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Table 3 Specific frequency distribution of preference for foods with hot, neutral and cold characteristics (N = 404, %)

From: Relationship between Chinese medicine dietary patterns and the incidence of breast cancer in Chinese women in Hong Kong: a retrospective cross-sectional survey

Food nature

Food

Breast cancer

Very preferred

Preferred

Average

Not preferred

Not very preferred

Statistical significance

Hot

Spicy food

No

14 (6.9)

50 (24.8)

82 (40.6)

43 (21.3)

13 (6.4)

0.655

Yes

19 (9.4)

55 (27.2)

68 (33.7)

46 (22.8)

14 (6.9)

Roast meat

No

5 (2.5)

59 (29.2)

113 (55.9)

22 (10.9)

3 (1.5)

0.237

Yes

12 (5.9)

68 (33.7)

104 (51.5)

17 (8.4)

1 (0.5)

Beef

No

16 (8.0)

58 (28.9)

83 (41.3)

29 (14.4)

15 (7.5)

0.534

Yes

24 (12.1)

48 (23.6)

87 (43.2)

31 (15.1)

12 (6.0)

Mutton

No

8 (4.0)

32 (16.0)

83 (41.0)

50 (24.5)

29 (14.5)

0.777

Yes

11 (5.6)

33 (16.3)

72 (35.7)

51 (25.0)

35 (17.3)

Chicken

No

36 (17.8)

102 (50.5)

55 (27.2)

8 (4.0)

1 (0.5)

0.138

Yes

56 (27.8)

82 (40.4)

54 (26.8)

8 (4.0)

2 (1.0)

Salmon/tuna

No

30 (14.9)

87 (43.3)

57 (28.4)

19 (9.5)

7 (3.5)

0.687

Yes

37 (18.2)

76 (37.4)

65 (32.3)

18 (9.1)

6 (3.0)

Shrimp

No

13 (6.5)

53 (26.4)

84 (41.3)

38 (18.9)

14 (7.0)

<0.001 *

Yes

44 (21.9)

60 (29.9)

73 (6.3)

19 (9.5)

5 (2.5)

Shellfish

No

9 (4.5)

37 (18.3)

97 (48.0)

48 (23.8)

11 (5.4)

<0.001 *

Yes

31 (15.2)

56 (27.8)

73 (36.4)

39 (19.2)

3 (1.5)

Dark Chinese tea

No

30 (14.9)

76 (37.6)

73 (36.1)

15 (7.4)

8 (4.0)

0.071

Yes

31 (15.2)

73 (36.0)

67 (33.0)

30 (14.7)

2 (1.0)

Coffee/tea with milk

No

38 (18.8)

52 (25.7)

52 (25.7)

44 (21.8)

16 (7.9)

0.678

Yes

43 (21.5)

54 (26.5)

56 (27.5)

32 (16.0)

17 (8.5)

Soft drinks

No

3 (1.5)

10 (5.0)

65 (32.2)

92 (45.5)

31 (15.3)

0.001 *

Yes

10 (5.0)

30 (14.9)

72 (35.8)

65 (32.3)

24 (11.9)

Milk

No

10 (5.0)

49 (24.4)

91 (44.8)

35 (17.4)

17 (8.5)

0.014 *

Yes

25 (12.2)

37 (18.3)

90 (44.7)

43 (21.3)

7 (3.6)

Alcohol

No

0 (0.0)

4 (2.0)

21 (10.4)

58 (28.7)

117 (57.9)

0.257

Yes

3 (1.5)

2 (1.0)

17 (8.5)

66 (32.5)

114 (56.5)

Beer

No

2 (1.0)

23 (11.4)

64 (31.7)

48 (23.8)

64 (31.7)

0.075

Yes

6 (3.0)

15 (7.5)

47 (23.1)

65 (32.2)

69 (34.2)

Popcorn/fries

No

3 (1.5)

34 (16.8)

79 (39.1)

57 (28.2)

29 (14.4)

0.035 *

Yes

15 (7.6)

32 (15.7)

86 (42.4)

46 (22.7)

23 (11.6)

Chocolate

No

25 (12.4)

61 (30.3)

82 (40.8)

26 (12.9)

7 (3.5)

0.842

Yes

25 (12.4)

