In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, @drhayleyerdmannd says, “Let’s talk about poop!”
As naturopathic doctors, we know how important regular, healthy bowel movements are to overall health. You feel better when your gut is happy! Eating sufficient fibre helps with bowel regularity, keeping your blood sugar stable, keeps you feeling full for longer (aiding with weight maintenance) and feeds your beneficial gut bacteria (probiotics).
Now there’s another reason why fibre and bowel health is vital.
Regular bowel movements help to reduce the amount of estrogen circulating in the blood. After your body eliminates excess estrogen via the liver and intestines, it ends up in the stool. If you’re not having regular bowel movements, your body can reabsorb the estrogen, leading to increased levels that can impact your risk of hormone related conditions.
This includes conditions associated with estrogen-dominance, like PMS, endometriosis, and even breast cancer.
In fact, a recent study suggested that fibre intake in adolescence and young adulthood is a factor in reducing breast cancer risk later in life – for each additional 10g of fibre rich foods, there was a 13% reduction in breast cancer risk.
10g of fibre looks like: ½ a cup of cooked veggies or beans or a medium fruit (apple, orange, banana).
Looking for strategies to up your fibre intake or regulate your bowels – we can help!
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/higher-dietary-fiber-intake-in-young-women-may-reduce-breast-cancer-risk/