Harmanpreet Kaur, New Delhi: Are you eating too much of meat and sweets?

Think twice because it might increase risks of breast cancer, says a recent study in China.

Subjected on more than a thousand women, this study found that western diet increases the risk of breast cancer in post menopausal Asian women.

"Western diet consists of meat and animal fats and refined bread. This triggers hormonal imbalances that increases the risks of breast cancer," says nutritionist, Dr Shikha Sharma.

The study also stated that the risks of breast cancer highest among post-menopausal women and also that high fat intake could trigger the risks of breast cancer.

Ten years ago, the numbers for women with breast cancer in urban areas in India were five to eight women per 10,000. Now number has risen to 12, which is almost double.

Dr Sharma adds, "Asian diet is traditionally low in fat and is genetically not tuned to western fatty diet. But now trends crossing borders, along with the lifestyle changes, more fat is coming into the Asian diet pattern."

Cancer specialist/Oncologist, Max Hospital, Dr Amit Bhargava says, " The rising numbers are a result of socio-economic changes in people's lifestyle. More and more people are adapting western patterns of living and diet."

Although doctors agree that the genetic pattern also plays a huge role in resisting this change but they also warn that small lifestyle changes can go a long way.

So one should start pay more attention to diet and eat less red meat and include more fruits and green leafy vegetables in the diet.