64 (31.8)

72 (35.8)

31 (15.4)

9 (4.5)

Candies

No

3 (1.5)

21 (10.4)

93 (46.0)

67 (33.2)

18 (8.9)

0.250

Yes

7 (3.5)

33 (16.4)

80 (39.8)

65 (32.3)

16 (8.0)

Deep boiled soup

No

59 (29.2)

98 (48.5)

38 (18.8)

5 (2.5)

2 (1.0)

0.759

Yes

56 (27.9)

104 (51.7)

38 (18.9)

2 (1.0)

1 (0.5)

Western soup

No

13 (6.5)

73 (36.3)

81 (40.3)

22 (10.9)

12 (6.0)

0.059

Yes

18 (9.0)

51 (25.4)

86 (42.8)

37 (18.4)

9 (4.5)

Neutral

Fruits and vegetables

No

44 (21.6)

131 (64.8)

25 (12.6)

2 (1.0)

0 (0.0)

0.452

Yes

41 (20.2)

121 (60.1)

37 (18.1)

3 (1.6)

0 (0.0)

Pork

No

15 (7.5)

95 (46.8)

83 (41.3)

5 (2.5)

4 (2.0)

0.690

Yes

18 (9.0)

94 (46.5)

86 (42.5)

2 (1.0)

2 (1.0)

Pork with fat

No

4 (2.0)

17 (8.4)

70 (34.7)

66 (32.7)

45 (22.3)

0.121

Yes

4 (2.0)

32 (16.0)

72 (35.5)

63 (31.0)

31 (15.5)

Geese/duck

No

5 (2.5)

45 (22.3)

101 (50.0)

36 (17.8)

15 (7.4)

0.209

Yes

13 (6.5)

55 (27.0)

92 (45.5)

31 (15.5)

11 (5.5)

Fresh water fish

No

19 (9.4)

79 (39.1)

80 (39.6)

16 (7.9)

7 (3.5)

0.140

Yes

10 (5.0)

63 (31.3)

100 (49.3)

20 (10.0)

9 (4.5)

Nuts

No

39 (19.5)

84 (41.5)

64 (31.5)

10 (5.0)

5 (2.5)

0.020*

Yes

26 (12.6)

65 (32.2)

88 (43.7)

18 (9.0)

5 (2.5)

Boiling soup

No

37 (18.3)

98 (48.5)

57 (28.2)

6 (3.0)

4 (2.0)

0.233

Yes

31 (15.5)

90 (44.5)

61 (30.0)

16 (8.0)

4 (2.0)

Cold

Fruits and vegetables

No

38 (19.0)

117 (58.0)

45 (22.5)

1 (0.5)

0 (0.0)

0.323

Yes

30 (14.9)

11 (56.9)

53 (26.1)

4 (2.1)

0 (0.0)

Sea fish

No

35 (17.3)

97 (48.0)

58 (28.7)

10 (5.0)

2 (1.0)

0.963

Yes

31 (15.5)

102 (50.5)

57 (28.0)

9 (4.5)

3 (1.5)

Squid

No

27 (13.6)

59 (29.1)

85 (42.2)

25 (12.6)

5 (2.5)

0.219

Yes

19 (9.5)

45 (22.1)

96 (47.7)

36 (17.6)

6 (3.0)

Products made from bean

No

53 (26.4)

103 (50.7)

39 (19.4)

5 (2.5)

2 (1.0)

0.019 *

Yes

39 (19.1)

87 (43.2)

67 (33.2)

8 (4.0)

1 (0.5)

Light Chinese tea

No

28 (13.9)

82 (40.6)

64 (31.7)

23 (11.4)

5 (2.5)

0.148

Yes

33 (16.1)

64 (31.7)

78 (38.7)

26 (13.1)

1 (0.5)

Herbal tea

No

4 (2.0)

40 (19.8)

111 (55.0)

39 (19.3)

8 (4.0)

0.582

Yes

5 (2.5)

36 (17.7)

101 (50.0)

47 (23.2)

13 (6.6)

  1. The P value was <0.05, indicating a statistically significant between-group difference. The results showed a possible association between consumption of hot foods and a higher risk of breast cancer
  2. * P values were calculated by Chi square tests