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The Link Between Soy based Diets and Breast Cancer

Trying to research the health benefits of soy is driving me nuts and I don't mean soy nuts :) There is so much conflicting research and theories - that I don't know who to believe.

October is Breast Cancer month, and soy is theorized to lower the risk of developing breast cancer in women - so I did a bit of research:

Eating soy foods appears to have a protective effect against developing breast cancer at any age, according to some very limited studies. The protective effect may be strongest when soy is consumed during childhood and adolescence.

DrSoy Soy Snacks and Soy Nuts

This may be a major reason why Asian diets are linked to lower breast cancer death rates.

Observations have found that Asian women who follow a traditional Asian diet have a much lower breast cancer rate: in one estimate, one-fifth that of Western women.

On the flip side:

The American Institute for Cancer Research stresses that data on soy and breast cancer are not conclusive, and more work is needed to be done before any dietary recommendations can be made.

A note for post-menopausal women:

"Whether soy can help protect against breast cancer in post-menopausal women is unclear at this time. Some researchers believe that soy consumption may actually increase the risk for breast cancer in post-menopausal women because the chemical structure of plant estrogens (phytoestrogens) is very similar to estrogen."

Get your free soy research guide: Soy Free Research Guide

What is my opinion? At this point, I snack on soy nuts and have introduced some soy into my diet - but not an extreme amount.

Labels: Breast Cancer and Soy Research, menopause, soy products