Nutrition and Breast Cancer

Can you prevent breast cancer with a healthy diet? If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, can a healthy diet help you recover?

Many studies are currently looking at how diet and cancer are related. Here's what the experts know: Good nutrition reduces the risk of many chronic diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, and improves our quality of life. And although it’s not a magic bullet, a healthy diet may reduce breast cancer incidence and recurrence.

While certain elements of wellness are out of our control, making healthy lifestyle choices is something we can do – and it feels empowering.

Where to get care

Find a doctor

Get a second opinion

Healthy diet guidelines

The goal is not to follow an "anticancer diet" but to adopt healthful habits and fuel your body with nourishing foods.

Choose a plant-based diet

A plant-based diet consists mainly of fruits, vegetables, legumes (such as beans), nuts and seeds, whole grains and other plant protein sources. You can still eat dairy, eggs, fish and other seafood – but they should make up a small portion of your total food intake.

Use color as your guide

Brightly colored vegetables and fruits are rich in phytochemicals, natural substances in plants that may reduce cancer risk.

Build a healthy plate

An ideal plate is filled with:

One-half or more vegetables and fruits
One-quarter lean protein sources
Up to one-quarter starchy vegetables (such as sweet potatoes, winter squashes and corn) or whole grains (such as brown rice and oatmeal)

Include healthy fats

Aim to get at least one daily serving of a healthy fat. For example:

1 ounce of nuts
1 tablespoon of olive oil
One-third of a medium avocado

Limit or avoid alcohol

Studies have consistently associated alcohol use with an increased risk of breast cancer.

UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.

Related services

View All

Patient Resource

Cancer Nutrition Counseling

UCSF Health offers free nutrition counseling to our patients with cancer, as well as nutrition seminars that are open to anyone. Learn more.

Fitness

Cancer Exercise Counseling

Our one-on-one exercise training sessions, customized for your needs and abilities, can complement other cancer treatments and speed your recovery.

Class

Meditation & Guided Imagery for Cancer Patients

Drop in for a free class designed to help you heal, relax and find balance during your treatment. UCSF and non-UCSF patients are welcome.

Patient Resource

Oncology Social Work

Social workers offer support, problem-solving, help accessing UCSF cancer-related resources and more. Find out how to contact the social worker for your clinic.

Patient Resource

Patient & Family Cancer Support Center

The center offers wellness programming, community, support groups, classes, workshops and more at no cost to people facing cancer and their loved ones.

Support Group

Peer Support Programs for Cancer

Patients are matched with peer support volunteers according to criteria such as diagnosis, cancer stage, age or gender. Speak to someone who's "been there."

Patient Resource

UCSF Patient Support Corps

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is stressful. Get guidance, support and answers to your questions here as you consider your options and make decisions.