Obese Fathers Increase Breast Cancer Risk In Their Daughters

A lot of focus has been placed on a woman’s health before and during pregnancy and subsequent health of her children. Well the same goes for fathers too, and an increasing number of studies are proving it.

Being obese worsens the health of genes inside sperm. Men pass on these unhealthy sperm to their future children who are then at higher risk of poor health. This latest study was conducted at the Department of Oncology at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, D.C., and published in the journal Scientific Reports.

In the United States, approximately 246,660 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. It’s the second most common cancer in women after skin cancer. It is also the most feared disease among most women. There are quite a few risk factors for developing breast cancer, many of which are under your control. Unfortunately, a lot of women mistakenly believe that genetics are the biggest risk factor for breast cancer, and there’s nothing they can do about their genes so then it’s all just a matter of good luck or bad luck.

This is simply not the case. Many studies, which we have written about in our breast cancer book have found that environmental factors, not genes are mostly responsible for causing breast cancer. Genes definitely do play a large role too. So what determines whether you have good genes or bad genes? The answer is your diet and lifestyle choices, and in this instance your parents’ diet and lifestyle. Certainly radiation exposure and synthetic chemicals can alter gene function, but plain old obesity, lack of fruit and vegetables and too much junk food can have disastrous effects on your genes and the genes you pass on to your children and grandchildren.

If you are finding it difficult to get motivated to eat well, exercise and generally take care of your health, do it for the health of your family and loved ones. For more information about optimal diet before conception see our infertility book.

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