Popular for being the Hollywood diet, or the so-called ‘fad diet,’ the grapefruit though is known to reduce insulin levels, affecting blood sugar regulation, excessive of it may risk breast cancer!
Yes, the US researchers warn that eating the diabetes-controlling citrus fruit every day may increase the risk of breast cancer by almost a third. And, women who eat just a quarter of a grapefruit daily the risk is raised by up to 30 percent.
According to the British Journal of Cancer, too much intake of the fruit eventually increases the levels of oestrogen. It is the hormone linked to a higher risk of the disease.
They researchers said,
It is well established that oestrogen is associated with breast cancer risk.
Therefore, if grapefruit intake affects oestrogen metabolism leading to higher circulating levels, then it is biologically plausible that regular intake of grapefruit would increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
With the American Cancer Society already estimating 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer in 2007 alone, the World Health Organization fears that more than 1.2 million people will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year across the world.
And, people who unknowingly consume the ‘fad diet’ excessively, may soon add on to the above list!
So, the diet conscious women! – if you are banking excessively onto the grapefruit for reducing either your weight or diabetes, it is high time you replace your this ‘cancer-causing favorite fruit’ with some other alternative.