Breast cancer affects one in eight American women, with the number of diagnoses rising every year, statistics show.

Fox News medical contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier appeared on “Fox & Friends” on Sunday to discuss the rising risk — and specific foods that can help reduce it.

“The biggest risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman, aging and inheriting a genetic mutation,” Saphier said.

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There are, however, many external factors that can increase the risk, she noted, including environmental toxins in foods and other products.

“Western diets are full of ultraprocessed foods, and there are a lot of toxins in lotions and shampoos,” Saphier said.

“The things that we’re putting in our system and on our skin — it’s all affecting us.”

Lifestyle changes to reduce risk

While it’s not possible for women to get their breast cancer risk down to zero, there are some things they can do to reduce the likelihood of the disease, according to Saphier.

“Making small changes in our daily routines can lead to noticeable improvements in our health and well-being,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“Whether it’s choosing a healthier snack, walking a bit more each day or getting a little extra sleep, these small steps add up over time and decrease our risk of cancer and other illnesses.”

The key is to strive for balance and moderation, she said.

“Making small changes in our daily routines can lead to noticeable improvements in our health and well-being.”

“You don’t need drastic changes to feel better; it’s about making mindful choices that fit your lifestyle,” Saphier said. “Little by little, those efforts can lead to a healthier, more energized you.”

In terms of specifically reducing breast cancer risk, one often overlooked lifestyle choice is breastfeeding, the doctor said.

Studies show that for every year that a woman breastfeeds, the risk of breast cancer is reduced by 4.3%.

In terms of specifically reducing breast cancer risk, one often overlooked lifestyle choice is breastfeeding, the doctor said. (iStock)

There is also a 7% decrease in risk each time a woman gives birth.

“Other things we can do are maintain healthy weights, not smoke, and [drink] alcohol in moderation,” Saphier said.

“Certain foods are also proven to decrease the risk of medical illness, specifically breast cancer.”

5 foods that can reduce breast cancer risk

Saphier recommends incorporating the following foods into your diet to help keep breast cancer at bay.

1. Spinach

Spinach’s big, leafy greens contain carotenoids, micronutrients that have been linked to a reduction in breast cancer risk.

Saphier recommended incorporating five specific foods to help keep breast cancer at bay. (Fox News)

“A huge study that looked at over 32,000 women over 20 years showed up to a 28% reduction in breast cancer in those who had a lot of spinach or these big, leafy greens in their diet,” Saphier said on “Fox & Friends.”

2. Garlic

Small studies have shown a decreased risk of breast cancer among those who regularly consume garlic, Saphier said.

Peer-reviewed research has shown that the active compounds in garlic could suppress the growth of cancer and kill cancer cells, although more studies are needed to confirm this.

3. Blueberries

Saphier shared that she eats two handfuls of blueberries every morning to get the benefits of the flavonoids and anthocyanins they contain.

“While you can’t get your risk down to zero, detecting it early gives you the best chance of survival.”

A recent study found that flavonoids could help to prevent breast cancer and improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments.

Antioxidants, which are found in red, blue and purple fruits and veggies, have also been linked to reduced breast cancer risk and recurrence.

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“In a big study of 75,000 women, [blueberries] were shown to decrease the risk of estrogen negative breast cancer — one of the most aggressive types,” Saphier said.

4. Salmon

“I don’t love the taste of fatty fish, but I make salmon about once a week for my family because of the known health benefits,” Saphier shared.

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She cited a “huge” study of 883,000 women, which found that those who regularly consumed fatty fish had a 14% decreased risk of breast cancer.

5. Turmeric

This common spice has been shown to decrease inflammation and reduce cancer risk, according to Saphier.

In a “huge” study of 883,000 women, those who regularly consumed fatty fish were found to have a 14% decreased risk of breast cancer. (iStock)

“It was also shown in a study with colorectal patients to improve survival when used in combination with traditional cancer treatments, and was also shown to decrease the side effects of cancer treatments,” she said.

“I try to cook with turmeric every single day.”

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In addition to making healthy lifestyle choices to reduce risk, Saphier emphasized the importance of early detection in saving lives.

“While you can’t get your risk down to zero, detecting it early with your annual mammograms — or maybe ultrasound or MRI based on your risk — gives you the best chance of survival.”

A 7-year-old boy in West Africa who was going blind can now see again, thanks to life-changing eye surgery provided by the Mercy Ships charity.

Mamadou, whose last name was not provided, was born with bilateral cataracts, a condition where cataracts develop in both eyes before or soon after birth.

When left untreated, the condition can lead to total blindness in some cases.

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“We suspected that the cataracts were there already when Mamadou was born, but slowly they got worse,” Paul Rudalevicius, an eye surgeon who volunteers with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, told Fox News Digital.

Inherited cataracts and malnutrition are common causes of the condition, the doctor said.

Mamadou, who is from Waterloo, Sierra Leone, “wasn’t able to see much of anything,” according to Ella Hawthorne, an optometrist who also works with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone.

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“He could tell there was a light that was being turned on, but he couldn’t even really tell that a hand was being waved in front of his face,” she told Fox News Digital.

“He really couldn’t see the world around him very much.”

Mamadou’s mother, Salematu, recalled the poor treatment her son received due to his poor eyesight.

Mamadou is pictured before receiving treatment from the charity Mercy Ships. He struggled to walk because he would trip over objects, and he couldn’t see well enough to read or write. (SWNS)

“His friends always provoked him, and also laughed at him because of his condition,” she told Fox News Digital. “He was going to school, but could not see or write clearly.”

The boy was also having trouble walking and picking up objects, and was very sensitive to sunlight.

A life-changing surgery

Salematu tried several times over the years to get her son the surgery he needed, but local hospitals would not do it. Over time, his vision worsened.

