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Soy Fights Breast and Lung Cancer
| July 8, 2010 | |
| JoWehage : Head Operations Ego |
When it comes to soy products there seems to be a growing debate as to whether soy is really a health food or not. According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that women diagnosed with breast cancer who consumed soy products had a 32 percent lower risk of recurrence and a 29 percent decrease risk of death, compared with women who consumed little or no soy.
The report included 5,042 women in the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, the largest population-based study of breast cancer survival, and followed them for a four year period.
Researchers in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study found that soy consumption may also help fight lung cancer.
They looked at 76,661 participants and found that those who consumed the most soy had the lowest risk of lung cancer. Among men who never smoked, researches saw a significantly lower risk of lung cancer in those who consumed the most soy, compared with those who consumed the least.
Soy sources included miso soup, soy milk, tofu dishes and fermented soybeans.
These new studies are in contrast with a growing anti-soy voice coming from a number of groups in the U.S., one of the most vocal being the Weston A. Price Foundation.
A naturopath brought an interesting point to my attention. In her opinion, most of the allergic and/or adverse effects of soy stem from non-organic and genetically modified soy products.
In the U.S. virtually all the soybeans in our midst have been genetically modified and controlled by Monsanto. These days finding organic soybeans that have skipped the halls of Monsanto altogether is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.
I’m on the prowl to see what comparisons have been made of the differences in soy crops from the U.S. versus those from Asia.
In the mean time, where do you stand on the soy issue; pro, con or off your radar?
[5 Comments] [5 Comments]
Jo Wehage
Great article! May all your soy be organic.
I am a 4-year breast cancer survivor and one of my doctors has advised me to stay away from soy because it is a risk for cancer recurrance. Can you please provide more evidence for the theory that soy may actually fight breast cancer and why my doctor would sugget that it wouldn’t?
Hi Janice. I don’t have an organized database of reference material for soy research, but any search on Google scholar or Pub Med will provide a host of various studies, many that contradict one another. Some are quality research, some are nothing short of industry-sponsored advertising. I can tell you that the first substantial quality study I read that included soy was in a book called The China Study. It’s the biggest epidemiological study on nutrition to date.The findings on animal protein vs soy protein showed a direct link to precursors of cancer for animal protein diets but none for soy. It’s one of the largest and best referenced projects I’ve ever seen.
You could also ask your doctor to reference the study I mentioned in the JAMA. The largest population-based study of breast cancer survival reported in a respected medical journal should give him or her pause to research the issue. You could also ask your doctor to cite his/her references or articles against soy and I’d be happy to have Dr. Huber review for his input.
As it stands, Dr. Huber and I are both in the same camp when it comes to soy. When organic and eaten in its whole form, especially as a fermented product, it can be a beneficial part of a balanced diet. Many studies on soy are looking at the fractionated, unnatural, genetically modified, non-whole food, soy-like products. It’s an issue we’ll continue to watch. Perhaps in an upcoming article we’ll organize more of our preferred findings for your consideration. Good luck – and congratulations on beating breast cancer to the curve. My own sister is fighting the battle, so it’s near and dear to my heart. Stay strong!
I am a firm believer in soy! Not only for the benefits that soy brings, but the fact that if you add soymilk, tofu, etc. to your diet you are eliminating some meat and dairy from it. Definitely a wise substitution. My family has not shown any allergic reactions to soy, but alas, I have not let Dr. Huber get his hands on us! Love you Gary!!