Food rich in animal fats should ideally be limited; protein can more healthfully be found in legumes and beans. Alcohol may also be harmful, because it can indirectly fuel tumor growth. However, dark chocolate -- especially chocolate with over 70 percent cocoa content -- can help increase resistance to breast cancer.
-- With Sacramento's Race For The Cure raising awareness this week, many women in the community are asking how they can reduce the risk of getting breast cancer -- a subject that HealthWatch 3's Dr. Tom Hopkins has some "food for thought.
Interactive: Inside Breast Cancer Who's At Risk?
Fact Sheet Mammograms Self-Exam: How To Do It Animated Self-Exam Explanation How Do You Check?
Right now, there's no sure way to prevent breast cancer, according to experts.
But more scientific evidence is showing that some foods can actually act as "breast cancer fighters" in the body.
Jeannie Maloo -- a national representative for the American Dietetic Association -- says she knows what types of foods can help in the fight against cancer.
"One of the most important changes a woman can make to her diet to prevent breast cancer is to actually eat more fruits and vegetables," Maloo said.
The evidence is overwhelming, according to experts.
More than 200 studies show that fruits and vegetables can help keep breast cancer from taking hold.
"We should all be eating about nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day," Maloo said.
May of them are loaded with hundreds of antioxidants and phytochemicals that team up and work together to fight cancer cells.
"Garlic and onions are high in a phytochemical called dilele disulphide that actually helps turn off cancer cells at the later stage of development," Maloo said.
As for what not to eat, Maloo recommends limiting the amount of animal fats eaten.
So, it's recommended that women should have no more than one drink a day, maybe limit it to just three drinks per week," Maloo said.
Maloo also says that chocolate can help the body fight off breast cancer.