Unraveling the Connection Between Diet, DNA Repair and Immune Defense in Breast Cancer

In almost 30 years, only 5% more women have mentioned diet as a risk factor for breast cancer, according to the results of a survey published by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a non-profit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. The same survey was also conducted in 1995 and found that 23% of women mentioned diet. Today, 28% mentioned diet.

In this clip, Funk also described the mechanics behind breast cancer and nutrition.

“There are real mind body effects than can affect your immune system’s ability to do the surveillance it needs to do,” Funk said. “We are making mistakes in our DNA replication all day long and an intact immune system is zipping in to save the day and fix the problem.”

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Research is a group dedicated to promoting animal rights and overall wellness through plant-based diets and ethical research. Their 15-minute, online survey was conducted in July of this year and included 2,017 women from the United States.

Funk is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon based in Santa Monica, California as well as a member of the President's Counsel of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She is also the author of the national bestseller "Breasts: The Owner's Manual."