The lowdown on low fat.

While diets low in fat do not appear to prevent breast cancer, they may help prevent its recurrence. A recent study from the National Cancer Institute found that in post-menopausal women with breast cancer, lowering fat intake to about 33 grams a day (about 20 percent of total calories) reduced the odds of a recurrence by 20 percent. This is not a huge gain, but if you are one of those who benefit from the reduced odds, it's well worth the effort. If you've been treated for breast cancer, switching to a low-fat diet makes sense. A nutritionist can help get you started.

The Johns Hopkins Medical Letter