestyle modification', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

/home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fruits-and-vegetables-can-help-maintain-a-balance-diet.jpg&description=Breast cancer with diet: lifestyle modification', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

Fruits and vegetables can help maintain a balance diet

Last week we discussed how we can protect our health against breast cancer with vegetables.

This week, we will be looking at certain diets and lifestyles that increase our risk of breast cancer, and how we can modify them.

Breast cancer rates correlate with the amount of fat, alcohol, red and processed meat and caffeine in the diet.

These foods increase the production of estrogen and other steroids, which are major culprits in increasing the risk of breast cancer.

People with higher intake of the aforementioned foods have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Also, sedentary lifestyle, obesity and cigarette smoking all contribute greatly to breast cancer formation by increasing oestrogen production.

Way forward

Red meats such as beef and goat meat should be consumed in moderation or replaced with white meats such as chicken and turkey.

Plant-based oils such as coconut oil and sunflower oil can be used instead of animal-based fats such as butter and cheese.

Alcohol should be taken in moderation.

Weight control and physical activity are important factors in reducing the risk of developing breast cancer.

Cessation of cigarette smoking will go a long way in reducing the risk of breast cancer.

This is our last episode for the breast cancer month. You can protect your health against breast cancer through your diet and modification of your lifestyle.

As we dive into a new chapter next month, always remember; your diet your health, your health your wealth.

The writer is a Nutritionist and CEO of Holistic Health Consult

“Your diet your health, your health your wealth”

e-mail:

info@holistichealthconsult.org

By Asare Korkor Bernice

Can Ghana feed its people well? Building a nutrition-sensitive food system

Published

6 days ago

August 29, 2026

WeeklySpectator

When we talk about nutrition in Ghana, the conversation often focuses on individual choices: eat more vegetables, reduce sugar and salt, drink more water and exercise regularly.

These messages are important, but they tell only part of the story. Good nutrition is not just a personal responsibility; it is also a food-system issue.

What Ghanaians eat is influenced by what farmers produce, what food costs, how it is processed and marketed, what is served in schools, and what information consumers receive.

Ghana has the agricultural capacity to produce a wide variety of nutritious foods, including vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, eggs, roots and tubers. Yet production alone is not enough. Poor storage, transportation challenges and weak market access mean that an estimated 30 per cent of food in Ghana can spoil before reaching consumers or retailers, according to a 2025 study by the International Growth Centre. The losses are particularly significant for fruits and vegetables, reducing both farmers’ incomes and the availability of nutritious foods. This is where policy becomes important.

Agricultural policies should consider not only how much food Ghana produces, but also whether that food contributes to healthy diets. Greater support for diverse crops, local vegetables, fruits and legumes could strengthen both agriculture and nutrition.

The food-processing industry has a role as well. Processing can reduce food waste, improve convenience and create new markets for local produce. But greater attention should be paid to the nutritional quality of processed foods, particularly those high in salt, added sugar and unhealthy fats.

Public education must also become more practical. Telling people to “eat healthy” is not enough when nutritious foods may be unaffordable or unavailable. Consumers need information, but they also need a food environment that makes healthier choices realistic.

Good nutrition begins on the farm, continues through the market and food industry, reaches the school and household, and ultimately ends on the plate.

What is needed is greater coordination.

A successful nutrition strategy should connect agricultural production with health objectives, school feeding with local agriculture, food processing with nutritional quality, and public education with the realities of household income and food prices.

The ultimate goal is not simply to produce more food.

It is to ensure that Ghanaians have reliable access to safe, affordable and nutritious food throughout their lives.

Feature Article by Women, Media and Change

SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS