Dole Fresh Foods Logo

Find Your Farm

All our fruit from the farm straight to your local supermarket. The farm code tells you which farm produced the fruit you are eating. Just enter the 3- or 5-digit code to find out where your fruit came from and learn about the country and the people who grew and picked it!

Dole Banana Farmer

BE AWARE OF B6

Be-Aware-of-B6

Banana Nutrient Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Rates

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time to promote education about the healthy habits that can help women lower their risk and overcome the disease. Ample research backs the protective potential of produce consumption in general, but we were especially encouraged by one particular study which singled out vitamin B6 — found in bananas, potatoes, turkey breast and wild salmon.

In a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology, researchers compared dietary habits to rates of breast cancer incidence among 1,173 Taiwanese women. Researchers discovered that premenopausal women (under age 52) had 53% better odds of not getting breast cancer if their vitamin B6 intake was above a mere 30% of daily value — the amount found in an extra large banana. What’s behind the power of B6? The vitamin is involved in metabolizing estrogen — which is why previous research found lower levels of B6 among those on hormonal birth control. Too little B6 could mean more estrogen, which in turn could increase the risk of estrogen related tumors. The B vitamin also plays a role in DNA repair, thus potentially helping to prevent genetic mutations that might lead to cancer.

How to make sure you’re getting enough B6? Here’s a checklist:

Don’t reach for the supplement shelf: Not only are B6 pills less effective in protecting DNA, excessive supplementation led to nerve damage in the arms and legs, in one basic study.

Published October 1, 2012

Get Some Fresh Inspiration

Explore Packaged Salads Find Meal Inspiration from Dole

Company

About Careers Terms of Use Code of Conduct Transparency in Coverage Press Releases Sustainability

Dole Family

Dole Fruit Hawaii Dole Packaged Foods Ocean Cargo Dole Pineapple Farm Tour

Partners

DBCP Facts Memorandum of Insurance Transparency in Supply Chain Management Truckers & Customers Information Portal

Connect

Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Contact Privacy Policy © 2024 All rights reserved.