Then Mercy Ships docked its hospital ship, the Global Mercy, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to provide safe surgeries to residents for free — and Mamadou was selected.

“It was so wonderful to see him looking around and starting to perceive the world.”

Hawthorne recalled her first encounter with the boy.

“Meeting Mamadou during patient selection here in Sierra Leone was just special,” she told SWNS.

“He is wonderful and quiet at first, but once you get to know him more, he comes out of his shell and engages you.” 

After the surgery, doctors gave Mamadou a pair of UV sunglasses to wear as he got used to his new vision. (SWNS)

Time was of the essence for Mamadou’s surgery, Dr. Rudalevicius noted. “If the cataracts are not removed soon enough, the brain can never learn to see.”

On Feb. 7, assisted by a team of medical volunteers, the doctor performed a small incision cataract surgery.

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Although the procedure took only two hours, it “represented the start of a new vision and future for Mamadou,” according to a Mercy Ships press release.

When the eye patches were removed the next day, it was a little confusing and overwhelming at first, Mercy Ships noted, which is a normal reaction in children.

Mamadou is pictured after receiving eye surgery from the charity Mercy Ships. Time was of the essence for Mamadou’s surgery, his doctor noted. (SWNS)

“He looked around, trying to understand new information and identify unexpected objects,” the release said.

“His brain was not yet used to processing such a high level of visual activity — but after seeing the crowd around him smile and wave, Mamadou quickly joined in, sharing his bright and endearing smile in return.”

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Doctors gave Mamadou a pair of UV sunglasses to wear as he got used to his new vision. The boy began playing with toys, coloring and riding a toy motorcycle around the ward.

Mamadou receives surgical treatment from the charity Mercy Ships in October 2024. (SWNS)

“Being able to witness the patches being removed from his eyes was such an absolute blessing and a privilege,” Hawthorne told Fox News Digital. 

“It was so wonderful to see him looking around and starting to perceive the world and being able to absorb some of the information around him.”

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“It was so special, and you could see the joy that had started to build up inside him. It was a really good reminder of why I’m here and the impact our work is having.”

Looking ahead

A month after Mamadou’s vision was restored, the boy and his mother returned to the ship for a “celebration of sight, a ceremony for patients who have received successful eye surgeries,” according to Mercy Ships.

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Salematu shared her relief and happiness with the outcome.

“My son can see me!” she said. “My son can go back to the community and interact with other children!”

After the surgery, the boy began playing with toys, coloring and riding a toy motorcycle around the ward. (SWNS)

“Unlike before, Mamadou can now move around without jumping his steps or falling, even when the sun is out.”

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Salematu hopes that her son will one day grow up to become a medical doctor and make a difference of his own, according to the release.

Dr. Rudalevicius added to Fox News Digital, “I hope that he will be able to attend school, to learn, to play with other children, and in the future maybe support his family.”

Diagnoses of ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) are on the rise among adults in the U.S.

Approximately 15.5 million adults had an ADHD diagnosis in 2023, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

That’s equivalent to around 6% of adults in the country, or one in 16.

Around half of these diagnoses didn’t come until adulthood.

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The agency gathered this data from the National Center for Health Statistics Rapid Surveys System between October and November 2023.

The study also found that adults with ADHD were more likely to be 50 or younger (84.5% versus 51.2%) and more likely to be non-Hispanic White (70.4% versus 61.4%).

Those earning less than the federal poverty level were also more likely to be diagnosed (22.1% versus 12.3%), per the CDC.

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Around one-third of the adults with ADHD reported taking some type of stimulant medication, but more than 71% said the prescription was difficult to obtain. 

Around half of diagnosed adults said they had ever used telehealth to receive treatment for ADHD.

The study did have some limitations, the CDC acknowledged.

Electronic devices and social media could contribute to the spike in diagnoses, a psychotherapist said. (Marina Demidiuk)

“First, self-reports of ADHD diagnosis might be subject to recall and reporting biases and were not validated against medical records,” the agency stated in the report. 

“Second, surveys with commercial online panels have low response rates and might underrepresent certain subpopulations, increasing the potential for nonresponse bias.”

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A third limitation is that the sociodemographic and geographic data were collected before the survey was administered, which “could have affected the demographic distribution for some variables, such as age, education, household income and metropolitan status,” the report stated.

A psychotherapist weighs in

Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., said he has a new patient coming in each week with concerns about ADHD.

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“There certainly are those accurately diagnosed with ADHD and in need of medication — however, much like the GLP-1 phenomenon, there’s a shortage of medication because of all the people using it off-label or not truly in need of it,” he told Fox News Digital.

“The first line of treatment should be psychological and behavioral intervention.”

There are also many patients who don’t actually have the disorder, but have been self-diagnosed through online research, according to Alpert.

“This fits into a broader phenomenon in our nation where we have become too therapized, too diagnosed, and frankly, too dependent upon people like me,” he said.

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When it comes to the treatment of ADHD and other mental health disorders, Alpert says, “the first line of treatment should be psychological and behavioral intervention — not necessarily medications, as they are not without side effects.”

Around one-third of the adults with ADHD reported taking some type of stimulant medication, but more than 71% said the prescription was difficult to obtain.  (iStock)

The psychotherapist also flagged electronic devices and social media as potentially contributing to the spike in diagnoses.

“The very nature of these is to provide stimulation through a device where the brain is continuously engaged — and, for many people, overly engaged,” Alpert cautioned. 

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“This leads to distractibility, disorganization and the inability to complete tasks, among other hallmark features of the diagnosis.”

“By making significant behavioral and lifestyle changes, one can start to minimize their symptoms and make improvements, thereby lessening their reliance on medication.”