Going to your yearly mammogram appointment is the first step when it comes to being proactive about your breast health, but what you are doing between those yearly appointment is just as important, if not more, than the examination itself. Follow these tips every day to ensure you're setting yourself up for success.

1. Maintain healthy estrogen levels

   Balance is key when it comes to healthy estrogen levels. The delicate balance between various forms of estrogen can decline with age and oxidative stress—which can impact breast health. To keep youthful hormone balance as you age, incorporate nutrients like flaxseed lignans, which supports the optimal metabolism of estrogen.

2. Eat estrogen-friendly foods

   Adhering to a Mediterranean diet is a bite in the right direction when it comes to supporting your breast health. Start by adding a variety of fresh fruits, veggies, healthy fats and nuts to your plate. Then, expand your palate with fatty fish, which is packed with omega-3s and vitamin D. Also try occasionally swapping red meat for soy-based protein, which supports healthy estrogen balance and provides your body with fiber, iron, vitamins and minerals…not to mention powerful antioxidants.

3.  Supplement for support

   Your diet may not provide all the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs in order to support optimal breast health. For example, it's difficult to consume the recommended amount of vitamin D you need—and this nutrient is critical to supporting healthy tissue. In addition, green tea may offer support for cellular and breast tissue health. If you're not a veggie lover, you might also want to add an extract from cruciferous vegetables to your diet, to support your breast and overall health—and give you peace of mind between appointments.