The following tables list the best foods for breast-cancer treatment and prevention, based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

If you have breast cancer and are undergoing treatments, please see our pages on foods for surgery and foods for chemotherapy and radiation for more specific dietary recommendations.

Vegetables

Note: Vegetables must be cooked, not raw.

Fruits

Nuts

Seafood

Asian Foods

Bee Products

For general breast-cancer prevention, eat at least two servings each of a recommended fruit and vegetable daily. Supplement this with a recommended seafood two to three times a week.

When eating for healing, the goal is to maximize the nutrients your body can absorb from the foods you eat while minimizing the energy required to digest them. To this end, try to eat a varied diet that consists primarily of vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, some grains, and some seafood. Avoid red meat, poultry, and pork, which require a great deal of energy to digest.

Start by gradually modifying your existing diet to incorporate as many of the recommended foods as possible. For example, use honey instead of sugar in your tea. Or rather than having oatmeal in the morning, opt for a bowl of Chinese barley soup and a kiwi. Many small adjustments can collectively have a measurable impact on your health.

As important as these dietary recommendations are, do not let following them become a source of stress. Your emotions have a far greater impact on your health than the foods you eat.