Fish Promotes Breast Cancer
A Vegan Health Article from All-Creatures.org

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From Dr. John McDougall M.D.
www.drmcdougall.com

Fish intake is positively associated with breast cancer incidence rate published in the November 2003 issue of the Journal of Nutrition by Connie Stripp found the risk of a woman developing breast cancer increases when she eats more fish.

The investigation studied 23,693 postmenopausal women, average age of 57 years. For each 25 grams (less than an ounce) of lean fish consumed daily there was a 13% increase in risk of breast cancer. For fatty fish the increase was 11% for each 25 grams.

These findings are exactly the opposite of most of those that are found in experiments done in laboratories on animals. This may be because the laboratory experiments testing the link between fish fats (omega-3 fats) and cancer feed only omega-3 fats to the animals studied – A diet that includes only omega-3 fats would never be found in natural living conditions. In the real world where a mixture of fats is consumed, fish fat can be very cancer-promoting. Here are a few possible reasons:

1) Fish and fish fat are known to suppress our cancer-fighting immune system.  

2) Fish is contaminated with cancer-causing environmental chemicals (like heavy metals and pesticides).  

3) Cooking fish produces powerful carcinogens called heterocyclic amines.   For supporting research and more reasons to avoid fish in your health-supporting diet see my February 2003 Newsletter.

Stripp C, Overvad K, Christensen J, Thomsen BL, Olsen A, Moller S, Tjonneland A. Fish intake is positively associated with breast cancer incidence rate. J Nutr. 2003 Nov;133(11):3664-9.

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We began this archive as a means of assisting our visitors in answering many of their health and diet questions, and in encouraging them to take a pro-active part in their own health. We believe the articles and information contained herein are true, but are not presenting them as advice. We, personally, have found that a whole food vegan diet has helped our own health, and simply wish to share with others the things we have found. Each of us must make our own decisions, for it's our own body. If you have a health problem, see your own physician.