The diet followed for only two days a week:
Breakfast: Fruit tea and a banana, or mug of milky coffee
Mid-morning: Can of diet cola, or cup of tea and plum
Lunch: Carrot and coriander soup and half-pint of milk, or salad, glass of squash and half-pint of milk
Mid-afternoon: Glass of squash, or glass of sparkling water and satsuma
Dinner: Soy sauce and ginger stir-fry with two vegetables and glass of water, or vegetable curry with two veg, half-pint of milk and cup of tea
Supper: Pint of milk, or hot milk with cinnamon and sweeteners
Strict diet two days a week 'cuts risk of breast cancer by 40 per cent'
Women who follow a strict diet just two days a week can lower their risk of breast cancer by 40 per cent. British researchers found the calorie-controlled regime almost halved cancer-causing hormones in women at high risk of the disease.
The study, led by Dr Michelle Harvie (above), examined 100 overweight women from Greater Manchester. Half followed a 650-calorie-a-day diet for two days a week and ate what they wanted for the rest of the week, while the rest followed a Mediterranean diet. After six months, women on both eating plans dropped an average of 13lb and were recording significant improvements in three key areas linked to breast cancer.
Women following the two-day diet saw their levels of the hormone leptin drop by 40 per cent, while those on the Mediterranean diet saw a drop of 36 per cent. Both saw a drop in insulin levels of up to 25 per cent and levels of inflammatory protein of up to 15 per cent. Dr Harvie said the two-day diet could be a life-saver for women who found it difficult to restrict what they ate 24/7.
Research professor Gillian Haddock, who took part in the study, said she found it the easier diet option. The mother of two from Bowdon, Cheshire, said: 'I used to follow the 650-calorie diet on a Monday and Tuesday and it was great because I knew that by Wednesday I would be eating normally. 'It really suited me, I did it on my busiest work days and I would mainly have the milky drinks while I was at work so I didn't have to worry about shopping or taking in a specially prepared packed lunch.' Mrs Haddock, 47, said she has now recommended the approach to friends.
Pamela Goldberg, chief executive of the Breast Cancer Campaign, said: 'There are many breast cancer risk factors that can't be controlled, such as age, gender and family history - but staying at a healthy weight is one positive step that can be taken. 'This intermittent dieting approach provides an alternative to conventional dieting which could help with weight loss, but also potentially reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.'
The research was conducted at the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre at UHSM, and was published in the International Journal of Obesity.