Elizabeth Boham, M.D.

11/11/2025

The U.S Surgeon General issued a new Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk in early January 2025, highlighting the causal link between alcohol and many cancers. This relationship is linear - meaning that the amount of alcohol consumed makes a big difference in our risk.

We know that every additional drink increases our risk of many cancers, including breast cancer. On top of that, alcohol harms brain health, mood, and can cause weight gain and other associated diseases. This is because alcohol: 1) is a toxin the liver needs to work to detoxify, making it harder for the body to get rid of other toxins; 2) increases body fat percentage, increasing estrogen production; 3) increases free estrogen in the body; and 4) uses up B vitamins, which are important for detoxification.

I recommend 5 or less drinks per week for most patients, and no more than 1-2 per week for those with higher risk of breast cancer. For many, it is easiest to cut it out entirely – Dry January can be a great time to try it out!

Try non-alcoholic drinks with no added sugar (like seltzer) between drinks or instead of drinks entirely. To unwind, find other healthy habits like a walk, time in nature, meditation, a bath, or a mocktail or tea without added sugar instead of alcohol.

Learn more about other toxins and ways to support your body’s detoxification systems for breast wellness in my book https://www.amazon.com/Breast-Wellness-Tools-Prevent-Cancer/dp/B0DSJDP3J9.

2025 U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/alcohol-cancer/index.html

[BCRF. (2024, April 18). Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk. Breast Cancer Research Foundation. https://www.bcrf.org/blog/alcohol-and-breast-cancer-risk/]

11/07/2025

11/04/2025

Photo I took of my amazing Japanese maple after my walk this morning! Remember to get your exercise and vitamin D even as it gets colder out! Early morning sunshine helps with your circadian rhythm and sleep and vitamin D that you get from the sun, (even though the sun is not as strong this time of year) is great for your immune system.

11/04/2025

This interview will be rebroadcasted tomorrow, Wednesday the 5th, at 3 pm EST on WAMC. Or you can listen now here - https://www.wamc.org/show/51/2025-10-30/dr-elizabeth-boham-on-breast-wellness

What if you could influence your breast health — long before any diagnosis?⁠

Dr. Elizabeth Boham, UWC’s Medical Director and Physician, joins 51%, a national public radio show, to share insights from her book, “Breast Wellness: Tools to Prevent and Heal from Breast Cancer.”⁠

From lifestyle and nutrition strategies to the latest research in functional medicine, Dr. Boham breaks down practical ways to take charge of your health.⁠

🎧 Tune in this Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8 PM ET on WAMC Northeast Public Radio or https://www.wamc.org/show/51

Let’s empower more women with knowledge — share this post with someone who would find this conversation meaningful. 💗

11/04/2025

Recent research from the UK Biobank suggests that the type and amount of carbohydrates we eat may be connected to long-term brain health. In this large prospective study of over 200,000 adults, diets with a lower glycemic index (GI) were associated with more favorable cognitive patterns over time, while higher glycemic load (GL) diets showed the opposite trend.

In some ways, we might expect this result. It reinforces an essential theme in nutrition science: the way we metabolize carbohydrates may influence not only energy and metabolic health, but also cognitive aging.

The takeaway is not the restriction or vilification of carbohydrates, but rather the awareness of amount, type, and sequencing of diverse carbohydrates, particularly those that are slower-digesting, fiber-rich, and part of a balanced, whole-food dietary pattern.

11/04/2025

Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, broccoli sprouts, kale, bok choy, and brussels sprouts are some of the best foods for breast cancer prevention. Studies have shown that consuming 1-2 cups of cruciferous vegetables per week is associated with a reduced risk of cancer. They have many wonderful properties, including supporting the removal of toxins from the body, and metabolizing excess estrogen.

Glucosinolates, a wonderful phytonutrient, are abundant in cruciferous vegetables. This nutrient is converted to sulforaphane in the gut, which is important for the creation of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant for supporting immune health. Sulforaphane also increases tumor suppressor genes in the body and promotes programmed cell death, helping protect the body against cancer growth.

Learn more about the many wonderful foods that can reduce your risk of breast cancer in my book –https://www.amazon.com/Breast-Wellness-Tools-Prevent-Cancer-ebook/dp/B0DSG6RQ2W.

[Liu, X., & Lv, K. (2013). Cruciferous vegetables intake is inversely associated with risk of breast cancer: A meta-analysis. The Breast, 22(3), 309–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2012.07.013]

10/31/2025

This interview will replay on WAMC on Wednesday November 5th at 3 pm EST. You can also listen now here - https://www.wamc.org/show/51/2025-10-30/dr-elizabeth-boham-on-breast-wellness

What if you could influence your breast health — long before any diagnosis?⁠

Dr. Elizabeth Boham, UWC’s Medical Director and Physician, joins 51%, a national public radio show, to share insights from her book, “Breast Wellness: Tools to Prevent and Heal from Breast Cancer.”⁠

From lifestyle and nutrition strategies to the latest research in functional medicine, Dr. Boham breaks down practical ways to take charge of your health.⁠

🎧 Tune in this Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8 PM ET on WAMC Northeast Public Radio or https://www.wamc.org/show/51

Let’s empower more women with knowledge — share this post with someone who would find this conversation meaningful. 💗

10/30/2025

Tune into WAMC tonight 8 pm EST! On your radio or here - https://www.wamc.org/show/51

What if you could influence your breast health — long before any diagnosis?⁠

Dr. Elizabeth Boham, UWC’s Medical Director and Physician, joins 51%, a national public radio show, to share insights from her book, “Breast Wellness: Tools to Prevent and Heal from Breast Cancer.”⁠

From lifestyle and nutrition strategies to the latest research in functional medicine, Dr. Boham breaks down practical ways to take charge of your health.⁠

🎧 Tune in this Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8 PM ET on WAMC Northeast Public Radio or https://www.wamc.org/show/51

Let’s empower more women with knowledge — share this post with someone who would find this conversation meaningful. 💗

10/29/2025

We’re expanding our care team 💫

If you’re a Registered Nurse licensed to practice in Massachusetts, with a passion for helping patients uncover the root cause of patient health concerns, we’d love to meet you.

A few essential job responsibilities include:

✅ Review patient’s medical history and treatment plans in preparation for in-house patient appointments
✅ Meet with patient to review lab testing ordered by provider, including specialty kit instructions, medications/prescriptions, completion of consent forms, identification of testing resources in their home community, and other issues requiring action steps to ensure smooth coordination of care (including provision for international needs)
✅ Provides clarification and education regarding treatment plans; addresses treatment plan details and patient questions

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Tag them below or comment NURSE and we’ll send you the full job description.

10/29/2025

Hope you can tune in!!

What if you could influence your breast health — long before any diagnosis?⁠

Dr. Elizabeth Boham, UWC’s Medical Director and Physician, joins 51%, a national public radio show, to share insights from her book, “Breast Wellness: Tools to Prevent and Heal from Breast Cancer.”⁠

From lifestyle and nutrition strategies to the latest research in functional medicine, Dr. Boham breaks down practical ways to take charge of your health.⁠

🎧 Tune in this Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8 PM ET on WAMC Northeast Public Radio or https://www.wamc.org/show/51

Let’s empower more women with knowledge — share this post with someone who would find this conversation meaningful. 💗