Eating more soy may help lower risk of some types of breast cancer, a human clinical study has concluded. Premenopausal women who ingested the highest intake of soy isoflavones; protective compounds found in whole soy, had a 30 percent decreased risk of having a stage 1 disease and a 70 percent reduced risk of a tumor larger than 2 cm. The group also evidenced a 60 percent reduced risk of having stage 2 breast cancer.
Decreased Risk of Invasive Breast Cancer
The women eating the soy had a 30 percent decreased risk of having an invasive breast tumor and an approximate 60 percent decreased risk of having a grade 1 tumor. This reduction was in premenopausal women. The longest living people in the world eat soy as part of their regular dietary protein intake. It is thought that the weak phytoestrogens in the soy actually compete for the estrogeon receptors to prevent breast cancer which is estrogeon dependent.
Eat Soy Like Breast-Healthy Asian Women
Many studies of Asian women concluded that those who consumed a good amount of dietary soy had a much lower risk of cancer of the breast than Western women who did not consume soy regularly. Interestingly enough, these studies also discovered that when Asian women relocated to the Western world and changed their diet to the typical Western one, their breast cancer risks went up. Not only that, many studies have also suggested that overall diets which include good amounts of soy isoflavones are also related to a reduced risk of breast cancer. Asian women do not suffer from hot flashes like western women do and when soy is added to the American diet, menopausal symptoms are reduced.
Eat Whole Soy and Pass on the Pills
Studies do not offer support for consuming soy “pills” in order to get the full benefit of the whole soy isofavones protection. Not only that, some studies have even shown some negative results when soy pills have been consumed. This may have lead to the controversy surrounding soy and breast cancer.
Study after study on a variety of nature-based food ingredients have demonstrated that it is nearly always best to consume the whole food and to pass on the pills to reap the optimum health benefits. Pills and denatured soy powdered products are not a good substitute. Asian women eat whole soy foods, which are minimally processed, unlike soy capsules, soy solates or soy protein and have the bio-active naturally-occurring soy isoflavones intact.
It is Easy and Economical to Eat Whole Soy
There are many non-genetically modified good whole soy products available. Go online and search out the inexpensive and pantry stable whole soy foods like gluten-free Nutlettes™ Whole Soy Cereal and snack bars, Beanits™ (roasted soybeans) and Beef Not™ type meat analog products that permit fast and easy meat style meals that even carnivores can enjoy. These products are high in protein and fiber and are very economical compared to pills or powders. It is easy to get a serving a day of these nutritionally-rich, high isoflavones foods.
Studies Show Soy Protects Against Chronic Diseases
The studies continue and whole soy repeatedly offers the healthful qualities Americans need to add to their daily diet for heart, cancer and diabetes chronic disease protection. The longest living nations enjoy soy and longevity. Unfortunately, America is placed a dismal 49th in worldwide life expectancy, despite our renowned health care system. American diets need improving. Start by ordering some of these products from internet sources, as they are not readily available in stores, and make a commitment to eat a serving of whole soy foods regularly. Help promote good breast health and add chronic disease protection